Ways and Means Democrats Ask IRS for Coronavirus Update

March 10, 2020

The Honorable Charles P. Rettig
Commissioner
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20220

Dear Commissioner Rettig,

We are writing to request that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) update the Committee on Ways and Means (Committee) on the impact of the coronavirus on the tax return filing season.

Specifically, we are concerned about the ability of the IRS to provide taxpayer assistance and process returns, as well as the ability of taxpayers, free tax preparation sites, and tax professionals to meet the filing deadline. Under the Internal Revenue Code, the IRS has authority to extend the time for filing any return for six months or less and the authority to waive certain penalties upon a showing of reasonable cause.

We request your continued evaluation of whether there is any need to extend the tax filing season this year beyond the April 15th deadline. Further, we are hopeful that the IRS will consider the need for relief from certain filing and payment penalties for taxpayers and communities impacted by COVID-19.

As always, the Committee is available to assist the IRS as needed. We remain hopeful that the filing season continues to run smoothly. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

The Honorable Richard E. Neal, Chairman
Committee on Ways and Means

The Honorable John Lewis, Chairman
Subcommittee on Oversight

Tile Honorable Lloyd Doggett

The Honorable Mike Thompson

The Honorable John B. Larson

The Honorable Earl Blumenauer

The Honorable Ron Kind

The Honorable Bill Pascrell, Jr.

The Honorable Danny K. Davis

The Honorable Linda T. Sanchez

The Honorable Brian Higgins

The Honorable Terri A. Sewell

The Honorable Suzan K. DelBene

The Honorable Judy Chu

The Honorable Gwen Moore

The Honorable Daniel T. Kildee

The Honorable Brendan F. Boyle

The Honorable Donald S. Beyer, Jr.

The Honorable Dwight Evans

The Honorable Bradley S. Schneider

The Honorable Tom R. Suozzi

The Honorable Jimmy Panetta

The Honorable Stephanie Murphy

The Honorable Jimmy Gomez

The Honorable Steven Horsford