Tax, accounting, auditing news - Journal of Accountancy

June 4, 2026

Optimism mixed among US finance leaders

CPA decision-makers in business and industry are less optimistic about the U.S. economy now when compared with the first quarter of this year, but they are slightly more optimistic about their own organizations, according to an AICPA and CIMA survey.

June 3, 2026

SEC shares 3 goals in proposed 2026–2030 strategic plan

The commission is accepting comments on the draft through July 2.

June 2, 2026

6 top scorers on CPA Exam earn Elijah Watt Sells Award

Of more than 87,000 CPA candidates who sat for the CPA Exam in 2025, a half dozen passed all four sections on their first attempt while recording a cumulative average score above 95.5.

June 2, 2026

IRS proposes increase in cost of estate tax closing letter

Proposed regulations issued Monday would raise the cost of the letter to $76, from the $56 set in 2025.

June 1, 2026

Most retirees worry about savings — but few use financial advisers

Less than one-third of retired Americans in a recent survey reported working with a financial adviser, even though nearly 7 in 10 are concerned about managing their income throughout retirement.

June 1, 2026

HSA inflation-adjusted maximum contribution amounts for 2027 announced

Rev. Proc. 2026-24 also includes the revised maximum amount that may be made newly available for excepted-benefit health reimbursement arrangements and the aggregate monthly fees allowable for direct primary care service arrangements.

June 1, 2026

Two AICPA committees unveil proposed strategic plans for next 4 years

The Peer Review Board and Professional Ethics Executive Committee are accepting feedback on their proposed plans for 2027–2030.

May 29, 2026

IRS appeals Kwong as advocate says refunds may be at stake

The IRS filed an appeal of the Court of Federal Claims’ Kwong decision, in which the court held that the filing deadline for refund claims for penalties and interest was automatically extended by Sec. 7508A(d) due to the COVID-19 disaster declaration.

May 29, 2026

SEC proposes recission of climate disclosure rules

The proposal is the next formal step in the commission’s move away from historic rules it adopted in 2024.

May 29, 2026

PCAOB works to form Inspections Modernization Council

The board is accepting applications through June 15 to help “modernize PCAOB inspections so they remain relevant and resilient.”

May 27, 2026

IRS to develop system to track missing payments, TIGTA says

The report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration finds that manual tracking and uneven workloads slow resolution of cases of unidentified payments.

May 26, 2026

IRS overtime rose 12% in 2025 while workforce dropped, TIGTA says

Taxpayer Services staff handling calls, correspondence, and other tasks logged most of the overtime, the report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said.

May 22, 2026

GASB seeks new board member

The candidate selected for the part-time position will begin a five-year term in 2027.

May 22, 2026

FASAB seeks feedback on proposed practical expedient for embedded leases

Comments are requested by July 30 on a proposal that would allow reporting entities to apply a practical expedient to contracts or agreements that meet certain eligibility conditions.

May 21, 2026

IRS stops billions in identity theft refunds but needs data earlier, report says

A report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that delayed 1099-R and W-2G filings limit the IRS’s ability to spot refund fraud early.

May 20, 2026

Jan Lewis elected AICPA chair

The tax partner at BMSS Advisors is elected to the one-year volunteer post at AICPA spring Council, succeeding Lexy Kessler. Lindsay Stevenson is elected vice chair.

May 20, 2026

AICPA supports bills to limit BOI reporting to foreign-owned entities

The AICPA said the changes would ease the compliance load on CPAs who help small businesses navigate federal reporting rules.

May 20, 2026

Worried about that CP53E QR code? IRS updates FAQs

The IRS expanded its CP53E guidance with fresh information on QR code security, online account access problems, and how taxpayers can confirm successful bank account updates.

May 19, 2026

FASB issues standard for clarifying environmental credit disclosures

FASB’s chair said that the Accounting Standards Update features guidance “that previously did not exist” related to environmental credits and environmental credit obligations.

May 19, 2026

Final regs. modify reporting obligations for Form 8308, Part IV

The final regulations published Tuesday by the IRS stick with the proposed regulations that modify information-reporting obligations for Part IV of Form 8308, Report of a Sale or Exchange of Certain Partnership Interests.

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