Will the government shutdown affect tax refunds and returns? Maybe not.

The IRS is trying to make sure that tax refunds still go out — but its employees will have to work without pay for now.

The federal government’s partial shutdown is now the longest in history, with President Donald Trump refusing to sign a spending deal that reopens the government as long as it doesn’t include $5 billion for his wall at the US-Mexico border. As the shutdown continues and as tax filing season nears, many people may wonder: How is the government shutdown affecting tax returns and refunds?