The National Taxpayer Advocate has released the Fiscal Year 2027 Objectives Report to Congress, concluding that the IRS generally conducted a successful 2026 filing season despite significant operational challenges. The IRS processed nearly 139 million individual tax returns, issued more than 90 million refunds and continued expanding online account features that improved taxpayer self-service. The report attributes much of the filing season’s success to continued technology modernization and increased electronic filing and direct deposit use.
The report also identifies areas where taxpayers continued to face challenges. More than 14 million returns were suspended for additional review, resulting in refund delays for many taxpayers. Telephone service declined from the prior filing season, while identity theft victims continued to experience prolonged case resolution times. The report also highlights delays affecting taxpayers who required paper refund checks. Looking ahead, the National Taxpayer Advocate outlines priorities for Fiscal Year 2027, including reducing refund delays, improving taxpayer service, strengthening online tools and protecting taxpayer rights through continued administrative improvements.
