The year 2024 has not quite come to a close and many people may not yet be thinking about filing their 2024 income tax return, but perhaps they should.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has made significant improvements in taxpayer services, largely due to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, yet continues to struggle with a backlog of claims related to a coronavirus pandemic-era tax credit program and delays in resolving certain identity theft cases,

The annual report by the agency’s national taxpayer advocate also flagged ongoing problems with the troubled Employee Retention Credit.

An independent watchdog finds the IRS has improved its overall taxpayer service through Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act but is slow to resolve certain identity theft cases.