Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday sent a letter to the IRS commissioner asking that the agency consider extend the tax filing season in light of the impact of the coronavirus.
"Specifically, we are concerned about the ability of the IRS to provide taxpayer assistance and process returns, as well as the ability of taxpayers, free tax preparation sites, and tax professionals to meet the filing deadline," the letter addressed to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig reads.
The lawmakers note that the agency has the authority to delay the April 15 filing deadline for up to six months and to "waive certain penalties" if there is a reasonable cause.
The IRS said last week that it is monitoring the coronavirus and will "promptly respond to any emerging situations to protect our employees and taxpayers interacting with the agency," The Hill reported.
"Normal IRS operations are continuing, and we are seeing a strong, smooth filing season for the nation," the IRS said. "Taxpayers should continue to file and submit tax returns as they normally would."
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