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By Jasmine Laws
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Thousands of probationary employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who were laid off earlier this year have been told to report back to work by April 14, one day before the federal tax filing deadline, according to reports.
Newsweek has contacted the IRS for comment outside of normal working hours.
Why It Matters
The IRS plays a central role in administering tax-related stimulus checks and refunds, making staffing stability critical during tax season.
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However, the return of the service's employees is overshadowed by looming prospective workforce cuts. Initial plans from President Donald Trump's administration called for an overall cutback of 18 percent of the IRS's workforce, according to Bloomberg Tax.
This would be implemented through a phased approach, including deferred resignations, probationary terminations, and a planned reduction-in-force (RIF) by May 15.
Trevor Norris, deputy assistant secretary for human resources at the Treasury Department, said in court filings that reinstated workers who lack seniority would be disproportionately affected in the upcoming RIF.
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What To Know
Roughly 7,000 probationary IRS workers were initially dismissed in February as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce.
However, separate federal court decisions in Maryland and California last month ordered that the employees be reinstated.
The Trump administration appealed both rulings, and the workers were placed on paid administrative leave pending further instruction.
On April 2, the IRS notified them by email that they should prepare to resume full-time duties by April 14, according to Bloomberg.
It added that reinstated employees would receive instructions on obtaining ID credentials, IT equipment, and workspace assignments ahead of April 14. The IRS also reportedly confirmed that temporary telework arrangements may be offered where space is limited.
Meanwhile, those choosing not to return were instructed to formally resign via internal IRS channels, according to Bloomberg.
What People Are Saying
Kelley Reyes, executive director of the Professional Managers Association, told reporters in March: "[The IRS] cannot afford to lose the experienced and specialized people that they have developed."
One reinstated employee wrote on Reddit, according to CPA Practice Advisor: "My coworker said he heard the managers meeting today where some of them think they're bringing us back just to fire us on April 15th when RIFs start. Another manager asked for my number and texted me that it's possible we'll be fired in two months (a 60 day rif I'm assuming). Still better news than being fired yet and remaining hopeful. Also hopeful for another DRP [deferred resignation program]. I have no faith anymore that they realize we're needed though, it's sad."
Andrew Blair-Stanek, a professor of law at the University of Maryland, Baltimore's Francis King Carey School of Law, told Newsweek: "The probationary employees are not being brought back to help with the current filing season. It's only because federal judges have ruled that the mass firings likely violated due process and civil service laws. DOGE and DOGE-aligned IRS officials will soon re-fire not only these workers, but many more. This time the firings will follow the proper procedures."
He added: "These mass layoffs will hurt IRS customer service. Worse, the number of IRS auditors will be slashed. Unfortunately, if you're a wealthy taxpayer or business owner, this is a great year to start cheating on your taxes. The likelihood that you'll be audited will plunge. Of course, if your income comes from wages, salary, or Social Security, and you try to cheat on your taxes, longstanding IRS automated systems will quickly catch you."
Richard D. Pomp, professor of law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, told Newsweek: "The Trump administration is planning large tax cuts in the near future. The cost savings from shrinking the federal government is a key to financing those tax cuts, as is the hoped for revenue from the tariffs. The IRS is one of the few agencies that can show that for every dollar it spends it generates many, many times that amount."
He added: "Bringing back employees, under court order in some cases, helps ensures things run as smoothly as possible in the midst of the chaos that has been created. Some of my former students who were laid off have already found employment with law firms and told me the fear is that after the April rush is over, there will be another round of firings."
What Happens Next
The court-ordered reinstatement does not shield employees from the pending workforce reductions scheduled for mid-May.
Norris warned in his court filing that restoring certain workers "would be unduly disruptive" if they are likely to be terminated again within weeks.
With the IRS continuing to implement downsizing directives under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), agency operations could face strain well beyond tax season, particularly in enforcement and taxpayer services.
The IRS has yet to confirm how many of the reinstated workers will remain employed past May.
Update 04/01/25, 10.15 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Andrew Blair-Stanek and Richard D. Pomp.
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