Feds prep for eGov shutdown

06.04.2011
WASHINGTON -- If the federal government is shut down by a budget impasse Friday night at midnight, the IRS will continue to accept tax returns filed electronically and to process payments. But paper-based returns won't be processed.

Other U.S. government Web sites that offer electronic services unrelated to national security and the protection of life and property won't likely to be updated -- and it's possible that some could go offline.

U.S agencies are now preparing for a shutdown because of the congressional deadlock over the federal budget for the current fiscal year. The shutdown could end up furloughing some 800,000 federal employees, and scores of people who work for federal contractors, according to government officials and analysts.

A big difference between the government shut downs in 1995 and 1996 and the one looming this week is the government's increased to deliver its services and .

As for the decision to have the IRS continue collecting taxes that are filed electronically, "We need to be able to collect the money that is owed to the U.S. government," said a senior administration official, speaking with reporters on background Tuesday. "And that's the same process as issuing electronic refunds, so electronic refunds and collection of monies will continue."

But the outlook for other government services delivered electronically is less certain.