Rep. George Whitesides Raises Concerns Over Planned Santa Clarita IRS Office Closure
SANTA CLARITA, CA – Today, Rep. George Whitesides (CA-27) wrote to Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent over the planned September 30th closure of the Santa Clarita IRS Post of Duty Office, raising questions about the impact the closure will have on the local community’s access to critical services.
“Closing the Santa Clarita IRS Post of Duty Office will leave more than 740,000 taxpayers in our area without direct access to critical services,” said Rep. Whitesides. “The Santa Clarita location provides assistance with payments, conducts in-person interviews, and offers general services to our region. If the IRS closes this location, my constituents will be forced to travel up to 87 miles to receive help with their tax issues, not to mention the burden it will put on the employees who serve our community. That is unacceptable, which is why today I’m asking for comprehensive answers from the IRS on the reasoning and impact behind their decision to shutter our local office.”
“Closing the Santa Clarita office would be devastating for the taxpayers of northern Los Angeles County as well as the nonpartisan IRS employees who work there,” said Monique Shirvanian, president of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 233. “NTEU is proud to stand with Reps. Whitesides and Sherman, and Rivas as they try to protect their constituents’ access to a local IRS office staffed with dedicated public servants ready to help them meet their tax obligations.”
On June 26th, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) was given informal notice that the Santa Clarita IRS Post of Duty Office was scheduled for closure on September 30th, with no formal explanation or impact assessment from the IRS despite repeated inquiries.
The Santa Clarita office provides assistance to nearly the entire 27th Congressional District and offers a variety of services, including meeting taxpayers both in the office and in the field to assist with payments, conducting in-person interviews, and providing general assistance with any examinations or collections-related matters. If closed, residents in the 27th District will be forced to travel between 35 and 87 miles roundtrip to reach alternative offices in Bakersfield, Van Nuys, or Glendale.
Employees of the Santa Clarita office would likely be relocated to the Glendale office, where they would face significant financial burdens, including increased costs for parking, gasoline, child care, and, in some cases, relocation and housing.
The administration's decision to close more than 110 offices with taxpayer assistance centers is likely to have a significant impact on taxpayers during filing season. The closures have targeted offices that provide in-person help to taxpayers facing complex issues such as identity theft or disputes with the agency, and experts have warned that reducing staff and shuttering offices will increase wait times and disproportionately harm underserved communities.
Rep. Whitesides was joined by Rep. Brad Sherman and Rep. Luz Rivas. You can read Rep. Whitesides’ full letter to IRS Commissioner Bessent here.
###