Amid the Trump administration’s sweeping and at times chaotic campaign to shrink the size of government and trim head count, a segment of the federal workforce that is critical this time of year is being told they have to stay on the job: the IRS staffers who support the tax-filing process.

The National Treasury Employees Union president advised all federal workers not to accept the buyout offer, which she says is dubious.

Some government employees who work for the Internal Revenue Service and choose to take the so-called "buyout" offered by the White House, will have to stick around through tax season 2025, according to an email viewed by Axios.

The IRS has set January 27 as the start of the 2025 tax season, with significant updates aimed at enhancing taxpayer experience. Discover how these changes, backed by substantial funding, could impact your tax filing process.

And the potential loss of expertise in information technology and cybersecurity could put both agency efficiency and taxpayer information at risk.

IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season will not be allowed to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the taxpayer filing deadline, according to a letter sent Wednesday to IRS employees.

IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season will not be allowed to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the taxpayer filing deadline.

The processing of tax returns and refunds could be delayed if the IRS were to lose employees during the busy filing season.