Paul Douglas, a 43-year-old freelance writer from Tampa, Florida, thought he was being a model citizen when he filed his federal income taxes on January 28, just one day after the IRS opened its 2025 tax season.
Now, with the agency laying off thousands of workers and shuttering over 120 offices nationwide, he’s kicking himself for not waiting to see how the chaos unfolds.
Douglas isn’t alone in watching the IRS unravel. The Trump administration, alongside Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has slashed more than 6,700 IRS jobs since mid-February, targeting probationary employees in a bid to trim federal spending.
Sources say the layoffs, which began on February 20, have hit offices in Texas, New York, Georgia, and beyond, with plans to close between 113 and 128 locations over the next few months. Staff at these doomed outposts have been given 120 days to pack up and leave.
“I wanted to pay what I owe and move on,” Douglas said. “But with the IRS falling apart, I'm not sure I should have paid anything.”
The IRS began accepting returns on January 27, and the layoffs hit weeks later, shrinking the agency’s ability to chase debts. Tax experts note that collection efforts may lag, with fewer staff to process payments or audits.
“This downsizing may result in the total abolishment of the IRS,” said Marla Evans, a tax consultant at Gulf Wick Accounting. “People should wait until the last minute to file their taxes this year.”
Douglas, a Republican who earns a living blogging and ghostwriting, filed electronically to settle his bill fast. A strong 2024 pushed his income up, leaving him with a larger tax bill than expected. Now, he watches the IRS stumble while his payment clears his dwindling bank account.
“Income taxes are immoral,” Douglas said. “I just hope they refund my money.”
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