WASHINGTON, DC - Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) issued the following statement after speaking on the phone this afternoon with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig:
“This afternoon, I spoke with both Secretary Mnuchin and Commissioner Rettig to reiterate the concerns I raised to them last week regarding the impact of the partial government shutdown on taxpayers and the upcoming filing season. I was informed that - more than two weeks after its federal funding lapsed - the IRS will release its contingency plan for the tax return filing season and issuing taxpayer refunds. I look forward to seeing a more detailed description of how the agency will carry out these operations, particularly what will be expected of Treasury and IRS personnel.
“These developments are no substitute for funding the government and fully reopening these agencies. On Wednesday, the House will pass the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill that will fund Treasury and the IRS, and I urge the Senate to move the legislation swiftly to President Trump’s desk for his signature."
