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US Global Tax (AUS) Talk About Ongoing IRS Processing Delays

Announcement posted by US Global Tax Australia 26 Aug 2020

US Global Tax (AUS) explain that the Internal Revenue Service has stopped processing paper tax returns, with much of its staff now working remotely because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and is encouraging taxpayers to file their taxes electronically during the three-month extension period for this year’s tax season. 

 

The IRS said that to protect the public and its own employees, and in compliance with orders of local health authorities across the U.S., some IRS services such as live assistance on telephones, processing paper tax returns and responding to correspondence are extremely limited or suspended until further notice. All of the IRS’s in-person Taxpayer Assistance Centres are temporarily closed, along with many volunteer tax preparation sites until further notice.  

 

However, that won’t affect the IRS's ability to deliver “economic impact payments,” the stimulus payments of at least $1,200 that it began directly depositing in some taxpayers’ bank accounts. However, paper tax returns are a problem this tax season, with most of the IRS staff out of the office. The IRS wants all taxpayers to file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider or IRS Free File if possible. This year, more than 90 percent of taxpayers have filed electronically. 

 

The IRS said it’s not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. “If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your economic impact payment,” said the IRS. “Paper returns will be processed once processing centres are able to reopen.” 

 

Similarly, the IRSs National Distribution Center is closed until further notice. The IRS said it’s unable to take any orders for forms or publications to be mailed during this time. Most forms and publications can be downloaded electronically atIRS.gov/forms. 

 

US Global Tax says that these ongoing IRS processing delays are due to Covid with service centres shuttered in some states, so for more information on US retirement funds, US expat taxes and doing business in USA please go to https://usglobaltax.com.au .