The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is expected to fire about 6,700 employees on Thursday, a person familiar with the matter said, eliminating roughly 7% of the tax-collecting agency's workforce in the midst of the critical tax-filing season.

A tearful executive at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service told staffers on Thursday that about 6,000 employees would be fired, a person familiar with the matter said, in a move that would eliminate roughly 6% of the agency's workforce in the midst of the busy tax-filing season.

As the IRS fired thousands of workers across the country on Thursday, many laid-off employees walked out of the headquarters in Washington, D.C., for the last time. One fired IRS worker, who exited the building with a heavy suitcase and stuffed duffle bag,