Published: February 11, 2026 | Last Updated: March 5, 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.

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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.

Quarterly Updates

No updates to report for the first quarter of FY 2026. Progress during this period was affected by the lapse in appropriations and operational impacts, including reduced staffing capacity, reassignment of work and priorities, and reevaluation of TAS’s approach to managing systemic advocacy objectives and associated initiatives. TAS is refining its plans, quarterly activities, and success measures and will resume providing updates in the second quarter, including reporting any outcomes achieved during the first quarter.

Status

Return to FY26 Objective Statuses