IRS closing 43 offices, but says all employees will keep their jobs

The Internal Revenue Service says its plan to close 43 small offices and to “reduce space” in its larger ones during the next two years will not result in loss of employees.

A spokesman for the agency told The Washington Post on Monday that all workers in the affected offices either will be reassigned to nearby facilities or will be allowed to telework. Each of the offices scheduled toclose employs fewer than 25 workers and none includes a taxpayer assistance center, the IRS said May 22. The agency expects closures will save it $17.2 million in fiscal 2012 and $23.5 million in fiscal 2013.

The IRS also reduced its operations by 105,000 square feet in 2011. It oversees more than 650 offices nationwide.