Kelly Reyes, Executive Director of the Professional Managers Association (PMA)–formed in 1981 by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Managers as a national membership association representing the interests of professional managers, management officials and non-bargaining unit employees in the federal government and within the IRS–issued the following statement in response to news that Congress is considering tax law changes to go into effect for the 2024 filing season:
“PMA fully respects that it is the job of Congress to set the tax law for the nation and we applaud Congress for coming together to work on a deal that supports American families in a way it sees fits. However, this deal could have been done three months ago or it could go into effect next year. It is too late for 2023 taxes. The IRS cannot implement the changes Congress is considering for this filing season without considerable delay, misunderstanding, and waste. Ultimately, we worry this will frustrate and confuse taxpayers more than it will benefit them,” Kelly Reyes said.
“Months of work goes into preparing for the filing season. The IRS prints thousands of forms and prepares countless documents. If Congress changes the tax law, all this work must be redone. This will inevitably mean substantive work is delayed and the American people could receive their refunds later than excepted,” Reyes continued. “Additionally, thousands of seasonal and permanent IRS employees have already undergone training on the tax law. This training enables them to answer taxpayer questions and process returns correctly. Retraining these employees risks confusion, mistakes, and ultimately, a more frustrating experience for taxpayers.”
“Both the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the National Taxpayer Advocate have identified last minute tax law changes as a key barrier to success for the IRS. There is simply not the time to ensure these changes can be implemented effectively. We understand that Congress wants to provide additional breaks to the American people. Unfortunately, enacting changes to the tax law three weeks before tax season begins and four weeks before a potential shutdown is infeasible and will burden the IRS and American taxpayers far more than it will help them,” Reyes furthered. “The 2023 filing season was one of the most successful in recent memory, and IRS employees are eager to continue raising the bar for the American people in 2024. Congress should focus on making that possible for the IRS–such as by passing timely appropriations and maintaining long-term modernization funding–not creating additional obstacles to success.”
