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Published: February 11, 2026 | Last Updated: February 11, 2026

Improve Responses to Freedom of Information Act Requests:

Improving the timeliness, completeness, and transparency of IRS responses to Freedom of Information Act requests is necessary to uphold taxpayer rights, administrative accountability, and public trust.

Objective 4

TAS Recommends

To strengthen FOIA administration and uphold taxpayer rights, TAS recommends that the IRS:

Recommendation 7-1

Reduce Processing Time: Develop and implement a plan by the end of CY 2025 to significantly reduce the average processing time for FOIA requests and ensure more responses are issued within the 20-day statutory timeframe.

Recommendation 7-2

Address the FOIA Backlog: Establish a comprehensive strategy by the end of CY 2025 to reduce the FOIA request backlog to sustainable levels and prevent future accumulation.

Recommendation 7-3

Modernize FOIA Processes: Upgrade FOIA processing systems and workflow to enhance timeliness, efficiency, and consistency across all IRS business units by the end of CY 2025. This may include

leveraging automation and improved case management systems.

Recommendation 7-4

Clarify FOIA Procedures and Training: Review and update internal FOIA procedures and training material to ensure IRS employees understand what information they must disclose and how to avoid excessive or unnecessary redactions, consistent with FOIA’s intent.

Status

Return to FY26 Objective Statuses