IRS warns taxpayers as 24-hour shutdown begins in hours — what to know now

The IRS has warned Americans about a nationwide shutdown starting in just hours.All IRS offices will be closed for one day, so people should plan early. The offices will shut on January 19, 2026, because it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. MLK Day is a federal holiday. It honors civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. IRS employees get this day off with pay.

The IRS has 11 paid federal holidays each year. Other holidays include New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, as reported by The Sun. On January 19, all IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers will be closed the entire day. IRS toll-free phone lines to speak with staff will also be unavailable.

IRS offices closed

The IRS says if you need help in person, call and make an appointment before the holiday. They tell people to gather all your papers and documents before the shutdown. Even though the offices are closed, the IRS website and online tools will still work on January 19. People can still get tax information online during the holiday. Most banks will also be closed on MLK Day.


Banks follow the holiday schedule set by the Federal Reserve. The bank holiday schedule rarely changes and will stay the same in 2026. Major banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo will close thousands of branches for 24 hours, as stated by The Sun. Citibank will close more than 670 branches on MLK Day. In-branch services like loan applications will not be available. Notary services will also be unavailable at closed bank branches.

Customers will not be able to access safety deposit boxes during the closure. Bank online services will still work for deposits and withdrawals. Other basic online banking actions will remain available without staff help. Thousands of ATMs will stay open and working. Transactions made on January 19 may stay pending until January 20. Pending transactions could cause late penalties in some cases.

USPS and delivery shutdown

Many businesses may waive late fees if payment was made on time during the holiday. Banks can often confirm a payment date even if it is a federal holiday, as noted by The Sun. With bank scams increasing, customers are urged to be careful when contacting banks. Going to a bank in person usually leads customers to a customer service phone line. Customers should only use phone numbers from official bank websites or staff.

Some banks offer secure online helplines to speak with representatives. If a bank contacts you, always verify by calling a trusted official number. Scammers often pretend to be bank workers to steal personal information. More shutdowns are happening beyond the IRS and banks.

The U.S. Postal Service will close more than 31,000 retail offices on January 19, as per the report by The Sun. USPS will also stop mail deliveries for the day. This USPS closure is normal for federal holidays. Many consumers may not be affected because they expect the closure. Some retailers, including Costco, have clarified their MLK Day operations. UPS has confirmed it will also be closed on January 19. Officials urge Americans to plan early to avoid last-minute problems.

FAQs

Q1. Is the IRS open on MLK Day 2026?

No, all IRS offices and phone lines are closed on January 19, 2026, but online tools still work.

Q2. Are banks open on MLK Day?

No, most major banks close their branches for the day, while online banking and ATMs remain available.