# I spent 8 hours on hold with the IRS over my dead mother's taxes

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-27 11:43 UTC · Category: Business · Sources: 5 · Current Velocity: 2.8

## Executive Summary
Reports of extreme IRS wait times and identity theft delays contrast with a watchdog's assessment of a smooth filing season.

## Intelligence Brief
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.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### 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.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Despite, IRS, What Did You Get Average Tax Refund Rises, Identity

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Korea Daily | What Did You Get? Average Tax Refund Rises to $3,275, Up 11.3% | 2026-06-27 09:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQZ1kySlJFNzh0Yy1zRUxFQmxRTFFxQjAxLU43R1g0V29SV2ZHbHBnR2dfaGdaNG1PZnhmV2ppWXFHZHllQVk4RzQ2Z1ZsR0JoTjQteUptQ281RmxRemZTS09BZi1fMm9oWlNxeEV0UHlfcjcxZk5PQkNsZEtzZ254ZkhUWDM3YmdZcVhwNg?oc=5) |
| GovExec.com | Despite taxing year, IRS watchdog reports mostly smooth filing season | 2026-06-27 09:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2AFBVV95cUxPOG85dXFkQXZNVVJmNGx3cWNKM3pHaHFjOUU4Nm9hanVqRzlnZXhRSWRxTWhzMWJzWUxWQndULWxFdGxmSUEtSjJPTFQxeTVZU2w3LXVodUpTdGhwaEhRbW0zWUt5c3hMeW1FdW9qVk1HSjhPbmQ2VHNEX29oQUxGV3JWbU9NYXBlZ2ZDbjZMQUhNN1g4QmZxNU9xOElraG82R2FpcmRVRFZhbXBPdUhGYVBiaEJwNndfZUNYb0ZJbW5CU1R2dzdfdGwyS2pRdU9uOWZWc3NodHE?oc=5) |
| The Center Square | One in five calls answered on IRS identity theft line, watchdog says | 2026-06-27 09:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxPZ0lJOUVBNTdkdEUxcFB4QlVoN3oyRzItVGE3bmlWS3dkY3prVlZfTWlub1k1U3Bqc0RzODR4SjdKWTFKOFI5Tm5LM0RsOXk3RENaNUhqS3ozVk5jWGJpb2JYZHdMOXBDamQtWnZYQWp4dWN0RVRMYnl1cDhlTVMteEs0R0s3S2dTcldiYldzSE1vZS1k0gGaAUFVX3lxTE5xekFfcEpLYzAyN2FpRlN3ZWctbDJpVEpPQ1VmUlJZNTZ1NFcxU2hTeXViZW5rbHdDVmU3WW1vVzNxZkdEOU16RDMzNjZwZFIxa2pIVjVSaVpOU0RSU0tJLWthbi1CMFQ4clZxbFFyWThwZlBQTEpWU3kwX1V5Z2hjdTgxdHMtNGlnc1EwVExBZUNfWjI5a1d1dGc?oc=5) |
| CNBC | Identity theft victims face 'unconscionable' IRS delays, report says | 2026-06-27 09:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOQVZZLXYyUWF2d2JtM3UxZThTTl9Bc2VLb0lBb0t3MGtPQ0N2Q21aTFBJcHFTTHZ3cjhsekwwS3pJRTA0S3lvc0l3eFFlSFpCNC1LQTl5aVBYTlh0UnQ1RVJNYmNpZWdLTHhleWVES1JaRjR2UGRaeXNIQTZuWjhxRV94N29DUk9GN0UzN1pRWWphTnFJempyWGtIV1BkNkRaaXBzLdIBqgFBVV95cUxNV2ZKaW1oX1o2WVRrMnNpYncteXVWN3VnQnJxQ08tZG1qQnRfOVVWclhQeExPQzhpYWVNY0l2aTRfdkdkLW1WVFd1ZndYSnlUREtON0EzUDk0WVFQVnpzdGNBc0ZHN0F2WlZVZjh0Mk5NX1Z5VlhsWG1TOHhITlJoSEM5cVZ3MHJqUmFiblRfQ05QVVVUV295VUttLTVjMTBDb0hOblM2SWx4dw?oc=5) |
| USA Today | I spent 8 hours on hold with the IRS over my dead mother's taxes | 2026-06-27 09:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxQUWc1T21lT25qaTFWRmVuOGRiY3JZdlFwRDR3M095TVR0alMtV2pJWnV5c3FYc1VQQnNLTXQ5amk3Q0F2WmZoOXB3c05NWEwtYmc5TC0wMHZSTmlDOVJRVGxkRU9PNy1VUW9QTlBka0dNWFJmanIzN09Nb2w0QmdzZnpfZjNRaXdNMTRSem1lZld5TGUxOUxLVUtWVVlvRDJJMkFOd01JbmRINVJHUWpLREk1RQ?oc=5) |

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