The Trump administration plans to shutter more than 120 IRS offices that have taxpayer assistance centers as the White House’s efficiency zeal carves deeper into the tax agency.
The plan, outlined in a Tuesday letter from the U.S. General Services Administration that was obtained by The Washington Post, comes in the midst of the federal tax filing season that ends April 15, and as the administration is working to reduce agencies’ headcount and scale back the footprint of the federal government. Last week, the IRS started laying off approximately 7,000 probationary employees.
At least 128 taxpayer assistance centers will have their leases terminated or not renewed when they expire, according to a list included with GSA’s letter. It’s unclear whether the assistance centers — which provide free, in-person help for tax filers, on an appointment basis — will relocate or simply close.
All soft-term leases, which can be ended on short notice, are expected to be terminated except for those deemed “public-facing,” according to the letter, which was signed by Michael Peters, the GSA’s commissioner for public buildings. Those leases will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the letter said.
The IRS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.