President Donald Trump’s sweeping reform of the federal bureaucracy has now extended to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), raising concerns about whether tax refunds could be delayed. Under the leadership of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, various federal agencies have already seen layoffs and significant changes.
At least one DOGE official was seen at the IRS headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, according to a Reuters report. Gavin Kliger, a senior figure on Musk’s team, visited the agency to review its operations, marking the first instance of DOGE representatives directly engaging with IRS leadership. Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed that Kliger met with senior IRS officials as part of a broader effort to streamline federal processes.
President Trump himself confirmed that DOGE would be reviewing IRS systems, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to restructuring government agencies. This move follows DOGE’s recent access to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s payment systems, prompting concerns about the potential exposure of sensitive taxpayer data.
Could your tax refund be affected?
While there is no official confirmation that tax refunds will be impacted by the DOGE audit, lawmakers are raising red flags. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to voice his concerns, stating: “My office is hearing that DOGE is now at the IRS. That means Musk’s henchmen are in a position to dig through a trove of data about every taxpayer in America. And if your refund is delayed, they could very well be the reason.”
Following reports of DOGE’s involvement with Treasury payment systems, a group of House Democrats sent a letter to the acting IRS commissioner. The lawmakers requested information on what confidential data DOGE had accessed and how many taxpayers could be affected.
The IRS has yet to issue an official statement on whether the audit will cause delays in processing refunds. However, given the recent changes across other government departments under the Trump administration, many fear that the shake-up could lead to unexpected disruptions.
When can you expect your refund?
The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on January 27, 2025, with the filing deadline set for April 15. Typically, if you file electronically and choose direct deposit, you can expect to receive your refund within 10 to 21 days after the IRS processes your return. However, those filing paper returns should anticipate a processing time of four to eight weeks.
Refund delays often occur due to errors or incomplete filings. Even minor mistakes—such as incorrect Social Security numbers, income details, or deductions—can trigger IRS reviews, leading to processing slowdowns. Taxpayers claiming certain credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), may also experience longer processing times due to fraud prevention measures.
To track the status of a refund, taxpayers can use the IRS’s Where’s My Refund? tool on IRS.gov.
What’s next for the IRS?
The Trump administration remains firm in its stance that federal agencies must undergo significant restructuring. On February 13, President Trump addressed concerns over the IRS audit, stating: “I think that the Internal Revenue Service will be looked at like everybody else; just about everybody is going to be looked at. They [DOGE] are doing a hell of a job; it’s an amazing job they’re doing.”
Not everyone shares the administration’s enthusiasm. Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, warned of potential privacy violations, telling USA Today: “When Americans interface with the government, there’s a law in place, a privacy law, that is supposed to foreclose people from seeing it or using it for anything but [processing] these payments. And so it’s incredibly problematic to think about an unelected billionaire and his team having access to it, being able to see it or change it.”
With tax season approaching, millions of Americans are watching closely to see how the DOGE-led IRS audit unfolds. As the government works through this new phase of restructuring, taxpayers are encouraged to stay informed and keep track of any potential impacts on their refunds.
