The Internal Revenue Service has asked airlines to refund customers who request a refund of the ticket tax already paid on airline tickets following the closure of the FAA. In a notice posted Wednesday on its website, the IRS has stated that customers that do not receive a refund from the airlines can submit claims to the IRS under new procedures being developed.
Steve Lott, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, said passengers were entitled to a refund but expressed its puzzlement over how the IRS will ensure the refunds are made efficiently. He said. "We believe it’s the IRS’ responsibility because ultimately it’s the Treasury that has the tax money, not the airlines."
The IRS may have difficulty devising refund procedures because electronic tickets don’t leave a paper trail that a passenger may need to prove a purchase, even so some airlines, including JetBlue, are telling customers to contact the IRS for a refund.