The IRS employs roughly 80,000 people across the United States, though this number has declined over the past decade

The Internal Revenue Service is a federal agency with offices in every state. As of 2024, the IRS workforce sits around 80,000 employees — a significant drop from about 115,000 in 2010. This decline matters because it affects how long it takes to process your return, answer your questions, and handle disputes.

The workforce includes revenue agents who conduct audits, customer service representatives who answer the phone lines, tax examiners who review returns, and administrative staff who keep the agency running. Not all 80,000 work in the same role or location, and staffing levels vary by region and by season — tax season brings temporary workers into processing centers.

Congress controls the IRS budget, which determines how many people the agency can hire and retain. When funding drops, the IRS reduces staff through attrition (not replacing people who leave) rather than layoffs. This is why wait times have grown and why you may struggle to reach someone by phone during peak tax season.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS currently employs approximately 80,000 people, down from 115,000 in 2010, which has lengthened processing times and phone wait times.
  • IRS staff include revenue agents who audit returns, customer service representatives, tax examiners, and support workers spread across regional offices and processing centers.
  • Staffing levels fluctuate by season and region, with temporary workers added during tax season to handle the volume of returns.
  • Congress sets the IRS budget, which directly determines how many employees the agency can hire and keep on staff.
  • Reduced staffing has made it harder to reach the IRS by phone and has slowed down return processing, especially for complex cases.

Where IRS employees work and what they do

IRS employees work in several types of locations. Processing centers in cities like Ogden, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; and Fresno, California handle the physical sorting and initial review of millions of paper and electronic returns each year. Regional offices in major cities employ revenue agents and tax examiners who conduct audits and handle disputes. Service centers answer phone lines and respond to written correspondence.

A revenue agent typically has a college degree and conducts field audits — visiting a business or meeting with a taxpayer to examine records. A tax examiner works in an office and reviews returns for errors or inconsistencies without leaving the building. Customer service representatives answer questions about filing status, refunds, and account issues. Each role requires different training and experience.

The IRS also employs criminal investigators who work on cases involving tax fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. These investigators have law enforcement authority and often work with the FBI and Department of Justice. Criminal investigation is a small part of the IRS workforce but handles the most serious violations.

How staffing levels affect you

When the IRS has fewer employees, several things slow down. Returns take longer to process — the IRS aims to issue refunds within 21 days of accepting your return, but complex returns or those with errors can take months. Phone lines have longer wait times; during peak tax season, you may wait 30 minutes to an hour or be told to call back because all representatives are busy.

Audits also move more slowly. If the IRS selects your return for examination, a revenue agent may take weeks or months to contact you, depending on their workload and the complexity of your case. Correspondence audits (handled by mail) typically move faster than field audits.

Reduced staffing also means fewer people available to catch errors before returns are processed. This can lead to incorrect refunds or missed fraud — both of which create problems later when the IRS discovers the mistake and has to correct it.

Why IRS employment has declined

The IRS workforce peaked around 2010 at approximately 115,000 employees. Since then, Congress has not increased the IRS budget to keep pace with inflation or population growth. The agency has lost staff through retirement and resignation, and without funding to hire replacements, the workforce has shrunk.

This decline has been intentional in some cases. Between 2013 and 2017, Congress reduced IRS funding as part of broader budget disputes. The agency lost experienced auditors and customer service staff during this period, which created a backlog of work that persists today.

In 2022 and 2023, Congress allocated additional funding to the IRS to increase staffing and modernize systems. However, hiring and training new employees takes time — it can take six months to a year to bring a new revenue agent or customer service representative up to full productivity. The effects of this new funding are still rolling out.

Regional differences in IRS staffing

The IRS does not distribute employees evenly across the country. Large metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago have more regional offices and more staff. Rural areas and smaller states have fewer local IRS offices, which means taxpayers in those regions may have to travel farther to meet with an agent or may rely more heavily on phone and mail contact.

Processing centers are located in specific cities, not spread throughout every state. If you mail a paper return, it goes to the processing center that serves your region, not necessarily the one closest to you geographically. The IRS publishes a map showing which processing center handles returns from each state.

How to reach the IRS when staffing is stretched

Because phone lines are often busy, the IRS recommends using other channels when possible. You can file electronically, which is faster and more accurate than paper filing. You can create an account on IRS.gov to check your refund status, view your account balance, or access transcripts without calling.

If you need to speak with someone, call early in the morning or late in the week — wait times are typically shorter on Thursdays and Fridays than on Mondays and Tuesdays. Avoid calling during the first two weeks of April, when volume is highest.

For complex issues, you can request a callback instead of waiting on hold. The IRS will call you back within a few days during business hours. You can also visit a local IRS office in person if one is near you, though appointments are required and may have a wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many IRS agents audit tax returns?

The IRS does not publish the exact number of revenue agents or auditors on staff, but estimates suggest several thousand work in examination and audit roles across the country. The number has declined along with overall IRS staffing, which is why audit rates have fallen — fewer agents means fewer audits conducted.

Can I request a specific IRS employee to handle my case?

No. The IRS assigns cases based on workload and expertise, not on your preference. If you are assigned a revenue agent for an audit, you can ask questions about their experience with your type of business or return, but you cannot choose who handles your case.

Do IRS employees work from home?

Some do, particularly customer service representatives and tax examiners who review returns by mail. The IRS expanded remote work options during the pandemic and has kept some positions remote. However, revenue agents who conduct field audits and office-based staff at processing centers typically work on-site.

Is the IRS hiring?

Yes, the IRS regularly hires for customer service, tax examination, and administrative roles. Job postings appear on USAJobs.gov, the federal government's employment website. Most positions require a high school diploma or college degree, depending on the role, and a background check.

Why does it take so long to get a refund?

The IRS aims to issue refunds within 21 days, but this depends on staffing levels, return complexity, and whether your return has errors or requires verification. Reduced staffing means fewer people processing returns, which slows the timeline. Filing electronically and providing accurate information speeds up the process.