Disaster-related tax relief; Montana loophole; sales tax triggers; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.
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Second fastest-growing app in history
Financial Cents : By now you've almost certainly heard about ChatGPT, and maybe even used it a few times. It's the second fastest-growing app in history, crossing 1 million users in just five days. It's also the most popular AI tool currently, with 1 billion global monthly active app users. Despite this popularity, however, a good number of firm owners hesitate to bring ChatGPT fully into their firm. Some worry they'll expose client data or run into a compliance problem. Others don't trust its output, since they've heard enough about AI in accounting getting things wrong to stay cautious. And plenty of the ones who do use it never set any guardrails, so they and their team end up using it in unsafe ways. This blog helps with all of that.Don't Mess With Taxes : Wildfires and severe storms prompted the IRS to issue five separate disaster-related tax relief announcements for residents and business owners across Nebraska. They now have a new Feb. 1, 2027, filing deadline for various tax obligations. Thank you Weather Gods for having the good sense to let Tropical Storm Dolly fade away last week. While the now-designated tropical wave's remnants could produce heavy rains in the Caribbean, the immediate threat of a full-fledged storm or hurricane have lessened. Let's hope it stays that way. Nobody wants a storm with that name wreaking havoc so soon after we lost the beloved Dolly Parton.ITEP : Americans broadly agree that the richest households should pay more in taxes. Yet this decade has brought a surge of state tax cuts for the rich, often in the form of reductions in top personal income tax rates. These cuts have come at a cost to public services and in some cases have been offset by increases in sales and property taxes that fall more heavily on families that aren't wealthy.Tax Pro Center : Scammers have been known to take advantage of people's kindness and generosity, and clients are no exception. Whether it's creating a fake charity or encouraging the use of inaccurate estimates for donated property, taxpayers should be aware and proceed with caution. This blog provides three common scams and schemes around charitable donations that were part of the 2026 Dirty Dozen list. Be sure to share this information with your clients.
Luxury vehicle owners
TaxProf Blog : California lawmakers are moving to shut down a tax maneuver that luxury vehicle owners use to avoid paying state taxes. The assembly approved a bill by Democratic Sen. Jerry McNerney to close what's known as the "Montana loophole," where Californians create shell companies in Montana to purchase and register cars, pickups, yachts and recreational vehicles to bypass sales tax. They then use those vehicles in California. The measure passed the Senate in May.Rosenberg Associates : CPA firms are facing unprecedented changes, from AI and advisory growth to succession and private equity, yet many struggle with how to make change happen and make it stick. A poll — conducted by this site — shows what changes firms are prioritizing, what their process for change is and how well it's working. Here are the results from 56 firms, most with $2 million to $30 million in revenue, with responses coming mainly from managing partners and partners.Abrigo : Fraud investigations are about much more than investigating a disputed transaction or gathering information to file a claim with a credit card carrier. Today, fraud investigations are an important part of a bank or credit union's broader financial crime prevention program. That distinction matters because fraud and money laundering increasingly overlap.
Tensions between two countries
Avalara : The United States and Canada were unable to reach a trade deal to prevent a 50% tariff on over $20 billion worth of Canadian goods from taking effect on Aug. 22. Tensions between the two countries are escalating: Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports starting Sept. 8, and President Trump is threatening to increase tariffs on Canadian auto parts, cars, trucks and steel in 2027. The renewed uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Canada tariffs creates compliance challenges for cross-border businesses. This blog provides updates.CLA : For investors seeking tax-efficient income, municipal bonds remain a compelling component of a well-diversified portfolio, offering attractive after-tax yield potential, diversification benefits, capital preservation characteristics and resilience during periods of market volatility. As expectations for Federal Reserve policy, inflation and economic growth evolve, investors should closely monitor municipal bond yields and their relative value to assess the attractiveness of current market conditions.TaxConnex : Business growth doesn't always look like opening a new office or storefront. Sometimes, it means hiring an employee who works remotely, storing inventory in a new location or partnering with a third-party fulfillment provider. But these operational changes can have tax implications — and those activities may not always be recognized as sales tax triggers by the teams making the decisions.The Sales Tax People : A nexus study is one of those expenses that's easy to postpone, since it doesn't produce revenue and it can feel like paying to find out about a problem people would rather not have. But delaying one doesn't make the underlying exposure smaller. Understanding when a nexus study actually pays for itself, and what a reasonable one should cost, helps take the guesswork out of that decision.
Struggling to make ends meet
Tax Vox : Many low-income workers struggle in the current economy. Their wages stalled out in 2025, even as prices continue to rise. The Tax Cut for Workers Act, introduced by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, and Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pennsylvania, would increase wage subsidies for many, more than doubling the maximum earned income tax credit for workers without children from $664 to $1,502. The bill would also make the credit's inflation adjustment more generous for all. Both would provide additional support to workers struggling to make ends meet.Sovos : Direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping is a cornerstone of growth for wineries, breweries and distilleries looking to connect directly with consumers across state lines. However, the landscape of DtC shipping is intricate, governed by a patchwork of state laws and regulations that demand strict compliance. And as much or more than ever, states are paying attention to compliance with their stipulated rules.AICPA & CIMA : Beginning in July 2027, the CPA exam will transition to a new technology delivery platform, accompanied by changes to the user interface. These changes will require an adjusted test administration and score release schedule. This blog offers what you need to know.Current Federal Tax Developments : The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have released a comprehensive set of proposed regulations to address the sweeping statutory changes enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Designed for tax professionals advising clients with international holdings, this blog analyzes the statutory impetus for these regulations, details key additions, revisions and deletions to existing Treasury regulations, and evaluates the policy rationales and technical justifications provided by the IRS.
