Federal Government Shutdown - It’s Deja vu All Over Again
There’s an
old adage that “there’s nothing new under the sun” and so it is inside the
Beltway. As you are well aware, the federal government
suspended most of its operations on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a
bill to extend funding to mid-November, the first such shutdown in 17 years. Strong
political discourse is alive and well in America and it is part of the price we
pay for democracy. It was that way in
1996 when a shutdown lasted three weeks. Hopefully a compromise can be reached quicker
this time around.
On the tax front, with more than 85,000 Internal Revenue Service workers now furloughed until Congress reauthorizes spending, many non-essential IRS functions have shut down, including all taxpayer services, as well as examinations. The closure of taxpayer and practitioner hotlines is particularly challenging for those individuals who must file a Form 1040 by Oct. 15 and need to contact the IRS. Nevertheless, no filing deadlines are postponed and returns must be filed. We have urged the IRS to consider the substantial burden imposed on taxpayers (and practitioners) by the inability to communicate with and obtain information from the IRS.
- Refunds and the “Where’s My Refund?” service
- Examinations
- Operation of taxpayer services (including those related to identity theft) and Taxpayer Assistance Centers
- Operation of the Practitioner Priority Service
- Processing of paper returns that do not require remittance
Also, the Tax Court announced that, unlike other federal courts, it is stopping its operations during the federal government shutdown. The plan does authorize several IRS functions to continue, including electronic returns processing, e-Services, criminal law enforcement, and the protection of bankruptcy, lien and seizure cases.
Also in the “nothing
new under the sun” category, Thomas Jefferson once said, “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters
of principle, stand like a rock.” The current political discourse creates
challenges but is also part of the United States’ heritage.
We will be keeping a close eye on this issue and communicating with our
members as more information becomes available. For 126 years, the AICPA has
supported its members and the public interest and will continue to do so. That
is our heritage. Here is a comprehensive
list of what federal services and sites will remain open and what will be
closed. Does the shutdown affect you? How
long do you think the shutdown will last?
Edward S. Karl, CPA, Vice President of Taxation, American Institute of CPAs.
