Workers at the Internal Revenue Service offices in Fresno were told that all buildings will close at noon Friday and stay closed until further notice during the coronavirus outbreak.
In an email to IRS employees, Craig Stevens, the senior commissioner’s representative for Fresno, said that employees are expected to work from home or another location if they have the proper technology or when the technology is in place.
Until then, Stevens wrote, “the employee may be granted an equivalent amount of weather and safety leave (i.e., the weather or other safety-related condition could not be reasonably anticipated by the employee, and he/she is unable to perform productive work at the telework site.)”
Tax Return Deadline Pushed Back to July 15
The regional IRS center, which processes tax returns, employs about 5,000 people.
Stevens said that employees should direct questions to their managers.
The shutdown came after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that the federal income tax filing date had been pushed back from April 15, to July 15.
Workers Cited Unhealthy Conditions
Before the Fresno closure, employees there expressed concerns about working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many of my team members are experiencing heightened anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic being declared a national emergency, with the number of cases rising daily,” an employee who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisals for speaking told GV Wire Thursday.
“Many of our friends and family are now quarantined in their homes as society has taken on the practice of social distancing yet we are still required to show up to work. There is zero possibility of social distancing at work. We share desks and equipment, and there is no cleaning or sanitizing of work stations between shifts. Unless an employee brings his or her own sanitizing wipes, the IRS does not provide that.”
The same employee said the building is infested with rats.
“Numerous signs throughout the work areas warn employees not to eat in the work areas due to an active rat problem,” she said. “Just a week ago I heard a lady in another pod screech multiple times, to which my team lead responded, ‘sounds like we have a friend visiting.’ None of us new hires understood what he meant, until he explained that the ‘friend’ was a rat. Needless to say, we were a bit freaked out.”
IRS Employees Elsewhere Sought Closures
On Monday, the website govexec.com reported that the National Treasury Employees Union had “called on the federal government to close all federal buildings across the country that house at least 50 employees, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations to end all large gatherings.”
And, on Wednesday, The Texas Tribune reported that IRS employees “sandwiched in cubicles” in the Austin office, said they were worried about unsafe working conditions in the face of the pandemic.
Noting that many of Austin’s IRS workers were elderly with underlying health issues, one employee said, it was like being “in a nursing home on a cruise ship — the IRS Princess.”
Two Princess Cruises ships experienced COVID-19 outbreaks, prompting Carnival Corporation to suspend operations of the Princess Cruises line of ships on March 12.
Lina
March 20, 2020 at 7:10 pm
As an IRS employee falling in one of the 3 Higher risks categories, it was a tough decision to take leave using the “Weather & Safety Act” . But there was confusion everywhere from the Union not being able to give clear cut definitions of what employees could or could not do. Upper management were keeping Mum on what employees options were. The safety of the employees were not thought of. Serving the public was first. I know we are the IRS & serve the public but we are human beings w/families as well… It was hard not feeling the anxiety & severity of this Pandemic as well as being ill prepared.
Brenda
May 14, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Yes well I think you should be back on the job and wear mask and public serves is like doctor and nurses and we can’t live on air and I need my check I made a mistake I need to update my info cause I’ve been out here suffering without a job or home or my family and we need to have a human to help us not these computers that are hack thank you .let’s get back to work American.
Tanya Wood
May 26, 2020 at 10:49 am
So are tax returns being keep on the desk of who ever in puts that has been received. My return has been in the process status sence March 5Th. And I am a care giver that has to be eating a mask all shift.
Anderson
March 21, 2020 at 9:52 am
Yes.. I witnessed no safety practices being implemented in the work environment.. and the last several months… coughing… sneezing.. and close contact still continued
Ltanya boling
March 24, 2020 at 10:09 pm
I’m still waiting on my income. Tax I need to pay my Bill’s buy food my taxes was held because irs didn’t have any inform about my insurance it was fax and mailed to irs in Fresno before the virus and I have not heard from irs please help me so I can pay bills.thank you .
Sadie
March 31, 2020 at 6:37 pm
Tax returns are being held in the Fresno PO distribution center as the IRS center is ‘closed”. Who is responsible for retrieving these returns? Total lack of accountability.
Daniel
June 9, 2020 at 8:17 am
Indeed alot of us our returns are there this is unacceptable
Jen
June 20, 2020 at 2:42 am
Same here
Niela
April 7, 2020 at 8:51 am
I need to get a hold of someone who works for The IRS Asap
Dede
April 17, 2020 at 10:05 am
I had to file a paper return it was returned to me and I was told to send in additional papers attached so that was a month ago it’s been way over 21 days how am I supposed to get my refund let alone a stimulus check if the irs is closed and not processing returns
Bob
April 19, 2020 at 9:04 pm
They are essential employees and many taxpayers need there refund now not months from now. many of us have to continue working in not ideal working conditions risking our health but because at the very least they should have
reduced numbers of workers.
Elizabeth Moore
April 23, 2020 at 12:33 pm
Any update on when fresno will be opened back up? I too am waiting for my return to pay my bills..
Bill McEwen
April 24, 2020 at 7:53 am
https://gvwire.com/2020/04/20/health-officer-i-think-we-will-be-on-track-for-fresno-reopening-may-7/
Turea
May 18, 2020 at 8:10 am
What about the people who been waiting on there Federal taxes to get by?T
Jan Gruewnald Espiritu
May 18, 2020 at 9:35 pm
Is there an update on all the tax returns piling up at the post office distribution center since IRS offices were closed in Fresno. Have they reopened and are they processing returns?
Bill McEwen
May 19, 2020 at 8:50 am
The Fresno IRS has not reopened.
Tanya
June 2, 2020 at 11:32 am
So when are they reopening. I have been working up close and personal with our elderly. Wearing mask the whole work day. They have my tax return in the process for 13 weeks now.
Jim
June 3, 2020 at 12:34 am
Bill, any confirmation on when IRS Fresno is reopening for paper filings?
Bill McEwen
June 3, 2020 at 7:42 am
Not a word
Norman L Boney
May 7, 2020 at 8:00 am
I live in Ohio. I completed my tax return on Mar 7, 2020 and mailed it to IRS, Fresno. I requested my refund status from IRS.Gov and they have no record of it. Can I assume that it was never processed?
Thank you
Tony
May 30, 2020 at 7:26 am
I sent my return in on February 27th. They cannot provide any information.
Lisa Holmes
June 28, 2020 at 11:13 pm
Same
Jerald Helland
May 8, 2020 at 11:38 am
What is the expectation we will hear something regarding our submitted federal tax filings sent to Fresno, CA? I am sure many people need their tax refund at this difficult time. It would seem prudent to at least scan the returns received to acknowledge receipt to those looking for information, without a response everyone who sent a return to Fresno is in limbo.
Nick Humez
July 28, 2020 at 6:01 am
Couldn’t have put it better myself. I mailed in my (dozen-page) paper return to Fresno on March 28. Repeated “Where’s My Return” inquiries on the irs.gov wwebsite merely elicit the response that the IRS “has no information” about my return. I recognize that the closing of the Fresno office (rats and all? ) has delayed the processing of paper returns, but not to log them in so that receipt can be acknowledged is unconscionable. At this point I just want to know that the IRS did, in fact, receive it. I’m a retired teacher on Social Security, and that refund is in effect an involuntary interest-free loan I am obliged for now to make to the nation. I’d like to call it in now — it’s been over four months since I filed, after all — but the crucial first step is acknowledgement that my timely return was, in fact, received at all.
Leslie Weber
May 20, 2020 at 4:22 pm
I live in Wisconsin. I am an essential worker … working in a health clinic with people coughing in my face all day long. Please put on a mask, clean the IRS office and get back to work in a safe atmosphere…. it can be done. If any of us out here [still working] go down with Covid we Will need our money to survive. Please open this office and process our tax returns. Thank you.
Rowena D. Goree
May 21, 2020 at 7:13 am
I wouldn’t think that it’s would have so many issues and hopefully that they would find a better system to prevent so many errors.
Caroline
May 21, 2020 at 8:55 pm
Why cant those of us who filed paper now file electronically. Surely they would be able to see duplicate once they start processing. This is ridiculous. Others are working at least some of employees.
Susan
May 23, 2020 at 9:04 am
When is the Fresno, CA office going to open? Enough is enough already! Are we going to be paid interest on our refunds that have been sitting idle! We need our money!!
Sheila
May 23, 2020 at 9:50 am
I sent my amended return to the Fresno office on Thursday, March 26th from Ohio! I even paid extra to get it there faster. I know they received it the following Tuesday or Wednesday. It would be nice if they would go back to work so people could get their money!! A bunch of other people have gone back to work or have worked through this whole mess!! Makes no sense to have all these returns sitting there piling up and having the people wait for months! It says info is not available until 3 weeks but it’s been about 8 weeks!!! Take precautions if you feel the need to do so otherwise quit whining about being afraid to go back to work & do your job!
Janine
May 27, 2020 at 8:59 am
I mailed in my husband’s federal tax return in paper format back on March 7, and the USPS says it was delivered to the Fresno office on March 9 at 5:47am. This was before the office closure and before we were even aware that the offices would close. As of today there is no status reported on his refund. We tried pulling it up online and over the phone and there is no record of it at all. This is extremely frustrating. We don’t know what to do. There is no one at IRS to talk to either, over the phone or in person. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Tony
May 31, 2020 at 2:23 pm
I’m still waiting also. Probably not until July 15th.
Bj
May 27, 2020 at 11:19 am
My tax return has been under review. I had to mail my documents to the Fresno branch and that was in march . tried to fax but the line is busy if Amazon workers are still working why not the irs this is real important given the circumstances my family is in due to this man made tragedy.
T
May 27, 2020 at 12:53 pm
I mailed my amended return the Beginning of March and mine still says that my information is unavailable and I really need my refund
Mary
May 27, 2020 at 9:16 pm
How many hundreds of thousands of people are in need of financial relief and being held hostage by yet another government inadequacy for finding a solution to a logistics problem? It’s been over two months. Unfortunate that we will not be earning the same interest on our money that the government is earning – while the rest of Fresno is opening up in droves….Which media outlet does it take? Which button has to be pushed? There was no publicized announcement the office was closed while we were mailing our returns.
“Working from home” is of no assistance if the paperwork is being held at the USPS. The bottleneck must be tremendous by this time. Grease your engines and get this motor running. The American public is relying on our government employees – in all departments.
David
May 28, 2020 at 12:30 pm
I’ve waited weeks for my 2018 taxes to be processed and of course thats holding up the stimulus fund should I be re-sending to another branch?
Philip
May 29, 2020 at 5:26 pm
I mailed in my tax return on March 6th. Normally doesn’t take this long to get my refund back. How would I contact someone just to make sure it was received at the Fresno office?
Marie
June 4, 2020 at 11:42 am
Here it is…June 4th. I mailed both of 2019 tax returns for my son and for my husband and I on March 10th…way before any government office closings. We are all out of work and our refunds ( which are more than the stimulus money, which by the way, lasted less than 2 weeks!) We have bills to pay NOW without anyone allowing ‘ grace periods’, and we cant buy food….Fresno has many businesses open, this is ludicrous!!!! Not to mention never being able to reach a LIVE person at IRS ….The government is earning interest on our money while it is being held hostage! Interest that we will never receive. Somebody PLEASE help !!@
Michael
June 5, 2020 at 9:41 pm
I dont understand why some people cant go in there and start working on those paper returns. This is absolutely ridiculous. I did my taxes in February! I didnt get a stimulus check for my daughter, nor did I get my federal return still. I think you guys are smarter than this and could have developed a system to figure this out. And if you need a system go ahead and email and I’ll help you with that development. That’s not sarcasm either. Lol
Tonya
June 9, 2020 at 8:17 am
Does anyone know when they will be opening IRS in Fresno? I don’t get any response when emailing IRS and no live people when I try to call. Is anyone even going through the mail? I sent amended before pandemic and it’s not in the system. I need to know if we can send to different office that is in operation.
Ron Jeremy
June 9, 2020 at 12:56 pm
IRS facilities in Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan and Missouri will start reopening June 15, Rettig said in an email dated Wednesday, followed by operations in Puerto Rico, Ohio, Indiana, California and Oregon on June 29. The facilities include key processing centers, notice print facilities and call center operations, Rettig said in the email.
https://www.law360.com/tax-authority/articles/1280059/irs-to-reopen-offices-in-8-states-puerto-rico-by-june-29
Janine
June 10, 2020 at 2:46 pm
Thank you Ron. This is really helpful. Looks like the Fresno office will be reopening on June 29. Just two and a half weeks before the tax deadline. Wow. My husband sent his back on March 9 as a paper return. I’ve been checking routinely online and there is no information on it at all. So frustrating. His CA state return was done the same way and he got his refund in about a month or so. Why the fed return is insanely delayed is beyond me.
Oscar Garcia
June 10, 2020 at 7:17 pm
Same here wish they open soon
Sebastian Hawks
June 29, 2020 at 10:58 am
The rats who closed this essential operation down for all these months should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. This is ridiculous, I mailed my return in on March 9th and they owe me $600. Also Why on earth do people in Illinois have to mail our returns to Fresno when there are cities in the Midwest with IRS processing facilities. I am so sick of politicians using this corona virus as an excuse to punish people.
Sandra Adams
June 13, 2020 at 5:26 pm
We are all in this together. I don’t want to think someone is unsafe at work because of my needs. Still, this is a great illustration of the need to diversify the way people can work when the covid hits the fan. Hoping everyone can get back to work soon, even if it is from home. Peace out!
Sharon
June 14, 2020 at 9:59 am
Also sent paper return on March 9, 2020 to Fresno, Ca.. I am convinced this is not so much Covid related as more corruption on part of this administration. USPS workers process mail every day since covid began without taking off work. This government doesn’t pay people for not working (administrative leave), unless there is something in it for them. Any tax returns that owed money to irs, those have all been processed most likely.
Marsha Holly
June 15, 2020 at 4:03 pm
we got a stimulus check deposited in my DECEASED MOTHERS checking acct. mailed a personal check, as instructed, to serve as reimburment, mailed to, as instructed, the Fresno office of IRS. The check still has not cleared her bank acct. mailed 5/7/2020
Rod Steelman
June 16, 2020 at 4:08 pm
It makes no sense to remove ALL employees. No wonder I’m STILL waiting, 12 weeks later, on my tax return. Because it’s sitting in an EMPTY building. Why not have 1 or 2 people as a skeleton crew, working to get people’s returns out? Great job, IRS. What a joke.
Yury Telegin
June 18, 2020 at 9:30 am
I have received my economic impact payment DAMAGED BY USPS, the bank wont deposit it because the corner is missing… I am trying to call to the IRS ph#800-829-1040, 2 attempt, with holding 10 mins somebody on the line, who then transfers me for somebody who can reorder, waiting another 30mins, and the phone just hangig up… the offices are closed, I really don t know what else to do to get my check reordered……..once again its check for economic impact payment………please….please please ANY HELP???????
Frustrated
June 22, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Please call your United States Congressperson to request a status of the Fresno IRS office.
My Representative’s office in Washington stated they would check on it.
Rachel Gabel
June 24, 2020 at 8:02 am
I mailed an amended tax return to the Fresno office April 28, 2020, which was sent first class mail. My parents account filed the original return electronically, however, checked the box that I could be declared as a dependent. I am not nor did my parents declare me as a dependent. My baby was born in December of 2019 and he was not list either.
Anyway, I can’t file an amended return for IL, until it goes through the Federal IRS and I get my tax refund and stimulus check. I’ve called the IRS for an update and the online, but there is nothing to show that it was ever received. There is no longer tracking information. Because it was mailed first class from the post office, I can assume that it arrived at the Fresno, CA office. I would like to know that status. This was not a difficult change. I should get a larger refund and a stimulus check. Please respond with what is going on at the Fresno office. Thank you.
Bill McEwen
June 24, 2020 at 8:04 am
https://gvwire.com/2020/06/23/fresno-regional-irs-center-will-reopen-monday/
Janel Ely
July 8, 2020 at 9:02 pm
So has it reopened? I sent my offer in compromise payment in March. I would really like my refund that is due to me. I need it niw that I have been out if work for months. Savings run dry.
Andy
July 13, 2020 at 7:25 am
Hi I submitted my tax return at the end of February and still haven’t recieved them. My state taxes came in a matter of days. I understand that this location closed but if it is open whomever has tax returns coming to them should get them.
JACK
July 16, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Hello, I mailed my tax due for 1019 to Fresno IRS office on June 24 and they
have not cashed the check. Will this office ever open? It’s difficult to get information.
Marie
July 19, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Well, here it is… July 19th ( my last post here was June 4th)…still NO refund, NO ability to see if Fresno office actually opened on June 29th…NO real person thru IRS phone system…and definitely NO help from reaching out to our Congressman !! What a joke !! 18 weeks ago the tax returns were mailed. Not ONE person from the government through any news media interview has even addressed what the plan is. We are unemployed, have unpaid bills, empty cupboards….WTF?
Bill McEwen
July 20, 2020 at 8:14 am
The Fresno IRS campus opened on June 29, and workers there say they are processing tax returns.
Marc Gonzales
July 22, 2020 at 12:58 pm
I mailed my 1040-X (Amendment) on April 20th and they just cashed in the check yesterday (July 21st), so they are putting in work.
Lisa
July 26, 2020 at 6:18 pm
I am still waiting for my first stimulus check from U.S. treasury in Fresno California. I sent the 2400.00 back to you and a letter explaining my husband is incarcerated and doesn’t qualify for a stimulus check. The bank wouldn’t cash it because he was not with me being he is incarcerated. So i sent it back to make a new check out to me as his wife only for 1200.00. I sent it back in May of this year when i received it May 8th. It went to his mother’s address because he used his mothers address on his taxes. I need the 1200.00 sent to my address and not his mothers. The same goes if there is a second stimulus check. He is on probation for three years when he gets out this August 2020 and still wouldn’t qualify being on probation three years.
Melissa
August 22, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Still waiting on my 2018 tax refund that was mailed at the end of March. This is insane!