Tax season

Americans may get their refunds during the shutdown, but the upcoming filing season is likely to be one of the rockiest in decades.

The Treasury released a revised shutdown contingency plan that recalls more than 46,000 agency employees.

Pluses of filing early; shutdown fallout; CAF problems; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

One common question: ‘Do I still have to pay?’ (Yes.)

The IVES program employed by mortgage lenders is back up and running, with user fees helping pay the salaries of IRS employees working in the unit.

The free tax-filing system is now in its 17th year.

The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee is questioning officials about how taxpayer assistance, cybersecurity, operations and tax refunds will be affected.

The “organizer” is no longer something that most clients will actually fill out and stuff, staple and paperclip.

Phishing and the season’s latest scams; FBAR whistleblowing returns; best sales-tax questions; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

Despite the shutdown, Commissioner Rettig commits to on-time refunds, too.

The IRS will issue refunds to taxpayers even if the U.S. government shutdown extends into the filing season.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., is asking the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department to explain what impact the partial government shutdown will have on the upcoming tax season.

Pre-season checklist; whether carbon taxes; best Twitter bets; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee wants the service to waive the penalties that he expects to hit millions of workers and families.

In an ideal world, businesses would make tax preparation a yearlong commitment.

The year’s worst ideas; cyber-currency phrase book; the shutdown and taxes; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration released a report on the results of this past filing season.

The redesigned form is not exactly postcard size, but it reflects changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that promise to simplify the tax prep process.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin attempted to salve worries about the federal government’s partial shutdown.

S corp misconceptions; Spanish authorities go after pop singer; changes to withholding under FATCA; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.