DATA IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Internal Revenue Service must efficiently process returns and taxpayer correspondence. Look here for data on how the IRS is addressing its immense paperwork responsibilities.
Data highlights:
- Identity theft victim assistance theft cycle time, case receipts, and case closures, 2020-2024 (xlsx)
Related documents and reporting:
Filing season
- 3/16/2026: 2025 TAX FILING: Management of Agency Reforms and Workforce Planning Needed to Address Severe Risks to Future IRS Operations (GAO)
- 1/26/2026: The Internal Revenue Service’s Readiness for the 2026 Filing Season (TIGTA)
- 1/8/2026: IRS will accept 2025 tax returns starting January 26 (IRS)
- 8/5/2025: Date to start filing season not set despite IRS commissioner’s comment (Tax Adviser)
Backlogs
- 1/28/2026: National Taxpayer Advocate Annual Report FY 2025 (TAS)
- 11/20/2025: IRS Has Significant Backlogs Following The Shutdown: What’s Moving And What’s Still Stuck (Forbes)
- 9/29/2025: Final Results of the 2025 Filing Season (TIGTA)
- 3/18/2024: The IRS Continues to Reduce Backlog Inventories in the Tax Processing Centers (TIGTA)
Analysis and commentary
- 11/17/2025: Taxpayers to Feel IRS Shutdown Shockwaves Past Federal Reopening (Bloomberg Tax)
- 7/17/2025: The new tax bill burdens an already overburdened IRS (Brookings)
You can also download a spreadsheet with the full list of available data, including the range of years for which data is available.
The IRS Spotlight © 2025 by The Brookings Institution is licensed under CC BY 4.0