Although 2020 is almost over, the IRS still has about 1 million 2019 returns to process, as well as 3 million pieces of unopened mail, due to logistical difficulties introduced by the pandemic, reported MarketWatch. What's more, this is actually an improvement over before: Last month, the IRS had 2.5 million unopened returns and 5.3 million pieces of unopened mail. IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig called for patience and understanding from everyone; while admitting this was no excuse, the commissioner said that IRS employees are going through the same problems as every other American during this pandemic. He said that the agency has 59,000 staffers working overtime and over weekends to get through as much of the pile as they can, though MarketWatch said that the IRS had previously noted that some taxpayers won't get a response until as late as January.

For more on what's happening at the IRS, please register for the NYSSCPA IRS Practices and Procedures Conference on Dec. 3 (linked here and here.)