IRS Recalling Workers in All Remaining States July 13

IRS employees who can’t work from home will return to their offices July 13 in any states that haven’t been affected by previous recalls, according to an internal IRS email.

The agency has already called back thousands of workers in seven states, with four more and Puerto Rico following suit June 29. The latest announcement, contained in an email IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig sent to employees Wednesday, comes at a time when employee anxiety levels are high, especially after several workers in Austin recently tested positive for Covid-19. But the agency is under pressure to bring workers back to sift through a massive backlog of paper returns and unopened mail, and complete tasks associated with the extended tax filing season that will draw to a close in July.

• The IRS has recalled workers in some states, including Texas and Utah, that have seen spikes in Covid-19 cases since reopening.
• “As the public health situation evolves, we will continue to closely monitor state and local guidelines and adhere to safety protocols to protect employees, including social distancing and using face coverings in common areas,” Rettig said in the email.
• The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS workers, has asked for additional safety measures, including contact tracing and on-site temperature checks.