IRS delays resignation offer for critical tax season workers

IRS employees who work in “critical filing season positions” are exempt from the voluntary resignation program offered to federal government employees until May 15, according to an email sent Wednesday.

The critical positions are in taxpayer services, information technology, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service office, says the email, sent to all IRS employees about 1 p.m.

Under the deferred resignation offer, most federal government employees could resign immediately while continuing to receive full pay and benefits through Sept. 30. But exempt IRS employees whose jobs are “deemed critical” must continue to work through at least May 15, says the email, sent by IRS human capital officer Traci DiMartini and IRS deputy human capital officer Max Wyche.

The deadline to accept the resignation offer is Thursday.

In addition, “employees in these positions who have already accepted the DRP (deferred resignation program) offer will be contacted with further instructions about when to return to work,” according to the email.

The president of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which includes IRS workers, criticized the change in rules.

“We do welcome the admission, however, that IRS employees are vital to the agency mission,” NTEU President Doreen Greenwald said in an email. “By requiring IRS employees to stay on the job longer than promised, the administration is proving what NTEU has been saying all along: IRS employees are essential and, without them, the jobs that the American people depend upon will not get done.”

Previously, the IRS rescinded all job offers with a start date after Feb. 8 or with an unconfirmed start date because of a hiring freeze ordered by President Donald Trump.

Filing season opened Jan. 27 with acting Commissioner Doug O’Donnell leading the IRS. The previous commissioner, Danny Werfel, resigned effective Jan. 20. Trump has nominated Billy Long, a former Missouri congressman, as the next commissioner.