Tax refunds to be paid during shutdown, Trump administration announces

Good news for tax return filers who are expecting a 2018 refund: The White House Office of Management and Budget announced Monday that it would be making tax refund payments even if the government shutdown continues.

Acting OMB Director Russell Vought told reporters that the administration is attempting to make the shutdown as "painless as possible consistent with the law."

The Trump administration reversed a long-standing policy which would have prohibited the IRS to issue refunds during the partial shutdown that began Dec. 22, the Wall Street Journal reported. The IRS is among the many agencies affected the decision to close the government while Congress tries to work out a deal on the border wall.

Was there a law that would have prevented refund payments?

Prior to Vought's announcement, TheBlaze reported on Friday that the administration and its predecessors had stated that refunds could not be made during the closure.

The IRS, according to a 2017 law, doesn't typically conduct audits, issue refunds, or otherwise work with taxpayers outside of the standard filing season, which would include a government shutdown.

Tax season begins Jan.29, according to the IRS website. The deadline to file is April 17, which means taxpayers will have an additional two days to file this year.