Is the IRS affected by the government shutdown? What to know about your tax refund

with parts federal government shut down After Congress failed to reach a funding deal, some Americans are worried about whether the cut will affect their 2026 tax refunds.

Here’s what you need to know about monitoring 2026 IRS refunds and where you can earn extra on the return.

Probably not – at least for now. The Internal Revenue Service says it continues to operate during the shutdown. The agency said employees’ wages were covered under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Accordingly Jackson Hewitt Tax ServicesThe Internal Revenue Service has remained open during past government shutdowns, but there have never been any closures during tax filing season.

any delay during tax refund The season will depend on how many IRS employees would be furloughed in the event of a shutdown. During the record-breaking shutdown last fall, the IRS first required all employees to continue working, then furloughed more than 34,000 employees roughly a week through the shutdown.

Tax deadlines do not change during the government shutdown, and even if the government shuts down, people still need to file by the deadline. Taxpayers are encouraged to file as soon as possible and choose direct deposit to receive refunds faster.

The current shutdown began after Congress failed to approve funding for all parts of the federal government before a significant deadline.

Lawmakers passed some spending bills but stalled others, especially funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Democrats have pushed for changes to immigration enforcement and DHS funding, while Republicans have opposed eliminating that funding, leading to a stalemate. When funding expired on January 31, institutions without approved budgets were forced to partially close.

Many Americans could see an average of $1,000 more in tax refunds this year, largely due to federal tax code changes that take effect in 2025.

The department said Americans can apply now to take advantage of new tax breaks, including the elimination of tip taxes, overtime, Social Security and auto credits for U.S.-made cars, as well as an expanded child tax credit, double the standard deduction and $1,000 for children’s Trump accounts.

The process of viewing your tax refund status is easy.

Taxpayers who file returns can check their refund status on IRS.gov.Where’s My Refund??” tool. To see the status, you must enter the following information:

Once the information is entered you will see one of the following:

• Refund Received – The IRS has received your refund and is processing it.

• Refund Approved – The IRS has approved your refund and is preparing to issue the payment by the date shown.

• Refund Sent – ​​The IRS mailed the refund to your bank or to you. It may take up to five days for your check to appear in your bank account and several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.

The timeline for your refund depends on how you file your tax return.

If you file electronically, your refund will be processed much faster than filing a return on paper and waiting for a check. Most refunds are issued in less than three weeks, according to the IRS.

The IRS advises taxpayers not to rely on having to get a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require further review, which may take more time.

There are many reasons why tax returns may be late. According to the IRS, the most common reasons are:

• The return has errors, is incomplete, or has been affected by identity theft or fraud.

• The refund needs an adjustment to the amount of the child tax credit or recovery rebate credit.

• The return includes a claim filed for an earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit, or Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF.

• The time it takes for a taxpayer’s bank or credit union to post the refund to the taxpayer’s account.

2025 federal income tax returns must be filed by April 15, 2026. Americans living or traveling outside the United States and Puerto Rico on April 15, 2026, will automatically receive an income tax return. two month extension The deadline for filing their 2025 tax returns is June 15, 2026.

The IRS clarifies that the time stamp in your time zone when you submit your electronic return determines the timing of the return. For people sending paper returns, the IRS will consider them in a timely manner if they are sent to the correct address, have adequate postage, and are mailed and postmarked by the due date. The deadline for electronic filing is 23:59 local time.

The latest government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass appropriations bills for the new fiscal year. The shutdown lasted 43 days (the longest in history) and ended on November 12, when Trump signed a funding bill.