News
IRS offers gift tax safe harbor for contributions to Trump accounts
June 29, 2026
The IRS on Monday issued Rev. Proc. 2026-25, which provides a gift tax reporting safe harbor for individual donors who make one or more contributions to Trump accounts under Sec. 530A and satisfy certain conditions.
IRS outlines AI risks, Circular 230 duties for tax practitioners
June 26, 2026
The IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) issued guidance outlining how existing Treasury Circular 230 rules apply to tax practitioners’ use of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing that long-standing duties such as due diligence, competence, and confidentiality remain unchanged.
National Taxpayer Advocate issues 2026 mid-year report to Congress; highlights a largely successful filing season and priorities for 2027
June 24, 2026
National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins today released her Fiscal Year 2027 Objectives Report to Congress, highlighting a largely successful 2026 filing season in which the IRS processed nearly 139 million individual tax returns, issued more than 90 million refunds, and successfully implemented extensive tax law changes despite significant operational challenges. The report also identifies areas where taxpayers experienced refund delays and service challenges, including returns suspended during processing for additional review, delays in receiving paper refund checks, and prolonged case resolution times for victims of identity theft, while outlining the Advocate’s priority recommendations as the IRS continues to modernize its technology systems.
Supreme Court lets stand IRS power to assess tax anytime for preparer fraud
June 24, 2026
The Supreme Court’s decision Monday to deny certiorari in Murrin lets stand a Third Circuit holding that the Sec. 6501(c)(1) unlimited period for the assessment of tax applies when a fraudulent return is filed with the intent to evade tax, regardless of whether the intent is that of the taxpayer or another person, including the taxpayer’s return preparer.
Advisory panel urges sustained IRS funding, expanded AI, tax simplification
June 18, 2026
The IRS’s outside technology advisory panel called on Congress to provide stable, multiyear funding; expand the use of artificial intelligence; and simplify tax administration. It also warned that resource constraints and complexity risk undermining recent modernization gains.
About a quarter of callers to two IRS lines got poor service, TIGTA says
June 16, 2026
About one-fourth of callers to two IRS telephone lines during three months in 2025 did not receive quality customer service, a watchdog report dated June 10 said.
TIGTA: IRS reassigned staff after layoffs for filing season
June 15, 2026
The IRS moved almost 1,200 workers to Taxpayer Services “to address critical staffing shortages and potential 2026 filing season backlogs” after more than 11,000 employees left the division as various buyouts were offered, a watchdog report said.
IRS to merge tax practitioner offices despite AICPA opposition
June 09, 2026
The IRS will merge two offices that deal with tax practitioners — one that deals with misconduct and discipline and another that administers the preparer tax identification number (PTIN) program — a move the AICPA opposed.
Blue J and CPA.com Survey Finds AI Adoption Among Tax Firms Has Nearly Doubled in One Year
June 08, 2026
Blue J, the leading AI-powered tax research solution, and CPA.com, the trusted partner in accounting and finance transformation, today released the second annual AI Tax Research Solution Outlook Report, examining how AI-powered tax research adoption is reshaping accounting firms and changing how practitioners work.
IRS stops billions in identity theft refunds but needs data earlier, report says
May 21, 2026
The IRS stopped $7 billion in fraudulent refunds in calendar years 2024 and 2025, and it could prevent more fraud if it had earlier access to key information returns, according to an audit report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Worried about that CP53E QR code? IRS updates FAQs
May 20, 2026
The IRS updated its FAQs on Notice CP53E with answers to four more questions, including how to determine if the QR code on the notice is legitimate.
AICPA submits nearly 200 recommendations for IRS guidance plan
May 16, 2026
The AICPA submitted almost 200 comments to the IRS this week regarding its 2026–2027 Priority Guidance Plan, encouraging the agency to concentrate on 10 areas and to continue pursuing tax simplification.
Taxpayers advised they can ignore CP53E notice — after verifying error
May 16, 2026
Taxpayers who aren’t due a refund but received a CP53E notice anyway can ignore the notice after they confirm its validity online, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) said.
Another settlement offer planned in IRS conservation easement cases
May 12, 2026
The IRS plans to issue a settlement offer to eligible partnerships involved in syndicated conservation easement transactions, which have long been a focus of enforcement operations, with hundreds of cases now in the courts.
AICPA Urges IRS to Issue Guidance to Regulation Affecting Tax-Exempt Organizations
May 08, 2026
In a letter submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) requested Treasury and IRS provide guidance addressing Section 4960, which was amended last year by the OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Section 4960 imposes an excise tax on applicable tax-exempt organizations (ATEO) equal to 21 percent of the remuneration in excess of $1 million paid to “covered employees” of the ATEO.
CP53E notice tied to paper-check transition causes confusion
May 08, 2026
Fraudulent or legitimate? In error or correct?
IRS announces new option for certain taxpayers to request more time after ERC claim disallowance
April 27, 2026
The Internal Revenue Service today announced a new, streamlined way for taxpayers to extend the period of time for the IRS and the IRS Independent Office of Appeals to review a taxpayer’s response to a disallowance of an Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claim to avoid refund litigation.
IRS launches online tool to help taxpayers manage tax debt
April 17, 2026
An online tool to help taxpayers understand and resolve tax debt is now available on the IRS website.
Tax Time Brings Surprises For Some Who Receive ACA Subsidies
April 06, 2026
Tax time can come with big surprises for some people who have Affordable Care Act coverage, including owing money back to the government for premium subsidies received during the previous year.
IRS tapped Inflation Reduction Act funds to cover 2025 filing season, watchdog says
April 03, 2026
The IRS dipped into its supplemental funding from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, P.L. 117-169, to “deliver a successful filing season” in fiscal year 2025 because its annual appropriation was not enough, an IRS watchdog’s report said.