IRS to fire 6,700 staff in Trump and Musks DOGE purge weeks before deadline to file taxesThe layoffs will impact more than one-third of probationary employees during tax seasonKatie Hawkinsonin New YorkWednesday 19 February 2025 23:10 GMTThe IRS is set to fire some 6,700 probationary employees starting Thursday (REUTERS)Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailGet our free Inside Washington emailI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read ourprivacy policyThe Internal Revenue Service will lay off more than 6,000 employees Thursday as part of President Donald Trumps push to slash federal spending, a source familiar with the move told Reuters.The layoffs targeting 6,700 probationary employees that is, those employed for less than a year come in the middle of tax season. That group of workers represents a little over one-third of all probationary employees.Probationary employees across agencies have been targeted by Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency in recent weeks, with the Associated Press estimating hundreds of thousands of employees could be impacted.The IRS layoffs come in the middle of tax season (Getty Images)Managers already started ordering employees to report to the office with their issued equipment, The New York Times reports.Under an executive order, I.R.S. has been directed to terminate probationary employees who were not deemed critical to filing season, an email from an IRS manager reviewed by the Times reads. We dont have many details that we are permitted to share, but this is all tied to compliance with the executive order.The restructuring could strain the agency as they process returns through the April 15 filing deadline, Reuters reports. Not only is the Trump administration firing these employees, it has also prevented the IRS from hiring anyone indefinitely. The Department of Homeland Security has also ordered some IRS agents to assist with the administrations mass deportation efforts, according to the Times.While Trump issued an executive order the first day of his presidency ordering a 90-day hiring freeze for all federal agencies, he noted an exception for the IRS, placing it under the freeze until his administration determines that it is in the national interest to hire again.This could impact tax season especially because the IRS typically hires thousands of temporary workers to assist with processing filings. Former officials and Democratic lawmakers alike have warned these freezes and firings could disrupt Americans abilities to easily file their taxes and receive any potential returns, the Times reports.Join our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesMost PopularPopular videosSponsored Features