News

A government watchdog has confirmed what many CPAs and their clients experienced during the 2026 filing season: The IRS’s CP53E notices created confusion among taxpayers as the agency pushed them toward electronic refunds and away from paper ones under an executive order.

In its opening brief in a case that could affect millions of taxpayers and billions of dollars in potential refund claims, the federal government argued that a lower court misread a COVID-era tax relief law, turning a 60-day extension into a postponement period lasting more than three years.

A federal appeals court has affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking an IRS policy that disclosed thousands of taxpayers’ addresses to immigration authorities, agreeing the agency’s automated process likely violated the strict confidentiality protections Congress built into the Tax Code.

Multifactor authentication, IP PINs, and secure online accounts add layers of protection.

IRS enforcement activity declined in fiscal year 2025 after staffing levels fell and supplemental funding was exhausted, even as taxpayers paid a record $5.3 trillion in federal tax revenue, an agency watchdog said in a report.

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/aug/irs-should-automate-name-address-changes-aicpa-says/

The IRS has launched a digitally authenticated Tax Compliance Report that taxpayers can use to verify their tax compliance when applying for a job, a loan, a government benefit, or other services.

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations on eligible investments for Trump Accounts, a new type of traditional IRA under the Working Families Tax Cuts.

The Internal Revenue Service and Security Summit partners today reminded tax professionals to protect client data with a Written Information Security Plan.

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today provided guidance to simplify and standardize the rollover process by issuing sample forms for direct rollovers to or from a retirement plan, as required under the SECURE 2.0 Act section 324.

Most taxpayers experienced a relatively normal 2026 filing season, but those who relied on paper returns, paper refund checks, or IRS in-person customer service faced longer delays as staffing losses and technology problems slowed agency operations, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations providing guidance to employers that choose to make contributions to Trump Accounts for employees or their dependents. The proposed regulations also clarify nondiscrimination requirements for employers offering Trump Account contribution programs and dependent care assistance programs.

The IRS, which recently made business tax accounts accessible to millions of new entities, said Thursday that it’s adding new features to the accounts and expanding others.

The Internal Revenue Service today updated frequently asked questions about the deductions for qualified overtime compensation.

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2026-28 PDF, providing guidance on the employer credit for paid family and medical leave (PFML) under the Working Families Tax Cuts (WFTC). The WFTC makes permanent and expands eligibility and coverage for employers offering PFML benefits to employees.

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday approved the Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act, which the AICPA said will improve tax administration and reduce burdens on both taxpayers and preparers.

Citing the increase in the cost of fuel, the IRS has set a higher optional standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business for the remainder of 2026.

The AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) approved revisions to the “Tax Services” interpretation (ET sec. 1.295.160) of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, completing a multiyear project to strengthen and clarify independence requirements when members provide tax advisory and tax planning services to attest clients.

The IRS issued final regulations (T.D. 10051) Wednesday designating certain arrangements purporting to be charitable remainder annuity trusts (CRATs) as listed transactions, requiring disclosure by material advisers and certain participants in the transactions.

The Internal Revenue Service and Security Summit partners today launched the summer “Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself” campaign, a five-week series highlighting practical steps tax professionals can take to protect client data, their businesses, and themselves from evolving tax-related identity theft threats.