Mounting Delays Undermine Public Trust in IRS Refund Process
Get ready for more unhappy clients and tougher conversations.
| Identity Theft Victim Assistance (IDTVA) Workload | |
|---|---|
| Pending IDTVA Cases | 387,000 |
| Average Resolution Time | 602 days |
| Percent of Affected Taxpayers Below 250% of Federal Poverty Line | 69% |
Pending cases and processing delays stress hundreds of thousands of taxpayers financially.
By CPA Trendlines Research
The Internal Revenue Service is taking an average of 20 months to resolve identity theft cases, leaving hundreds of thousands of taxpayers in financial limbo, disproportionately harming low-income households and straining the resources of CPA firms and tax professionals.
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For tax professionals, the stakes are high and the immediate need is clear: Set client expectations, document communication with the IRS, and explore hardship cases that might qualify for expedited handling. At the policy level, the delays are fueling calls for funding, automation, and clearer transparency metrics from the IRS.
“Victims entitled to refunds are waiting nearly two years to receive them,” Collins says. “These delays disproportionately affect vulnerable populations dependent on their refunds to meet basic living expenses.”
