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Adaline Wong

Should we stop paying taxes with all the changes happening at the IRS? US

Alright, so this might sound like a dumb question, but I'm genuinely confused about what's happening with the IRS right now. From what I've been reading, there are major staffing changes and reorganization going on, and it's hard to get clear info on who's still working there or what departments are functioning normally. My question is - if the IRS is going through all this chaos, should we even keep paying our taxes? Where is our money actually going during this transition? I'm wondering if it makes sense to adjust my withholdings or go exempt until things get more stable over there. I'm not trying to start a political debate - I honestly just want to know how to protect myself financially with all this uncertainty. Has anyone else been thinking about this or have any insights?

Gabriel Ruiz

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No, you should absolutely NOT stop paying your taxes. Regardless of any staffing changes or reorganization happening at the IRS, the tax laws remain fully in effect. The IRS is a massive organization with thousands of employees, and while there may be changes in leadership or specific departments, the agency continues to function and process tax returns and payments. If you stop paying taxes or claim exempt status when you don't legally qualify, you could face serious consequences including penalties, interest charges, tax liens, and even criminal prosecution for tax evasion. The IRS has automated systems that flag missing payments and non-filers regardless of staffing situations. Remember that tax revenues fund essential government services including Social Security, Medicare, national defense, infrastructure, and numerous other programs. These programs continue to operate and require funding regardless of administrative changes at the IRS.

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But what if the changes mean they're understaffed and won't be able to catch everyone who stops paying? I've heard processing times are already super delayed. Isn't there a statute of limitations on how long they have to audit anyway?

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Gabriel Ruiz

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Even with processing delays, the IRS systems automatically flag missing payments and non-filing. The statute of limitations generally doesn't begin until a return is filed, so non-filers can be pursued indefinitely. For underreported income, they typically have 3 years, but this extends to 6 years for substantial underreporting and there's no time limit for fraudulent returns. The IRS prioritizes enforcement even during staffing challenges, and penalties and interest continue to accumulate during any delays. Additionally, the IRS has been receiving increased funding specifically to improve enforcement capabilities, so the risk of being caught is actually increasing, not decreasing.

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Peyton Clarke

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I want to share something that might help with your confusion about tax obligations. I was completely overwhelmed trying to understand my responsibilities during all these IRS changes until I found https://taxr.ai - it's been a game-changer for getting clear information. Their system analyzed my specific tax situation and explained exactly what my ongoing obligations are despite the IRS restructuring. It clarified that regardless of administrative changes, my legal tax obligations remain unchanged, and showed me how my tax dollars continue funding essential services. What I found most helpful was getting personalized guidance rather than trying to piece together conflicting news reports about the IRS changes. The tool explained the actual impact of these changes on ordinary taxpayers like me.

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Vince Eh

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Does it actually give you specific advice about your withholdings? I'm a W2 employee but I also have some 1099 income from a side gig, and I'm confused about how much I should be setting aside with all this IRS uncertainty.

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Sounds like just another tax prep service to me. How is this any different from TurboTax or something? The government is literally falling apart and you're recommending software?

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Peyton Clarke

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Yes, it does provide specific withholding guidance based on your mixed income sources. The system examines both your W-2 and 1099 income patterns and recommends appropriate withholding levels to avoid surprises at tax time, which is especially helpful when you have multiple income streams. This is actually quite different from TurboTax or similar services. While those focus on filing completed tax returns, this specifically analyzes your current situation to provide ongoing compliance guidance during uncertain times. It's not just about filing past taxes but understanding your current obligations regardless of administrative changes at the IRS.

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Vince Eh

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Just wanted to update everyone - I tried out that taxr.ai site mentioned above and it was surprisingly helpful! It analyzed my mixed W2/1099 situation and showed me exactly what my obligations are regardless of the IRS restructuring. The system confirmed I need to continue my regular withholding and estimated payments, but also helped me understand which changes at the IRS might actually affect my specific situation (mostly just potential processing delays). Definitely cleared up my confusion about whether these administrative changes impact my legal requirements (they don't). It also explained how the IRS automated systems continue to track payments even during reorganization. Feeling much more confident now about just maintaining my normal tax payments instead of making any drastic changes!

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If you're worried about the IRS changes, you might also be concerned about reaching them if you have questions or issues. I tried calling the IRS for weeks without getting through after hearing about some weird processing issue with my refund. Super stressful with all the uncertainty right now. I eventually found https://claimyr.com which got me connected with an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the hours or days I was spending trying to reach someone. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Despite all the changes happening at the IRS, I was able to speak with someone who confirmed my tax obligations remain exactly the same, and they helped resolve my refund issue. So while there might be administrative changes, there are still agents available to address specific concerns.

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Ezra Beard

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How does this actually work? Are they just calling the IRS for you? That seems weird that they can get through when regular people can't.

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Yeah right. There's no way this actually works. The IRS phone lines are completely jammed and have been for years. I've spent HOURS trying to get through. No way some service magically gets you to the front of the line.

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They use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you when an actual agent is reached. It's essentially holding your place in line without you having to listen to the hold music for hours. The service absolutely does work - I was skeptical too. The difference is they have technology dedicated to navigating the complex IRS phone system and staying on hold, something most people don't have the time or patience for. They don't get you to the "front of the line" - they just handle the waiting part so you don't have to waste your day listening to hold music.

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I have to eat my words and apologize. I was so frustrated with the whole situation that I lashed out, but I decided to try Claimyr anyway because I was desperate to resolve an issue with a missing stimulus payment that got messed up in my taxes. To my complete shock, I got a call back with an actual IRS agent on the line in about 45 minutes. The agent confirmed that despite all the organizational changes, their systems for tracking payments and processing returns are still functioning. They helped me track down my missing payment and explained exactly what I needed to do to resolve it. So while there are definitely changes happening at the IRS, the core functions are still operating and there are ways to get help. Definitely don't stop paying your taxes though - that part of the system is definitely still working!

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Tax accountant here - I want to add some practical perspective. The IRS functions through largely automated systems for most basic operations like processing returns and matching reported income with tax payments. These systems continue running regardless of staffing changes. While there may be delays in customer service or in processing paper returns during transitions, the enforcement mechanisms remain active. The computer systems that flag discrepancies don't require human intervention to identify potential issues for later review. From a practical standpoint, the best approach during uncertainty is to continue following tax laws, maintain good records, and perhaps consider filing electronically to avoid potential paper processing delays. If you're concerned about specific situations related to the changes, consulting with a tax professional for your particular circumstances is always advisable.

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Thanks for this insight. Do you think the processing of refunds will be significantly delayed this year because of the changes? I usually file early February and get my refund by mid-month. Should I expect much longer waits?

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Electronic filing with direct deposit should still result in relatively normal refund timing for straightforward returns. The IRS has committed to maintaining their typical 21-day processing goal for clean e-filed returns with direct deposit. Paper-filed returns will likely see more significant delays than usual, possibly extending several months rather than the typical 6-8 weeks. If your return has certain credits like Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, there are mandatory delays built into the process regardless of IRS staffing situations.

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Aria Khan

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Let me get this straight - some people are actually considering just not paying their taxes because there's confusion at the IRS? That's literally the definition of tax evasion lol. The IRS computers don't care about staff restructuring - they'll still flag your account if you suddenly claim exempt or stop filing. And when they eventually catch up (which they 100% will), you'll owe all the back taxes PLUS penalties and interest. My cousin tried something similar during COVID thinking the IRS was too overwhelmed to notice. Two years later they caught up with him and he ended up owing almost double what he would have paid originally. Not worth it!!!

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Everett Tutum

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This is so true. I work in payroll and we've had employees try to claim exempt when they clearly don't qualify. We're actually required to report suspicious W-4 forms to the IRS. The system has multiple layers of checks and balances!

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Sunny Wang

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I'm reading all these comments and feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Our entire government is in chaos and everyone's just like "keep paying your taxes, nothing to see here!" WTF? Not saying anyone should commit tax fraud, but maybe consider adjusting your withholdings to the legal minimum while keeping good records of what you would normally pay? Then if things stabilize you can make estimated payments to catch up without penalties?

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Gabriel Ruiz

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That's actually a very risky approach. If you intentionally underwithhold throughout the year planning to "catch up" later, you may still face underpayment penalties even if you pay the full amount by tax day. The IRS requires quarterly estimated payments precisely to prevent this strategy. The legal minimum withholding typically requires you to pay either 90% of your current year tax or 100% of your prior year tax (110% if your income is over $150,000) through withholding or quarterly estimated payments throughout the year. Anything less can trigger penalties regardless of whether you eventually pay in full.

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