IRS to furlough nearly half its workforce due to government shutdown

The Internal Revenue Service will furlough nearly half of its employees – around 34,000 workers – due to the ongoing government shutdown.

In a statement on Wednesday, the IRS said that “due to the lapse in appropriations”, it will begin its furlough on 8 October for “everyone except already-identified excepted and exempt employees”.

“Employee who are not exempt or excepted are furloughed and placed in a non-pay and non-duty status until further notice; however, all employees should plan to report to work for their next tour of duty,” the IRS said, adding that employees would be given up to four hours to close out work requirements and receive formal furlough notification.

The furlough will leave only 53.6%, or 39,870 IRS employees, working as the government remains shut down.

More details soon …