Yesterday, Treasury issued a notice advising annual funding for the government expires on March 23, 2018, see attached file. The Administration does not believe it is necessary for a lapse in funding to occur, however, we need to be prepared for this possibility.
All SETR users are asked to input their time in SETR, and managers validate, by noon, local time, up through Friday, March 23, 2018. This includes Non-WP&C users and Chief Counsel. Additional information is available in the SETR Alert 2018-024.
Additionally, your Business Units will be notifying you whether you are considered an excepted or non-excepted employee. Excepted employees would not be furloughed if a lapse in appropriations occurs, because of their specific duties. This advanced notification is not a formal notice of shutdown. Should a lapse in appropriations occur, all employees will receive a formal notice of furlough, and employees identified as excepted will receive a separate notice.
The IRS Shutdown/Recall website is your one-stop resource for additional information, should a lapse in appropriations occur. This site includes the current FY18 IRS Lapse in Appropriations Filing Season Contingency Plan and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
The uncertainty of the current circumstances puts our workforce in a difficult situation, and should a lapse occur, it could impose hardships on many employees as well as the people that we serve every day. As a reminder, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available for all IRS employees and their immediate family members at any time, day or night, by calling 800-977-7631 (TDD: 800-697-0353). This no-cost counseling service could help address stress and other issues you and your family may face.
As we approach the end of the Continuing Resolution (CR), we are committed to providing you with updated and timely information on any further developments.
Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and patience through this process, and for your dedication and commitment to the Internal Revenue Service and the American people.