U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) issued the following statement after Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen responded to last week’s inquiry regarding the temporary closing of the Jefferson City IRS office:

“After seven days of waiting for a response from the IRS Commissioner, I am not satisfied with the letter I received. The Commissioner stated the Jefferson City IRS office is staffed with one new employee who is currently in the middle of basic training. I am glad the employee will be knowledgeable on IRS issues but the training should have taken place weeks ago, before the midst of the tax season, and with the funds the IRS is allocated, I believe it is appropriate to add at least an additional employee. In the letter, the Commissioner suggested that taxpayers instead use the 1-800 number. However, he failed to mention that only 38 percent of callers ever get through to talk to a representative and they are usually on hold for an average of 30 minutes. That is totally unacceptable when Congress appropriated the IRS additional funds in the last fiscal year. Taxpayers in mid-Missouri deserve more than this. On-the-ground assistance is essential to seniors, low-income individuals, and rural residents in my district. I am going to follow up to the Commissioner’s letter with a response so we can get all the answers to my questions for those who utilize the Jefferson City IRS office.”