Washington,D.C. –Executive Director Chad Hooper of the Professional Managers Association (PMA) - formed in 1981 by IRS Managers as a national membership association representing the interests of professional managers, management officials and non-bargaining unit employees in the federal government- released the following statement regarding the passage of additional coronavirus relief legislation including additional economic impact payments for the American people:
“With the passage of the omnibus government spending and coronavirus relief legislation, the InternalRevenue Service (IRS) will once again be tasked with providing relief for theAmerican people. It is the honor and duty of IRS employees to execute such essential economic assistance to millions of Americans,” Hooper explained.
“IRS employees are prepared to work diligently through the upcoming holidays to ensure stimulus payments are delivered as expeditiously and effectively as possible. Having already done an initial round of payments earlier this year, assuming these payments are subject to similar or the same eligibility requirements, the IRS may be able to provide these payments more rapidly. Unfortunately, IRS employees are consistently limited by aging technology infrastructure and lack of interagency collaboration which makes it difficult to reach certain taxpayers,” Hooper furthered.
“As the IRS works through coronavirus relief and the regular filing season, we appreciate the modest funding increase provided by Congress, particularly in areas such as enforcement where the IRS has seen several budget cuts over the last decade.Unfortunately, this modest increase in funding still places the IRS far behind its funding levels of 2009, the last time the IRS engaged in such large scale economic relief activity. Additional funding will be necessary to modernize theIRS and increase its capacity to serve the American people,” Hooper explained.
“Federal employees have worked throughout the pandemic and economic crisis to support the American people. IRS employees will now dedicate their holidays to ensuring the Americans have one less financial worry going into the New Year. While federal employees are grateful for any assistance during these harsh economic times, it is unfortunately that Congress has decided to remain silent on a pay raise and thePresident will only offer a 1% raise with no locality adjustments as civil servants work to support the American people. Congress has consistently waited until the last minute to fund federal agencies to the detriment of federal employees and it is time this broken process be reformed,” Hooper concluded.
