IRS Employee Emergency News

 

This page will be updated with information and instructions for IRS employees in the event of a major emergency that has widespread geographic or business impact.

For information on local office closures, IRS employees should call the 24/7 Emergency Hotline — 866-743-5748, select option 3 and then follow the prompts. For TTY access (Federal Relay Service), call 800-877-8339.

If you're involved in an emergency that may require you to evacuate your area, closely monitor your local news for evacuation plans or other instructions that may be announced.

If local officials announce an evacuation, please contact your manager to report your status. If your manager is not available, contact the ERC at 866-743-5748 as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

As a reminder, the Employee Assistance Program 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.

Resources:

  • FEMA Hurricane Ian webpage – Visit the FEMA page for the latest information, to locate a shelter near you and apply for disaster assistance.
  • USA.gov disasters and emergencies – Lists all the government-wide information related to Hurricane Ian activities.
  • Disaster Assistance – Type in your city, zip, etc. to apply for assistance or find out if a declaration was made for your geographic area.
  • Local resources:
  • Employee Assistance Program – Employees and their family members affected by Hurricane Ian can get immediate, no-cost help by dialing a direct telephone number – 800-977-7631 – to contact an EAP counselor. Counselors are available 24/7, with bi-lingual and translation capabilities as needed, to help manage stress and find referrals for contractors, financial advice, day/elder care and more. Local Continuity Representatives and others supporting recovery efforts in the area are encouraged to call should they need help or support during this ongoing crisis.
  • Make your monetary hurricane donations count – Review these tips to figure out the best way to help those affected.

Taxpayer relief and alerts

Updated guidance on wearing masks in IRS facilities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance on Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.

Based on these revised recommendations, effective immediately (updated as of July 27, 2021):

In areas of substantial or high community transmission, all IRS employees, contractors and visitors must wear a mask when in IRS facilities and buildings, regardless of vaccination status. You can check your area's transmission rate at the CDC COVID Data Tracker.

As a reminder, if you have not been vaccinated, you're still required to wear a mask in all IRS facilities and buildings. In areas of low or moderate transmission, in most settings, fully vaccinated people generally don't need to wear a mask or physically distance in federal buildings or on federal land, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules or regulations. Fully vaccinated individuals might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission for a variety of reasons. CDC's guidance for mask wearing and physical distancing in specific settings, including healthcare, transportation, correctional and detention facilities, and schools, should be followed, as applicable.

These changes align with Executive Order 13991 on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing.

If you have a qualified medical condition that prohibits you from wearing a mask, you may request a reasonable accommodation through your manager.