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Almost 1,400 IRS employees receive layoff notices, adding to staff losses

November 10, 2025

The IRS sent layoff notices to almost 1,400 employees, adding to the losses at the agency where 25% of staff had left as of May, according to a court document filed earlier this week in a lawsuit brought by unions against the federal government.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Murphy, Blumenthal reject shutdown deal over health care

November 10, 2025

The longest shutdown in U.S. history is starting to wind down after a bloc of Senate Democrats joined Republicans on a deal to reopen the federal government, but Connecticut’s senators opposed the agreement because it made no guarantee to extend the policy at the heart of the shutdown fight: expiring health care subsidies.

  • advocacy - state
  • advocacy - federal

DOL Walks Back Biden-Era Independent Contractor Rule: What Employers Need to Know

November 05, 2025

In a significant development for employers nationwide, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it will not enforce the Biden-era 2024 Independent Contractor (IC) Rule. While the rule remains in effect for private litigation, this shift in federal enforcement policy signals a more employer-friendly approach to worker classification at the federal level.

  • accounting and auditing
  • business and industry
  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Employers get reporting relief on tips, overtime; won’t face penalties for tax year 2025

November 05, 2025

An IRS notice said employers and other payers will not face penalties for tax year 2025 if they do not provide a separate accounting of amounts reasonably designated as cash tips or the total amount of qualified overtime compensation as required by information-reporting provisions in the sweeping new tax law.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Congress passes bill requiring IRS to clarify math error notices

October 23, 2025

The U.S. Senate on Monday passed the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act, H.R. 998, which, among other changes, requires the IRS to provide taxpayers with details on notices related to a math or clerical error.

  • advocacy - federal

IRS issues FAQs on Form 1099-K threshold under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill; dollar limit reverts to $20,000

October 23, 2025

The Internal Revenue Service today issued frequently asked questions in Fact Sheet 2025-08 PDF regarding the dollar threshold for filing Form 1099-K under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

IRS issues FAQs to address Employee Retention Credits under ERC compliance provisions of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

October 23, 2025

The Internal Revenue Service today issued frequently asked questions in Fact Sheet 2025-07 relating to the limitation on credits and refunds for Employee Retention Credits claimed for the third and fourth quarters of 2021 that were filed after Jan. 31, 2024. This limitation was enacted under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

IRS limits services during shutdown

October 22, 2025

The Internal Revenue Service spelled out some of the services that will be limited or unavailable during the government shutdown that's now surpassed the three-week mark.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

AICPA Seeks Safe Harbor for 2025 Reporting Requirements of Tips and Overtime

October 21, 2025

In a letter submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) requested guidance related to the 2025 reporting and substantiation requirements regarding the deductions for qualified tips and qualified overtime compensation.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

What the IRS shutdown and furloughs mean for tax pros

October 21, 2025

As the federal government shutdown grinds on, most Internal Revenue Service operations are closed. With agency-wide furlough in place since Oct. 8 for everyone except already-identified excepted and exempted employees, tax professionals and taxpayers alike can expect a lot less from the agency.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

STEM designation for accounting has strong support

October 20, 2025

The AICPA and state societies have pledged strong support for accounting education programs to gain STEM status, and the idea also has backing from the majority of respondents in a new survey.

  • technology and cybersecurity
  • advocacy - federal

IRS furloughs nearly half its workers, closes most operations

October 08, 2025

The IRS furloughed almost half its workforce as the government shutdown entered its second week, the agency said Wednesday evening in its updated contingency plan.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Social Security Administration head to also serve in new IRS role

October 07, 2025

Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano will also serve in the newly created position of chief executive officer of the IRS, the Treasury secretary said Monday in a news release.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Treasury, IRS provide penalty relief for remittance transfer providers who fail to deposit excise tax under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

October 07, 2025

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today issued guidance providing deposit penalty relief for the first three quarters of 2026 to remittance transfer providers. Notice 2025-55 PDF provides relief in connection with the new excise tax imposed on certain remittance transfers under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Connecticut’s $52.3 Million Federal Loss

October 06, 2025

Within hours of the federal government shutdown at midnight on Sept. 30, the Trump administration announced the cancellation of more than $7.5 billion in US Department of Energy awards, terminating 321 grants tied to 223 projects in 16 states.

  • advocacy - federal

Report: CT Manufacturers Profiting, But Healthcare Costs, Tariffs Are Concerns

October 06, 2025

While 70 percent of surveyed Connecticut manufacturers were profitable in 2024, nearly all saw the cost of business go up due to a variety of factors. Nearly two in three businesses though (66%) reported that the Trump administration’s tariff policies are negatively impacting them, according to a recent report issued by the state’s largest business organization.

  • business and industry
  • advocacy - state
  • advocacy - federal

AICPA Renews Call to Except All IRS Employees for Duration of Shutdown

October 03, 2025

With just two weeks until the tax filing deadline for C-corporations and individuals who requested a filing extension, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is renewing its call to except 100 percent of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees for the duration of the shutdown, even beyond the five days already authorized in the agency’s contingency plan.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Job cuts mean strong 2025 tax season may be hard to repeat, IRS watchdog warns

October 02, 2025

The 2025 tax filing season went smoothly with the IRS processing more tax returns than in the previous year and exceeding its level-of-service (LOS) goal set for answering phone calls, a government watchdog said in its review of the agency’s work.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Lamont Slams Congress On Government Shutdown, But Says CT Better Positioned Than Most States

October 01, 2025

The federal government shutdown that began just after midnight Wednesday morning could have wide-ranging and long-lasting effects on the state, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.

  • advocacy - state
  • advocacy - federal

IRS shutdown plan: Employees stay on the job for first 5 workdays

September 29, 2025

All IRS staffers will work during the first five business days of a potential government shutdown, according to a lapsed appropriations contingency plan posted Monday.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax