Jan. 30, 2026, 1:23 p.m. CT
Tax refunds may be disrupted by a looming partial government shutdown as the Senate continues to clash over spending bills.
Not even three months have passed since the last shutdown, which, at 43 days, went down as the longest in U.S. history. Here’s what Illinois taxpayers should know as the government funding deadline nears.
Is the government shutting down?
The Senate announced a compromise spending bill Thursday night, which would fund the DHS for just two weeks while lawmakers negotiate over ICE reforms, and would fund other government agencies through September.
The Senate has yet to vote on the measure, though. Lawmakers reconvened at 11 a.m. Friday, but Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he would hold up the vote until he gets a guarantee the Senate will vote on legislation he supports.
After this, the legislation would still need to go back to the House for a final vote, which would likely not happen until after the funding deadline.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told USA TODAY on Thursday that at least a brief shutdown seems likely because of the time it will take to get House members back to the Capitol to vote on the funding measure. Monday likely is the “earliest” the House will vote, Johnson said.
How did Illinois lawmakers vote ahead of shutdown?
Both Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth voted against the package Thursday, according to the U.S. Senate website.
Seven Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the package.
Does the IRS close during a shutdown?
The IRS’s ability to stay open during a shutdown depends on funding.
The IRS halted most of its major functions during the October 2025 partial shutdown, despite expectations that allocated funding would carry it through the standoff. Within the first week, the IRS furloughed about 50% of its employees and reduced services after its coffers ran out.
Automated e-filing and telephone calls still went through; however, all in-person appointments were canceled, walk-in taxpayer assistance centers were closed, audits, applications, paper processing and appeals were halted or slowed and refunds were delayed.
Does the tax deadline change during a government shutdown?
No, the April 15 tax submission deadline does not change in the event of a government shutdown unless explicitly stated otherwise.
“All tax deadlines remain in effect, including those covering individuals, corporations, partnerships and employers,” the IRS said during the 2025 shutdown.
Will tax refunds be impacted by a government shutdown?
Yes, tax refunds can be impacted by a full or partial government shutdown.
If the IRS limits services due to a funding lapse during a shutdown, refunds are not paid during that time, according to the IRS page from the 2025 shutdown. The exception last time was for individual taxpayers who filed their 1040 forms electronically without errors, which could be automatically processed and directly deposited.
Has the government ever shut down during tax season?
The government has not previously shut down during tax season, so a possible shutdown this week, as the 2026 tax filing season begins, could significantly disrupt the IRS.
However, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Trump administration, through the Treasury Department and IRS, extended the federal income tax filing and payment deadline for 2019 taxes from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.
Additionally, the IRS issued Notice 2022-36, which provided penalty relief to most people and businesses who filed certain 2019 or 2020 returns late. To qualify for the relief, eligible tax returns had to be filed on or before Sept. 30, 2022.
It’s unclear whether the Trump administration or the IRS will offer relief in the event of a government shutdown; however, the public can remain informed about any effects on their tax filing process by checking for updates at IRS.gov.
Can I file my Illinois state taxes for free?
Certain individuals can file state taxes for free using MyTax Illinois. To be eligible, you must be an established Illinois taxpayer who has not yet filed an individual income tax return, have a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number, have a valid email address and resided in Illinois for at least a year.
Where’s my refund? How to check with the IRS
Visit the IRS online at “Where’s My Refund?” (irs.gov/refunds) or at the IRS2Go mobile app to get the latest details about your current tax return and refund. It includes information about your taxes from 2023 or 2022. Here’s when you can begin checking:
- 24 hours after e-filing the current year’s return.
- Three or four days after e-filing a prior tax year.
- Four weeks after mailing a paper return.
How to check your tax refund status in Illinois
Illinois taxpayers can find out if the Department of Revenue has initiated their refund process at “Where’s My Refund?” on MyTax Illinois.
For more specific information about the status of their refund after it’s been processed, filers can check the Illinois Comptroller’s Find Your Illinois Tax Refund System.
When will I get my tax refund?
Most refunds are issued in 21 days.
The Illinois Department of Revenue says taxpayers who electronically file their return generally receive their refund faster than those who send it through the mail.
Refunds linked to electronically filed returns can be expected after around 4 weeks, while those linked to returns filed on paper can be expected after around 4 to 8 weeks.
This time may be extended depending on the circumstances of a potential shutdown.
CONTRIBUTING: Zachary Schermele, Kathryn Palmer, James Powel, Karissa Waddick and John Tufts
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