In the blogs: You're not alone

Behind on AI; Show-Me State; sunsetting FIRE; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

The more things change …

• Tax Foundation: The federal budget has undergone major changes over the past year, yet in one key respect little has changed: It remains far out of balance both in the short term and long term, with deficits and debt rising unsustainably. The Congressional Budget Office  projects that, under current law, deficits as a share of GDP will rise from 5.8% this year to 6.7% in 2036, representing the largest sustained deficits in the country's history.
• The Sales Tax People: Every state has its own tax rates, processes and regulations. Add rules that change constantly and staying on top of collection and remittance quickly becomes a full-time job. Companies usually outsource this burden to avoid costly penalties. A capable partner automates rate calculations across jurisdictions, files returns on time and monitors legislative shifts.
• Sovos: Tax information reporting has evolved from a routine compliance function into a strategic business imperative. The IRS is sunsetting the Filing Information Returns Electronically system and moving to the new Information Returns Intake System, which fundamentally changes the tax reporting process for every business.
• U of I Tax School Blog: The terms of your succession plan are often a top consideration when determining if now is the right time to move forward. Because tax practices have seasonal revenue cycles and client‑retention risks unique to the profession, choosing the right deal structure is critical for both stability and long‑term financial success.

You're not alone

• Armanino: If you feel like you are behind on artificial intelligence, you're not alone. You may be trying to determine the role of AI for business. How do you know where AI fits in with your operations and how do you move beyond experimentation while reducing risk, complexity and confusion? This pressure feels urgent. Your competitors are talking about AI. Vendors are flooding the market with new promises. Still, urgency alone does not create a sound strategy.
• Eide Bailly: Artificial intelligence is no longer just a business tool — it's quickly becoming a tax policy issue. As companies integrate AI into everyday operations, states are being forced to decide how existing tax frameworks apply to fast‑moving technology. At the same time, lawmakers and revenue agencies are turning to AI as both a target for new taxes and a tool for enforcement, testing long‑standing SALT concepts like nexus, taxability and fairness.
• CLA: As financial institutions complete first-quarter allowance estimates, interest rate volatility continues to challenge current expected credit loss execution. While modeling mechanics remain important, recent regulatory feedback indicates supervisory focus has shifted toward governance, judgment and documentation discipline.
• Current Federal Tax Developments: On April 30, 2026, the executive order "Promoting Retirement-Savings Access for American Workers by Establishing TrumpIRA.gov" was signed to address a coverage gap in the U.S. retirement system. For tax professionals, understanding the mechanisms of this order is critical, as it directly bridges gaps in retirement planning for self-employed and gig-economy clients by utilizing the Federal Saver's Match enacted under the SECURE 2.0 Act.

It just … morphs

• Canopy: When busy season ends, do accounting firm owners become less busy? (Ha.) If you're reading this, you already know the answer. Busy season doesn't end. It just … morphs. The tax deadlines are gone, sure. So you hit the ground running and attack the to-do list. But here's the problem with that: You're exhausted, and your judgment is off. And when exhausted people try to make up for lost time, they usually end up solving the wrong problems fast. 
• National Association of Tax Professionals: Tax season is over! Looking back, you can see the difference between clients who helped your firm run well and clients who made every step harder. That's what makes now the right time to review client fit. A useful review asks a few practical questions. 
• MeyersBrothersKalicka: Partnerships and limited liability companies often lack the financial resources to offer salaries and benefits that are competitive with those of larger, established enterprises. One option to help these businesses attract and retain quality talent is to offer employees, consultants or other service providers profits interests. These types of interests can provide tax advantages over capital interests and don't immediately dilute the founding owners' interests in the business.

Pursuing refunds

• Boyum & Barenscheer: Importers are closely watching next steps following the Supreme Court's decision in Learning Resources Inc vs Trump, which found certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act unauthorized. This site offers a guide to the tariffs and entries most likely to be implicated, who may be able to pursue refunds and the practical timing considerations. 
• Dean Dorton: If your clients paid tariffs under IEEPA, they may now be eligible to apply for refunds. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that certain IEEPA tariffs were unconstitutional, meaning importers who paid them may be able to recover those amounts. 
• TaxConnex: Missouri voters are expected to consider a constitutional amendment in late 2026 that could significantly reshape the state's tax structure. The proposal would eliminate the state income tax and replace that revenue with an expanded and potentially higher sales tax. While the outcome remains uncertain, the potential implications are worth understanding now, especially for businesses that already manage multistate sales tax obligations.