Week into shutdown, IRS offices on Long Island forced to close with no sign of when they'll reopen
An IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in Holtsville on Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/James Carbone
The Internal Revenue Service's Long Island offices welcomed residents hours before a partial government shutdown, now entering its second week, would force their temporary closure.
When the shutdown took effect Oct. 1, a contingency plan allowed for the agency to continue operations for five business days, concluding at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
A small number of customers arrived for appointments at Taxpayer Assistance Centers in Holtsville and Bethpage on the scheduled final day the offices remained open until lawmakers in Washington agree to restore funding.
In a statement Oct. 1, the IRS said for the first five days of the shutdown "operations will continue during this time with IRS offices maintaining regular hours, on-line self-service help tools available and other services to meet any federal tax filing or payment obligations as normal."
While the 74,000 nationwide IRS employees remained on the job through Tuesday, it was unclear how many could be furloughed starting Wednesday.
An IRS spokesperson referred Newsday to the posted contingency plan.
"Taxpayers should be aware that filing, depositing and payment deadlines remain in place, and individual and business taxpayers should continue to file returns and make payments as usual," the spokesperson said in an email.
Manuel Pilco traveled from Long Island’s easternmost tip of Montauk Tuesday to reach the nearest center in Holtsville.
The 63-year-old said he had been unaware of the uncertainty surrounding the facility due to the shutdown.
"It’s a long trip," he said, adding he was grateful he got it done.
The Taxpayer Assistance Centers provide in-person services from basic individual tax law assistance to help with forms and handling of check or money order payments, according to the IRS. The centers operate by appointment only. Employees outside the Holtsville center said they had been instructed not to speak to media.
When the office closed at 4:30 p.m., a sign listing the hours of operation on the door was removed.
Tareyton Williams, 32, of Mastic, said he made an appointment Monday at the Holtsville center related to a prior tax return. He said there was "definitely urgency" to get an appointment amid the uncertainty of the shutdown.
He said he waited more than three hours on the phone "for an agent to pick up and take my question."
On Tuesday, he said he was the only person waiting to be seen during the 45 minutes he spent inside the office.
On the shutdown, he said, "Republicans and Democrats really need to come together. I understand there’s a power struggle. ... I just hope this government shutdown ends soon so a lot of these people can get back to work and get back to taking care of their families."
Outside the Holtsville center, Dominic Pierce, of West Babylon, parked his food truck called Dom’s Hot Wheels Kitchen Tuesday morning. Business, though, "has been very, very slow," he said.
Pierce said he typically parks outside the office from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., serving breakfast tacos and lunch specials like curry chicken with rice and seasoned kidney beans. He was starting his third week at the location but was unsure if he would be staying.
"I got to find a spot if this ain’t going to be working," he said. "That’s a fact. Not that many people."
The IRS office in Bethpage continued to assist taxpayers at its office, located at an office park in Sterling Corporate Center.
There were few customers entering the office Tuesday afternoon, about a week before the Oct. 15 filing deadline for those who received extensions.
Rich Rittenhouse, 78, of Lindenhurst, was following up on a tax return Tuesday. He said he had no delays and there was no mention of the government shutdown from workers.
"It was pretty routine and went as well as expected," he said. "There were no problems at all."
Newsday's John Asbury contributed to this story.
Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
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