Processing ContentThe IRS kicked off the 2026 tax-filing season Monday with the threat of another government shutdown looming . That shutdown caused significant harm to taxpayers, required extraordinary tax relief measures, and led to heightened IRS inventory levels that continue to this day. The IRS has never before experienced a lapse in appropriations during the April tax filing season, according to the AICPA. "The IRS has only been forced to shutdown once before during an April filing season at the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic." To successfully accomplish this goal, the IRS must function at full capacity during the shutdown to ensure that the 2026 filing season operates as efficiently as possible."