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 season

Extend returns, not tax season

Pushing back Tax Day would bring a number of unintended consequences.

By Roger Russell
Senior Editor

March 19
M&A

HD Vest parent Blucora to acquire 1st Global for $180M

Blucora plans to combine HD Vest’s individual tax advisor focus with 1st Global’s institutional, multi-partner focus.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

March 19
Tax-related ID theft

New scam uses Taxpayer Advocate Service numbers

The call may pretend to be from the TAS offices in Houston or Brooklyn.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

March 18
Payroll taxes

IRS overlooks $74M in bogus claims for Social Security tax credit

The Internal Revenue Service isn’t doing enough to flag over $74 million in potentially erroneous claims for the Excess Social Security Tax Credit, according to a new report.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

March 18
AT Think Art of Accounting: 30:30 Training Method crib sheet

You are in the middle of a war trying to get returns done, staff assigned, clients satisfied and cooperative.

March 18

Edward Mendlowitz

Withum
Tax fraud

College scandal involved shadowy tax-exempt charity with ‘yellow flags’

The California charity at the center of the college-admissions scandal apparently never attracted attention from the IRS.

March 18
International taxes

UBS’s French tax woes could worsen

A looming Swiss Supreme Court ruling could add to the bank's woes.

March 18

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

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
Web Seminar Tax Planning for 2027

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

Sponsored by 8am CPACharge
Web Seminar From tax question to tax strategy: Turning everyday client conversations into advisory opportunities

This webinar demonstrates how firms can uncover planning opportunities hidden within everyday client conversations and transform routine compliance discussions into higher-value advisory engagements.

Partner Insights from Intuit

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.