Tax

Tax News & IRS Insights for Accounting Professionals

Accounting Today delivers news and analysis for accounting and tax professionals on federal and state tax developments, IRS guidance,information reporting, and operational implications for practices and clients. Our coverage focuses on legislative and procedural shifts that tax practitioners must monitor in planning, compliance, and advisory contexts.

Tax planning

SurePayroll Offers Free Payroll for Accounting Firms

Payroll processor SurePayroll is offering free payroll-processing services to accounting firms for up to one year.

January 9
Tax planning

IRS Warns Taxpayers of Tax Preparer Fraud

The Internal Revenue Service has sent an advisory to caution taxpayers about how to choose a tax preparer and avoid preparer fraud.

January 8
Tax practice

Roland Burris Mausoleum Lists Illinois CPA Society

The mausoleum set up by Roland Burris, the former Illinois attorney general named to succeed Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate by disgraced governor Rod Blagojevich, includes on a list of accomplishments the fact that he was the first non-CPA to be on the board of the Illinois CPA Society.

January 8
Regulatory actions and programs

Kansas Enhances Small Business Site

The Kansas Small Business Development Center has launched an enhanced Web site.

January 8
Financial reporting

IRS Pledges to Help Financially Distressed Taxpayers

The Internal Revenue Service plans to offer several new ways to help people struggling to meet their tax obligations because of the recession, and will expand its Free File program to allow nearly all taxpayers to electronically file their taxes for free.

January 7
Tax research

Block Settles California RAL Suit for $4.85M

H&R Block has agreed to a $4.85 million settlement with California Attorney General Jerry Brown, and to stop marketing refund anticipation loans as early tax refunds.

January 7
Tax practice

Congress Is Back with More Tax Cuts Planned

They’re back and ready to dole out hundreds of billions of dollars in new tax cuts and spending, but will it be enough to restart the limping economy?

January 7

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

Web Seminar The most important supply for tax firms isn't found on shelves

In this webinar, we'll show you how tax and accounting professionals are leveraging new technologies to make their firms more efficient and to stay ahead of competitors.

Partner Insights from Thomson Reuters
Web Seminar The psychology of a modern tax workflow: Reducing anxiety, decision fatigue & compliance risk

In this session you'll learn practical, firm-tested principles to reduce confusion, improve predictability, and strengthen both client and staff confidence.

Partner Insights from SmartVault
On-Demand Web Seminar Tax Planning for 2027

This webinar will look at key opportunities and stumbling blocks for practitioners

Sponsored by 8am CPACharge

Tax: Key Questions & Analysis:

What IRS guidance on forms and information reporting should practitioners prioritize?

The IRS continues to update thresholds and instructions for critical tax forms. This includes changes to information reporting requirements and guidance on evolving reporting standards, affecting 1099, W-2 and similar reporting obligations.

What procedural developments affect IRS automatic change consent for method changes?

Tax professionals must understand which accounting method changes qualify for automatic consent versus advance consent. This determines whether a Form 3115 must be filed with IRS National Office or via automatic procedures.

How are tip-related tax provisions evolving under current policy?

New tax provisions related to tip income will impact how service industry clients and payroll units handle tax reporting and compliance. This includes draft schedules and withholding considerations.

What IRS guidance will shape compliance for the 2026 filing season?

Practitioners will need to understand procedural updates, forms changes, and reporting shifts that will affect compliance workflows and client expectations for the 2026 filing season. This includes the implementation timeline for new schedules and reporting requirements as well as for emerging areas such as crypto broker reporting.