Tax, accounting, auditing news - Journal of Accountancy

September 25, 2026

Identity theft victims waited 20 months for IRS case resolution

A TIGTA report found that IRS delays in resolving identity theft cases cost the government $124.2 million in refund interest from fiscal years 2023 through 2025. The findings echo warnings from National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins, who has called the wait times “unconscionable.”

September 25, 2026

GASB issues guidance for its reporting model related to subsidies

New questions and answers aim to assist stakeholders with financial reporting requirements related to subsidies in Statement No. 103, Financial Reporting Model Improvements. GASB also seeks feedback on a model for voluntary digital reporting.

September 24, 2026

IRS finalizes increase in estate tax closing letter fee

The IRS issued final regulations increasing the cost of an estate tax closing letter to $76 from $56, adopting without change proposed regulations issued in June.

September 24, 2026

IRS raises per diem rates for business travel effective Oct. 1

In its annual update, the IRS increased the special per diem rates taxpayers may use to substantiate business travel expenses for the upcoming travel year and updated its list of high-cost localities.

September 23, 2026

FASB proposes update to residential mortgage servicing rights guidance

Feedback on the proposal, which addresses stakeholder concerns, is being accepted through Nov. 9.

September 23, 2026

AICPA, former IRS commissioner to lead initiative on AI in tax

Participants in the Council on AI Risk in Tax, led by the AICPA and former IRS commissioner Danny Werfel, include leaders from all areas of the tax world who will work together to promote the responsible use of AI in tax administration and practice.

September 21, 2026

IRS cyber weaknesses put taxpayer data at risk again, TIGTA says

For the second consecutive year, a government watchdog found the IRS’s cybersecurity program ineffective. TIGTA warned that taxpayer data could be vulnerable if security weaknesses are not addressed.

September 18, 2026

Unclear instructions, limited awareness plagued CP53E rollout, TIGTA says

Many CPAs and their clients experienced confusion over IRS CP53E notices during the 2026 filing season. A TIGTA report confirms those concerns and sheds new light on how the IRS implemented its paperless-payment initiative.

September 16, 2026

Government says Kwong court misread COVID tax relief law

In its opening brief to a federal appeals court Wednesday, the federal government said a lower court ruling in Kwong improperly turned a 60-day extension into a postponement period lasting over three years.

September 15, 2026

Driving efficiency or driving workers toward burnout? How AI is being used

Nearly two-thirds of employees in a global survey said their company is more interested in using artificial intelligence to create efficiency than to add value, leading many to feel like they’re doing two jobs while struggling to find time to produce meaningful results.

September 15, 2026

IRS delayed action on thousands of high-income nonfiler cases, TIGTA says

A TIGTA report found that nearly 39,000 high-priority nonfiler cases were delayed in the IRS’s high-income nonfiler initiative because of resource concerns. The IRS said it has since advanced all affected cases.

September 14, 2026

AICPA members to vote on two proposed bylaw amendments this fall

Voting will open later this fall on amendments addressing AICPA volunteer term dates and AICPA membership eligibility requirements.

September 10, 2026

FASB updates investment company fair value reporting standard

The amendments address stakeholder concerns that current GAAP guidance doesn’t consider a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security when measuring the fair value of that security.

September 9, 2026

PCAOB finalizes simplified quality control amendments

QC 1000, A Firm’s System of Quality Control, will be effective Dec. 15 and could serve as the basis for the PCAOB’s future approach to inspections of public company compliance.

September 9, 2026

Risk response often doesn’t match the threat or the opportunity

While nearly 7 in 10 business leaders report increased risk, 3 in 10 rate their organization’s overall risk oversight as mature or robust. The latest version of an annual report also showed that few companies consider their risk management process to be a strategic advantage.

September 8, 2026

AICPA seeks IRS clarity on AI guidelines, CPA fees

The AICPA is seeking clarification from the IRS on guidelines suggesting that tax practitioners should pass AI-related cost savings on to clients. Concerns about language in the guidelines include the implication of not allowing for a value-pricing model and overlooking the costs of implementing and governing the technology.

September 3, 2026