The IRS furloughed most of its workforce beginning October 8, 2025, after funding for regular operations ran through October 7 without a new fiscal-year appropriation or continuing resolution. Tax deadlines and payment obligations did not change, but in-person help, live phone assistance, paper-return processing and responses to correspondence were restricted or delayed. The IRS said normal operations resumed November 19, 2025, though some backlogs remained.
What happened at the IRS in October 2025?
An October 8, 2025 memorandum from Acting IRS Human Capital Officer David Traynor said employees would be furloughed because Congress had not passed an FY2026 appropriation or continuing resolution. Employees specifically notified that they were excepted or exempt continued working; other affected employees entered non-pay, non-duty status. The IRS had said it would continue normal operations through midnight on October 7 using funding from 2022 legislation. IRS funding announcement; October 8 furlough memorandum.
The Associated Press reported on October 8 that 39,870 employees, or 53.6% of the workforce, would remain at work under the updated plan. That meant nearly half the workforce was furloughed. The figure is AP’s contemporaneous report, not a headcount stated in Traynor’s memorandum. Associated Press report, October 8, 2025.
Could taxpayers still file and pay?
Yes. The IRS said tax law remained in effect, taxpayers still had to meet their obligations, and deadlines remained in force for individuals, businesses, employers and payroll taxes. The agency accepted payments electronically and by mail. A shutdown did not itself extend a filing or payment deadline. IRS shutdown guidance, October 21, 2025.
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| Filing route | What the IRS said during the lapse | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic filing | The IRS continued accepting electronic returns. Some error-free individual returns could be automatically processed. | For a refund, the specific exception the IRS described was an electronically filed, error-free individual return eligible for automatic processing and direct deposit. The IRS urged individuals to e-file and choose direct deposit to avoid delays. |
| Paper filing | The IRS continued accepting paper returns. | Paper returns would wait for full operations to resume before processing, so filing by mail could mean a longer wait. |
Tax software companies and Free File remained available, but using a filing service did not restore IRS staffing or speed up services that depended on agency employees. IRS shutdown guidance, October 21, 2025.
Would tax refunds be delayed?
Generally, refunds were not expected to be paid during the lapse. The IRS identified a limited exception: electronically filed, error-free individual returns that could be automatically processed and paid by direct deposit. That exception did not guarantee that every electronic return would be processed or refunded during the shutdown; returns needing staff review could still be delayed. Taxpayers could use Where’s My Refund and the IRS2Go app for available status information. IRS shutdown guidance, October 21, 2025.
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Could taxpayers call, visit an office or get help with a case?
Online and automated services
The IRS website, some automated applications, Where’s My Refund, IRS2Go, online payment agreements, tax professionals, tax software companies and Free File remained available. Automated toll-free phone applications also remained available. These self-service options were distinct from staffed customer support.
Live phone and in-person assistance
Live customer-service phone assistance was limited. Walk-in Taxpayer Assistance Centers closed, and scheduled appointments there were cancelled. Appointments involving Appeals and Taxpayer Advocate Service cases were also cancelled, with rescheduling to take place after reopening.
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Mail and casework
The IRS could receive correspondence and deposit payments, but generally would not answer paper correspondence during the lapse. The agency warned that response times would lengthen as a backlog grew. It continued some critical filing-season preparation, criminal investigations and compliance work needed to protect statutes of limitations. It did not process applications or determinations for tax-exempt status or pension plans under the October guidance. IRS shutdown guidance, October 21, 2025.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened after the shutdown period?
On November 19, 2025, the IRS announced that normal activities had resumed, including reopening Taxpayer Assistance Centers. Taxpayers whose appointments had been cancelled could reschedule. The IRS also directed people to status information for affected forms, audits, collections and Appeals matters. Resuming normal operations did not mean every delayed case was immediately cleared: the Taxpayer Advocate Service said it needed time to sort through cases, calls and faxes, prioritize critical emergencies, and warned that callers might reach voicemail or wait longer for a response. IRS resumption announcement, November 19, 2025.
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Later funding statements refer to different dates, not the October furlough. The IRS’s January 2026 filing-season plan said multiyear non-expiring funding meant the agency would not experience a lapse on January 31, 2026; it listed 74,942 exempt positions in that plan. That number is not the October 2025 workforce figure. An IRS statement dated February 2, 2026 also described normal operations under the then-current lapse. Neither statement establishes the agency’s service status on October 7, 2026, so readers checking current availability should consult current IRS notices. IRS FY2026 lapse plan; IRS operations statement, February 2, 2026.
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