Pascrell Probes Mail Delay Impact on IRS and Tax Refunds

Fear that latest systemic mail problems will adversely affect millions of Americans interacting with tax collection agency

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, today asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for information to assess how systemic mail delays at the United States Postal Service (USPS) may impact IRS operations, tax filings and refunds for Americans.

“The latest systemic delays at the Post Office represent much more than a mere nuisance,” said Rep. Pascrell. “These postal problems threaten to delay paychecks, vital provisions, life-saving medicines, and even Americans’ tax refunds. Although tax season is months away, we must prepare now for how higher costs and slower service will impact the IRS and American taxpayers. There can be no excuse for refunds or filings to be adversely impacted. Meanwhile, I continue to urge full replacement of the failed leadership at the head of the Post Office – starting with Louis DeJoy.”

“The Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means is trying to determine the impact of the new standards, which include increased time-in-transit standards, on the IRS and would appreciate your answers,” Pascrell writes Commissioner Charles Rettig. “To what extent will delayed mail delivery impact the IRS (please include any estimates related to the expected delays), and what options, if any, are under consideration by the IRS to address potential delays?”

Since this postal crisis began, Rep. Pascrell has aggressively demanded accountability from USPS. On May 21, 2020, Pascrell wrote to USPS Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb demanding an investigation of turmoil at the USPS, stemming from a pattern of interference engineered by the Trump administration in its efforts to destabilize the post office. On August 14, 2020 Pascrell became the first member of Congress to call for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Trump to be investigated by a state criminal grand jury for their dismantling of the Post Office, making a criminal referral to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal alleging Trump and DeJoy subverted state elections.

On January 25, 2021, Rep. Pascrell became the first member of Congress calling on President Biden to fire the entire Postal Board of Governors sitting before his election for their silence and complicity in DeJoy’s ongoing sabotage of postal operations. In February, Pascrell immediately praised the nominations by President Biden of the three new nominees to the USPS Board of Governors and on March 18, Pascrell and Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03) led over 50 House Democrats urging Biden to immediately remove the then-sitting USPS Board of Governors.

The text of Rep. Pascrell’s letter to the IRS is provided below.

October 26, 2021

The Honorable Charles P. Rettig

Commissioner

Internal Revenue Service

1111 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20224

Dear Commissioner Rettig,

As you know, the United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced new service standards for first class mail. The Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means is trying to determine the impact of the new standards, which include increased time-in-transit standards, on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and would appreciate your answers to the following questions by November 9, 2021.

1. How many letters/notices are sent by the IRS throughout the year, and how much is spent on postage?
2. How many of these letters/notices include a deadline or response date by which the taxpayer must act or respond? Please identify which of these deadlines are provided for in statutory language.
3. Each year, how many IRS refunds or other payments are made by mail (excluding the Economic Impact Payments) and how many taxpayer deposits, tax delinquency payments and other payments are made by mail?
4. How many tax returns and pieces of correspondence are received by the IRS each year?
5. How much is spent annually on postage by the IRS, and what is the upcoming budget for FY2022 for postage?
6. To what extent will delayed mail delivery impact the IRS (please include any estimates related to the expected delays), and what options, if any, are under consideration by the IRS to address potential delays?
7. Describe any discussions with USPS related to mail rates/pricing and delivery times for mail from and to the IRS within the last year.

Thank you for your assistance with the Subcommittee on Oversight’s review.

Sincerely,