In a recent development from Washington, IRS employees who are vital to the 2025 tax season operations will face a delay in accepting a buyout offer from the federal government. A letter issued on Wednesday informed the staff that positions deemed critical within Taxpayer Services, Information Technology, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service are excluded from the buyout plan until May 15, 2025.
This announcement follows the administration's initiative under President Donald Trump to streamline the federal workforce through a 'deferred resignation program.' The program, aimed at quickly reducing government jobs, has a final submission date set for February 6. The offer extends to approximately 2.3 million federal employees but notably exempts military personnel, U.S. Postal Service workers, and immigration-related positions. Eligible employees accepting the buyout could receive an estimated eight months of salary upon resignation.
According to the Pew Research Center, as of November, over 3 million individuals were employed by the federal government, representing almost 1.9% of the civilian workforce in the United States. However, the proposal has not been without criticism, particularly from union leaders overseeing federal workers.
Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), has urged federal employees not to accept the offer, labeling it as questionable. She emphasized, This is not a beneficial deal for our members. Further, she issued a cautionary note about the implications of consenting to the agreement,
