The Associated Press reports that the IRS has informed employees that those involved in the 2025 tax season will not be eligible for the Trump administration’s federal workforce buyout program until after the taxpayer filing deadline.

A letter sent Feb. 5 states that employees in Taxpayer Services, Information Technology and Taxpayer Advocate Service are exempt from the buyout until May 15, a month after the April 15 filing deadline. 

The buyout program, part of President Donald Trump’s deferred resignation initiative, offers employees a financial incentive to leave their positions while still receiving a paycheck until Sept. 30. However, union leaders and worker advocates have raised concerns about whether the government will fulfill the agreements. 

Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. has urged federal employees not to accept the offer, citing uncertainty over funding and lack of worker protections. She warns that those who change their minds will have no recourse and argues that the program could undermine IRS operations during a critical time. 

With the government operating under a continuing resolution until March, concerns remain about the plan’s impact. For now, IRS employees processing over 140 million tax returns will remain in place through tax season.