When are taxes due? IRS asks taxpayers to ‘act now’ with fewer 2025 returns filed early, amid concerns over DOGE layoffs

Attention! There is now just one day left until the deadline for this year’s tax filing. And the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has already reminded taxpayers to “act now” to pay whatever they owe on their 2024 taxes, or request an extension, before April 15.

Fewer Americans have filed their federal taxes, and more have requested extensions, compared with the same period last year, according to CNN, which reviewed the IRS data. According to those numbers, as of March 21, the IRS had received nearly one million fewer tax returns, or 1.1% less, than it received in the same point in the filing cycle last year.

While experts told CNN this was not a reason for concern, and that in fact, previous years also showed declines over the same period, there is a lot that’s different about this year’s tax season.

It comes amid massive IRS staff cuts (with more likely on the way) due to interference from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE); and internal conflicts inside the agency, underscored by the recent resignation of the acting IRS chair, stemming from DOGE’s attempts to access millions of taxpayers’ personal and financial data, including that of undocumented immigrants.

Tax experts told Kiplinger they have noticed a host of problems this tax season, including delays, a lack of customer service, and audit errors.

In addition, DOGE’s mandatory return-to-work policy appears to be wreaking havoc at the agency, resulting in staffers having to work out of cafeterias and conference rooms due to a lack of space, as they navigate hallways littered with boxes of paperwork, according to Business Insider, which spoke with eight IRS employees.

IRS: ‘There is still time to file electronically”

The agency said there is still time to file federal income tax returns electronically to receive a refund via direct deposit. Filing electronically is usually the fastest way to receive tax refunds.

“Filing electronically reduces tax return errors as tax software does the calculations, flags common errors and prompts taxpayers for missing information,” the IRS said in a statement. “Most taxpayers qualify for electronic filing at no cost and, when they choose direct deposit, usually receive their refund within 21 days.”

Free electronic tax filing options

Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less in 2024 can use IRS Free File, the IRS’s own electronic filing software, from now until October 15.

Meanwhile, the IRS’s Direct File is available to eligible taxpayers in 25 states to file their 2024 federal tax returns online directly with the IRS. Go to the Direct File website for more information about Direct File eligibility and the 25 participating states.

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