IRS did better than expected in tax season after slashing staff, except on the phone, watchdog says

The IRS managed to deliver refunds more efficiently than anticipated during the 2026 tax season, even after significant workforce reductions. However, the taxpayer advocate points out that the agency fell short in providing adequate phone support, leaving many taxpayers without the human assistance they needed. This highlights a critical imbalance where technology improved processing but didn't keep pace with the demand for customer service. The situation underscores ongoing challenges in balancing efficiency with service quality as the IRS navigates staffing constraints.