Those concerns are valid according to accountants, who are strongly advising people to file early this year, as they could encounter delays, particularly as they get closer to the filing deadline. The Internal Revenue Service began accepting tax returns on Jan. 27 and will continue to do so until April 15, unless a taxpayer asks for an extension.

More than 6,000 IRS employees are set to be laid off, according to reporting from Reuters and the New York Times. Will these layoffs affect your refund?