IRS is recalling 46,000 furloughed workers to return to work without pay

IRS workers are still working to pay out tax returns and not getting paid for their trouble.

The current government shutdown is the longest in the history of the United States and has brought whole segments of the federal administration to a halt.

Of the 800,000 federal employees on furlough without a salary, 46,000 are being recalled - and being asked to work without pay.

"Due to the lapse in appropriations, most IRS operations are closed during the shutdown. An IRS-wide furlough began on December 22, 2018, that affects many operations."

Internal Revenue Service

IRS RECALLS 46,000 WORKERS TO DUTY

The Internal Revenue Service has stated that 60% of the workforce furloughed due to the government shutdown is being recalled to duty.

The workers will be required to take on their duties, handling tax returns and pay out refunds, even though they will not be paid until the shutdown is resolved.

IRS union representatives brought a suit to federal court declaring that the action infringes the workers' constitutional right.

TAX SEASON WAITS FOR NO MAN

The dreaded tax filing season begins on January 28, and the Trump administration has guaranteed that taxpayers will be refunded monies owed on time.

With the shutdown now in its fourth week and no signs of resolution in sight, the IRS has been forced to demand that their employees work without pay in order to fulfill its obligations to the taxpayers.

DELAY IN TAX REFUNDS COULD HARM ECONOMY

Three-quarters of U.S. taxpayers usually receive annual refunds, averaging an amount per capita of $2,800.

This adds up to hundreds of billions of dollars, and it had been feared the returns would be delayed because Congress wouldn't release the funds.

IRS REFUND MONEY WAS MADE AVAILABLE

In an effort to show Americans the tangible results of his much-lauded tax cuts, President Trump's administration has reversed customary shutdown policies to make the refund money available to the IRS.

IRS union representatives brought a suit to federal court declaring that the action infringes the workers' constitutional right.

"The Constitution doesn’t allow the government to obligate funds that haven’t been provided by Congress, and the executive branch can’t continue to force more and more employees to show up in exchange only for an IOU.”

National Treasury Employees Union

On January 15, a federal judge ruled against the suit, forcing IRS workers to comply.

AIRLINES ARE LOSING MILLIONS DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Delta Air Lines has revealed that it is losing an estimated $25 million in business a month due to the federal government shutdown.

Delta Air Lines CEO, Ed Bastian, explained that the loss in revenue is due to the dearth of traveling government employees and contractors.

Bastian said that if the shutdown, now in its 26th day, continues, the deficit will increase exponentially.

The shutdown is also delaying the certification of new aircraft because FAA officials are on furlough and cannot issue approvals.

In a related story, restauranteurs and brewers kindly offer free food and drink to federal employees affected by the shutdown.