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.

Practice and client management

Slow down on that SLAT. Here are some of the risks

The tax advantages and a degree of flexibility have added to the appeal of spousal lifetime access trusts. But they aren't a fit for everyone.

By Tobias Salinger
Chief Correspondent

December 2
Practice management

Practice Profile: Dreaming up a better tax season

Al-Nesha Jones envisioned a better busy season, and made it happen at her ASE Group

By Danielle Lee
Managing Editor

December 2
Tax planning

Taxes and the 'amateur athlete'

Court decisions have opened up a whole new world of tax worries for college student athletes.

By Roger Russell
Senior Editor

December 2
Tax crimes

Bill in bank tax scandal raised to €5.6M

Germany's top criminal court almost doubled the amounts a former CEO of a defunct bank and other ex-managers must repay.

By Karin Matussek
Reporter

December 2
Tax crimes

Biden pardons son on tax and gun charges

Biden justified the pardon by saying that the case against his son was politically tinged, excessive and designed to break him.

By Bloomberg News

December 2
State taxes

The best and worst states for taxes in 2025

States that do not assess the major taxes are more competitive than states with complex taxes with high rates.

By Editorial Staff

December 2
Tax-related court cases

Tax Fraud Blotter: Pro and con

J'accuse; just a little boost; independent thinking; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

November 29

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

Web Seminar Tax season postmortem: What to fix for 2027

Join us for a transparent look at the challenges facing firms this year and how to overcome them for 2027.

Partner Insights from Canopy
On-Demand Web Seminar Rethinking busy season: A modern operating model for K-1s

Busy season is over—but the bruises are still fresh. Many firms expected smoother K-1 workflows, yet encountered the same familiar bottlenecks, last-minute delays, and staff burnout. Instead of tweaking around the edges, we'll explore a modern operating model for managing K-1s at scale – from intake through exchange – designed to reduce rework, cycle time, and eliminate seasonal chaos.

Partner Insights from K1X
Tariffs and your clients

Dean Peterson and Blair Robbins of Eisner Advisory Group discuss the tax and business ramifications of the Trump administration's tariff policies that accountants should be advising clients about.

Sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks

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.