we have it here, of irs commissioner charles rettig at the senate. [video clip] >> with respect to our current filing season, we are off to a healthy start in terms of tax processing and the operation of our i.t. systems. through april 1, we have processed more than 89 million returns, processed 60 million refunds totaling more than $204 billion. however, there are essentially two distinct filing systems -- seasons. filers who do so electronically receive refunds, many of them, within three or four days of submission of their electronic file. for taxpayers who submit paper returns, it is first in, first out. we are processing approximately 2.7 million returns still that we received in calendar year 2021, so taxpayers who this season choose to file a paper return end up at the end of that stack. host: why is the irs having such a hard time with paper returns? today not have enough people working there -- do they not have enough people working there? guest: it is a people and money issue that's been building for a while, and the pandemic also caused a

host: we have the testimony of irs commissioner charles rettig at the senate. >> with respect to our current filing season we are off to a healthy start. through april 1 we have processed more than 89 million returns, issued more than 63 million refunds totaling more than $204 billion. there are essentially two filing seasons. taxpayers who choose to electronically file who request a direct deposit are receiving their refunds in approximately 21 days. many have received those with respect to taxpayers who submit paper returns, our processing is first in, first out. we are processing approximately 2.7 million returns that we received in calendar year 2020 one. so these taxpayers end up at the end of that stack. host: why is the irs having such a hard time with paper returns? do they not have enough people? guest: it is a people and money issue. it has been building for a while, as well as the pandemic, that caused a significant disruption. the biden administration proposed money for the irs, they got a 5% increase in the budget for this year. they also received enhanced hiring capabil

charles rettig. the second is the national taxpayer advocate for the irs. i would ask each of you to be on in and ask your right hand as a to raise. thank you very much. do you swear to affirm that the testimony that you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth so help you god? >> i do. >> let the record show that both witnesses answered to the affirmative. you are now recognized for your testimony. welcome. mr. rettig: thank you. thank you for the opportunity to provide with us today to be able to provide you with information that you request. i'm like to address a couple of points. i came on board in 2018 as a proud american, not as a member as of the political party. i came on board after six years in practice to work on all sides of congress to make a difference. to work with taxpayers, tax practitioners to improve the tax in the united states and to improve the enforcement efforts, to improve technology. not only for, significantly for taxpayers and tax practitioners in members of grist, also the employees ready back on of

. >> irs commissioner charles rettig says the agency is simply understaffed and underfunded. >> our operationsport is down 100 million dollars. that's real money. but republicans and democrats have very different ideas about how to solve the problems. >> one no-brainer is to support the 80 billion dollar investment in the irs within president biden's been america tax plan. well, congressman jerry connelly wants to give the irs more money. congressman jody hice says republicans are against funneling money into an agency. they think lax oversight. absolutely no. >> republicans are not willing to simply give the irs more money. >> on a long term basis without any accountability. congressman andrew clyde wants to see more drastic measures. it's time we reform the system and eliminate the irs once and for all. >> but democrats argue putting more resources into the irs would mean earning more in tax revenue. every dollar invested in force met would fi additional dollars in additional revenue collected. >> in washington, i'm hannah brandt. >> a new report says that air pollution in the united states

r s usually enters tax season with the backlog of under a million iris commissioner charles rettig hasormed congress his agency is severely understaffed, with 20,000 fewer workers compared to a decade ago. the agency recently announced plans to hire 10,000 new workers. the irs also says as many as 1.5 million people have left money on the table by not filing your taxes in 2018. the average refund is about $800 reporter heather sullivan tells us how to make sure you're not missing out. you could be owed hundreds of dollars. the irs says 1.5 million people are owed a median refund of more than $800. because they haven't filed their 2018 tax return. yet that's the median average, which means half of the refunds will be more than half will be less, but you don't know until you actually prepare the return. and file it and this isn't new. the irs does. it happens every year . there's a statute of limitations. that means you've only got three years to file that 2018 return and claim the refund or it's not your money anymore. it goes to the department of treasury, but the stakes are even highe

charles rettig appeared at a u.s. senate hearing today. he said his agency needs more workers and upgraded systems to deal with a logjam of more than 20 million tax returns. charles: modernized technology would significantly improve our ability to resnd to a crisis, pandemic-related or otherwise. it is simply unacceptable for us to remain largely a paper-based organization operating in a digital world environment. stephanie: senators complained that constituents are claiming they still have not received refunds from previous years. and in sports, major league baseball had opening day, delayed one week after a long labor dispute. the season began in chicago, where the cubs hosted the milwaukee brewers at wrigley field. and in augusta, georgia, the masters opened with tiger woods playing for the first time since a severe car crash last year. still to come on the "newshour," former congressman will hurd shares his ideas for an american reboot. lithuania's foreign minister discusses the ongoing russian invasion of ukraine. an art exhibit chroni

we have it here, of irs commissioner charles rettig at the senate.deo clip] >> with respect to our current filing season, we are off to a healthy start in terms of tax processing and the operation of our i.t. systems. through april 1, we have processed more than 89 million returns, processed 60 million refunds totaling more than $204 billion. however, there are essentially two distinct filing systems -- seasons. filers who do so electronically receive refunds, many of them, within three or four days of submission of their electronic file. for taxpayers who submit paper returns, it is first in, first out. we are processing approximately 2.7 million returns still that we received in calendar year 2021, so taxpayers who this season choose to file a paper return end up at the end of that stack. host: why is the irs having such a hard time with paper returns? today not have enough people working there -- do they not have enough people working there? guest: it is a people and money issue that's been building for a while, and the pandemic also caused a sign

. >> next, irs commissioner charles rettig testifies on the agency's operations before a house subcommittee an hour and