IRS head announces a shake-up on the eve of the 2026 tax season

Core Insights - The IRS is undergoing significant personnel and operational changes aimed at improving taxpayer service and modernizing the agency ahead of the 2026 tax filing season [1][5] Group 1: Organizational Changes - Frank Bisignano, the CEO of the IRS, announced a reorganization of executive leadership and new priorities for the agency [3] - Gary Shapley, a whistleblower, has been appointed as deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation division, while Jarod Koopman will replace Guy Ficco as head of Criminal Investigation and serve as chief tax compliance officer [4] - Joseph Ziegler, another whistleblower, has been named chief of internal consulting [5] Group 2: Tax Filing Season Preparation - The IRS is preparing to process approximately 164 million individual income tax returns in 2026, which is consistent with the previous year [7] - The average refund amount for the previous year was $3,167, and it is anticipated that the Republican tax law will lead to larger refunds in 2026 [7] Group 3: Challenges Ahead - The IRS workforce has been reduced by 26%, raising concerns about the upcoming tax filing season amidst significant tax law changes [6] - Erin M. Collins, head of the National Taxpayer Advocate, indicated that the 2026 tax season could face challenges due to the workforce reduction and new tax regulations [6]