Business

IRS computers go down

by Naomi Jagoda

A number of the Internal Revenue Service’s tax processing systems are not operating because of a hardware failure that occurred Wednesday afternoon, the agency said.

The IRS’s modernized e-filing system, several taxpayer and practitioner tools and several services on the IRS website are all unavailable, according to a statement from the agency.

{mosads}The IRS said it is working to make repairs but that some systems may not be available until Thursday.

“Taxpayers can continue to prepare and file their tax returns as they normally would. Taxpayers can continue to send their tax returns to their e-file provider; these companies will hold the tax returns until the IRS resumes accepting electronic tax returns,” the IRS said.

“Taxpayers who have already filed their tax returns do not need to take any additional action.”

The IRS said it continues to expect to issue refunds to 90 percent of taxpayers within 21 days.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) blasted IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in light of the hardware issues.
 
“The IRS doesn’t have its house in order at any level. That is why I’ve strongly advocated for Commissioner Koskinen’s impeachment,” Chaffetz said. “The Committee has been long concerned about IT vulnerabilities at the IRS. Under Mr. Koskinen’s poor management, problems fester and the American people suffer.”
 
This story was updated at 8:48 a.m. Thursday.