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UnverifiableNews · Politics

Yes, Bessent and Bisignano Did Call 2025 'the Most Successful Filing Season in IRS History' — But the Claim Is Disputed

“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS Chief Frank Bisignano stated in April that the IRS maintained service levels and achieved 'the most successful filing season in IRS history'”

The argument in brief

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS Commissioner Frank Bisignano did publicly declare the 2025 tax filing season the most successful in IRS history, citing service levels and processing metrics. That part is true — both made the claim in official April 2025 press releases. However, independent analysts, former IRS officials, and the union representing IRS workers pushed back, arguing that thousands of layoffs under DOGE create serious risks that short-term numbers don't capture.

Why it spread

This claim took off because it lands right in the middle of a heated debate about whether DOGE-driven federal cuts are smart reform or reckless dismantling. Supporters of the cuts shared it as proof that leaner government works. Critics shared it as an example of spin — pointing to the layoffs as evidence the headline doesn't tell the whole story. Both sides had a reason to amplify it, which pushed it far and fast.

The claim is true in a narrow but important sense: Bessent and Bisignano really did say it. In April 2025, the U.S. Treasury and the IRS both published official releases declaring the 2025 filing season historically successful, pointing to phone wait times, processing speeds, and refund rates. So the statement about what they said is accurate.

The Treasury's press release and a matching IRS.gov announcement both used the phrase 'most successful filing season in IRS history.' IRS Commissioner Bisignano specifically highlighted phone service levels and how quickly refunds went out. On the surface, those are real metrics — not invented numbers.

But here's where it gets complicated. The Washington Post and Politico both reported that independent tax policy analysts and former IRS officials questioned the rosy picture. Their concern: thousands of IRS employees were laid off or took buyouts during the filing season itself, under cuts driven by the DOGE initiative. Short-term call answer rates might look fine while the agency is quietly hollowing out.

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS workers, was more direct. They disputed the characterization entirely, arguing that mass workforce reductions mean the agency's long-term capacity to serve taxpayers and enforce tax law is seriously compromised — even if this spring's numbers held up. Watchdog groups echoed similar concerns to Politico.

The honest read: the officials said what they said, and the filing season metrics they cited appear to be real. But calling it the best in history while simultaneously cutting thousands of staff is a framing choice, not a neutral fact. When you see triumphant government press releases during major workforce cuts, it's worth asking which numbers are being highlighted and which ones aren't.

Sources

  • U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Release

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a statement in April 2025 declaring the 2025 filing season 'the most successful filing season in IRS history,' citing maintained service levels and processing metrics.

  • IRS Newsroom / IRS.gov

    The IRS published a release in April 2025 in which IRS Commissioner Frank Bisignano echoed the characterization of the 2025 filing season as historically successful, pointing to phone service levels, processing times, and refund issuance rates.

  • The Washington Post

    Reporting confirmed that Bessent and Bisignano made the 'most successful filing season in IRS history' claim, though independent tax policy analysts and former IRS officials questioned the characterization given significant staff reductions under DOGE.

  • National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)

    The NTEU, which represents IRS workers, disputed the rosy characterization, noting that thousands of IRS employees had been laid off or offered buyouts during the filing season, raising concerns about long-term capacity even if short-term metrics held.

  • Politico

    Politico reported on the tension between the administration's claims of a successful filing season and concerns from tax professionals and watchdog groups about reduced IRS staffing and potential downstream effects on enforcement and taxpayer services.

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