I spent 8 hours on hold with the IRS over my dead mother's taxes
Reports of extreme IRS wait times and identity theft delays contrast with a watchdog's assessment of a smooth filing season.
📍 The outcome
Reports detailed long hold times and unconscionable delays for identity theft victims. An IRS watchdog noted that only one in five calls on the identity theft line were answered, despite reporting a mostly smooth filing season.
The story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the coverage.
Epilogue added 38d ago, after coverage quieted.
Momentum
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
The story so far
Individual accounts and reports indicate significant delays at the IRS, including one taxpayer spending eight hours on hold regarding a deceased parent's taxes. A watchdog report highlights that only one in five calls on the IRS identity theft line are being answered.
Coverage from CNBC and The Center Square emphasizes that identity theft victims face delays described as 'unconscionable.' Conversely, GovExec.com notes that the IRS watchdog reported the filing season was mostly smooth, while The Korea Daily reports that average tax refunds rose 11.3% to $3,275. Future attention will likely focus on the disparity between the watchdog's general assessment of the filing season and the specific failures of the identity theft phone lines.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 48d ago.
Who reported it (5)
- What Did You Get? Average Tax Refund Rises to $3,275, Up 11.3% The Korea Daily · 48d ago
- Despite taxing year, IRS watchdog reports mostly smooth filing season GovExec.com · 48d ago
- One in five calls answered on IRS identity theft line, watchdog says The Center Square · 48d ago
- Identity theft victims face 'unconscionable' IRS delays, report says CNBC · 48d ago
- I spent 8 hours on hold with the IRS over my dead mother's taxes USA Today · 48d ago broke it first
The obvious questions
What is the reported wait time for some IRS callers?
One account published by USA Today detailed spending eight hours on hold regarding a deceased mother's taxes.
How are identity theft calls being handled?
According to a watchdog report cited by The Center Square, only one in five calls to the IRS identity theft line are answered.
What was the average tax refund for the period?
The average tax refund rose to $3,275, an increase of 11.3%, according to The Korea Daily.
People, places & organizations
Topics
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