If your tax return hits a snag this year, getting help from the IRS could take longer — and more complex refunds could be slow to arrive too. Why it matters: A Treasury watchdog report warns the Internal Revenue Service entered the 2026 filing season short-staffed and overwhelmed,

U.S. taxpayers preparing to file returns for 2025 — deadline April 15, 2026 — have one fewer free option this year.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani cited concerns including violations of privacy laws and the possible arrest of misidentified U.S. citizens.

Online accounts and identity-protection PINs are among the ways to prevent headaches this filing season.

The IRS advises creating an Individual Online Account for security and managing tax information before the April 15 deadline.

Selling silver can trigger IRS reporting, but when and how it happens depends on what you sell and how you do it.

The agency incorrectly labeled some taxpayers as hostages when providing tax relief, or failed to remove a special indicator after their release from captivity.

The most recent government shutdown began Oct. 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass appropriations bills for the new fiscal year.

Claims about new stimulus checks, IRS direct deposits, relief payments and tariff dividends spread throughout 2025 — and they’re still circulating in 2026. But is there any truth to them?

Find out where you stand on the income tax ladder.