Childcare Subsidy! Enroll!

Today’s the Day!
Open Enrollment for Childcare Subsidy Program Begins

The months of waiting are behind us and eligible IRS employees are a big step closer to getting help for costly childcare costs. Open enrollment for the new Childcare Subsidy program starts today and will remain open through Wednesday, Sept. 14. The program, proposed and negotiated by NTEU during bargaining for the current contract, provides employees with a total family income of less than $70,000 with up to $5,000 toward childcare. Employees with total family incomes between $70,000 and $90,000 are eligible for smaller subsidies. Important note before you start: Gather up all the materials you need. You must complete the process in one sitting or be forced to start over.

You should have the following: OPM Form 1643 (filled out) OPM Form 1644 (filled out) Current SF-50 (available on HR Connect or a manager can print) Last two Earnings and Leave statements Most recent federal tax return Childcare provider’s fee schedule Childcare provider’s electronic banking information You will receive confirmation after you finished the application process. Should any information be missing, you will be contacted to provide. Employees will be notified about their eligibility roughly 30 days after the open enrollment program ends on Sept. 14.

Act now. If you think you are eligible NTEU encourages you to apply during this open enrollment period. The next open enrollment period is next year unless you have a qualifying life event. The IRS has posted additional information and details on IRS Source. Retroactive Payments: Following an NTEU grievance, the IRS will provide retroactive payments to Jan. 1, 2022, to eligible employees for childcare expenses they paid in full over that time. Even if your childcare expenses will end in the fall, apply through the program for the retroactive payments. Congress Approves Historic Funding for IRS
Passage by Congress of the Inflation Reduction Act is a historic investment that will help rebuild and modernize the IRS by providing the agency with $80 billion over the next 10 years. “This is a major turning point for the IRS and all-American taxpayers,” said National President Tony Reardon. “Finally, after more than 10 years of growing workloads and shrinking staffs, the Inflation Reduction Act stops the slide and puts the IRS on a path toward becoming the most efficient and effective tax administration agency in the world.” Reardon took issue with the rhetoric claiming that the bill will double the size of the IRS and unleash an “army” of agents on taxpayers. “I urge all Americans to remember that IRS employees are public servants who take an oath to the constitution, and they perform their duties with professionalism and integrity,” he said. “The fact is that the IRS needs to hire across the board. That includes employees to process tax returns, experts in technology, human resource professionals and others who support the mission of the agency. Additionally, the agency expects to lose 52,000 employees in the next six years to attrition and retirements and this funding will help replace departing workers.” Read more