In the United States, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced significant leadership changes just days before the upcoming 2026 tax filing season begins on January 26, 2026. Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano made these announcements to a workforce of around 74,000 employees in a letter outlining a reorganization intended to modernize the agency and enhance its services to taxpayers. The agency is preparing to process millions of returns while simultaneously implementing major tax law changes introduced in a spending package signed last summer by former President Donald Trump. Notable personnel changes include the appointment of Gary Shapley, a whistleblower who previously testified in investigations into Hunter Biden’s taxes, as the new deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation division. Joseph Ziegler, another whistleblower, has been named chief of internal consulting, and Jarod Koopman will replace retiring Criminal Investigation chief Guy Ficco while simultaneously taking on the role of chief tax compliance officer. These moves come as the IRS faces challenges such as reduced staff after mass layoffs last year, with a 26% decrease in workforce reported. As the tax filing season approaches, the IRS will implement new deductions and tax relief measures, including provisions for tips and overtime as well as deductions for older Americans. Erin M. Collins, head of the National Taxpayer Advocate, has warned that the IRS might experience complications during the filing season due to workforce reductions and the extensive tax law changes that need to be incorporated. Overall, the agency stated it expects to receive approximately 164 million individual returns, similar to previous years. In light of these changes, Bisignano expressed confidence that the new leadership team is equipped to deliver a successful tax filing season for Americans. He emphasized new priorities, including enhanced customer service, improved tax collection strategies, and safeguarding taxpayer privacy. Taxpayers are urged to utilize online services and electronic filing options to facilitate a smoother tax season, indicating a significant modernization effort by the IRS.