Washington, D.C.– Kelly Reyes, Executive Director of the Professional Managers Association (PMA)–formed in 1981 by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Managers as a national membership association representing the interests of professional managers, management officials and non-bargaining unit employees in the federal government and within the IRS–issued the following statement in response to the departure of Commissioner Danny Werfel and ahead of the start of the 2025 tax filing season:
“Over the past two years since his confirmation by the Senate, the collaborative and effective leadership of Commissioner Danny Werfel has propelled the IRS, its workforce, and our systems forward. Commissioner Werfel was an effective and transparent leader committed to nonpartisan tax administration, focused on improving this agency and its ability to serve the American people and businesses every day,” Kelly Reyes said. “PMA and all IRS employees are proud of the tremendous progress made in recent years to improve customer service, modernize our systems, rebuild our workforce capacity, and deliver on the IRS’ mission to the nation.”
“Now, we are ready to work with new leadership from President Trump and the Treasury Department to deliver a smooth and successful 2025 tax filing season, which begins January 27,” Reyes continued. “For months, dedicated IRS managers and employees have been preparing for the filing season. Enhanced training for all IRS employees has been made possible by additional funding and has been critical to our customer service improvement the past two filing seasons.”
“Multi-year funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act has enabled significant progress on IRS IT and business systems modernization that have been prevented in the past by congressional budget dysfunction and continuing resolutions. PMA calls on Congress to maintain these essential modernization funds, and to divert them to customer service and technology modernization, as needed,” Reyes continued. “The current continuing resolution funding government extends to March 14, the middle of tax filing season. PMA calls on Congress to be accountable and fulfil its constitutional responsibility to fund government. Doing so will ensure the IRS remains funded, open, and able to provide service during tax filing season.”
“As Congress debates tax and economic policy this year ahead of the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2025, PMA urges policymakers to also focus on tax administration,” Reyes concluded. “The IRS must be provided with the budget and resources necessary to carry out the mission directed by Congress and the President. Cutting the IRS budget and attacking the IRS workforce will not improve customer service for Americans or improve the deficit.”
