IRS update: customer service and technology improvements

[Michael Plaks]

While the "service" part of the Internal Revenue Service has always been lacking, there're some welcome improvements recently:

1. The huge backlog of unopened mail, dating back to the beginning of Covid, is getting smaller.

2. They finally are (sort of) getting with the times and allowing digital uploads in response to their letters, instead of snail mail and fax which used to be the only ways to respond.

3. The IRS walk-in centers are re-opening after being by-appointment-only during Covid.

4. The "Where is my refund" tool on the IRS website has been upgraded to include more helpful information.

5. It's now possible to get through to the IRS on the phone. Unfortunately, the answers you receive are unreliable, as reported in media. And here is a hilarious quote from this article: