India, Feb. 7 -- Americans expecting their tax refunds this filing season could face longer wait times as the Internal Revenue Service struggles with staffing shortages and a growing backlog of returns, according to The Independent.

A recent watchdog report from the US Treasury Department warns that refund delays are likely after the IRS lost nearly 27 percent of its workforce since January 2025. The reduction has left the agency with fewer employees to process returns and respond to taxpayer inquiries, raising concerns as millions file ahead of the April deadline.

The workforce decline follows layoffs carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative overseen by billionaire Elon Musk during the early days of ...