With the IRS laying off thousands of employees Thursday, many Americans may be wondering if their tax returns – or their refunds – will be affected.

The tax agency is laying off 7,000 employees, but there are protections for taxpayers whose refund payments are delayed.

After a delay pause in processing tax returns, leaving many returns pending, the Colorado Department of Revenue said it's now ready to accept them.

Colorado's Department of Revenue has begun processing tax returns from services like TurboTax and H&R Block, following delays due to tax code updates. An online tax benefits hub has also launched to inform taxpayers of new credits.

After a delay, the Colorado Department of Revenue began processing income tax returns from third-party services on Friday.