The IRS has expanded the Tax Pro Account to allow authorized tax professionals to make certain payments on behalf of business clients, building on a series of recent enhancements to the online service.
Advertisement
NEWS
U.S. employee engagement falls below 30% for first time in 15 years
U.S. employee engagement dropped below 30% for the first time in 15 years, and Gallup says manager support plays a larger role in workers’ engagement than any other factor. The firm found that fewer employees reported opportunities to learn and grow at work, while manager engagement has also declined in recent years.
IRS announces inflation adjustments for tax year 2027
The adjustments include increases in the standard deduction, income tax bracket thresholds, and the child tax credit. The changes generally apply to returns filed in 2028.
FASB proposes simpler approach for equity-linked contracts
Stakeholders have until Jan. 4 to comment on a proposal to simplify the application of guidance used to determine whether equity-linked contracts, such as warrants, should be considered indexed to an entity’s own stock and potentially classified as equity.
AICPA proposes ethics guidance for alternative practice structures
A public comment period on proposed changes to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct will soon open after the AICPA’s Professional Ethics Executive Committee voted Tuesday to publish an exposure draft related to alternative practice structures, including those involving private-equity investment.
Center for Audit Quality taps Dave Sullivan as CEO
Sullivan currently serves as chair of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council and served as an audit leader during a long career with Deloitte.
FASB proposes changes to the accounting for equity-method investments
Stakeholders have until Jan. 11 to provide feedback on a proposed Accounting Standard Update aimed at improving operability and reducing complexity and cost.
AI changes how accountants work, not what they do
Three years after tax professionals attended the AICPA National Tax Conference’s first session on generative AI, a speaker from the 2023 conference and a speaker at this year’s conference say the technology is changing how accountants work, not replacing them. They also say AI’s growing role in practice requires safeguards, oversight, and experienced professionals.
AICPA proposes improvements to SOC 2 trust services criteria
Feedback is being accepted through mid-January on proposed updates to the framework used by CPAs to evaluate controls over an organization’s information systems.
“Ghost preparers” tied to $179 million in potentially fraudulent refunds
A TIGTA report linked ghost preparers to $179 million in refund claims over two years. Its findings come as legislators consider the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, which would expand IRS oversight of paid tax return preparers.
PCAOB’s latest data reveals cleaner inspection findings
The board’s review of 2025 public company audit inspections revealed a significant decrease from 2024 in instances where an audit firm failed to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence to support its opinion on a financial statement.
AICPA: Trump account regulations make 2026 rollout difficult
Proposed regulations governing employer contributions to Trump accounts are “administratively burdensome” and make a 2026 rollout potentially difficult, the AICPA said. A letter to the IRS and Treasury asked for employers to be given more time and for the programs to be easier to administer.
FASB seeks to reduce inconsistencies tied to customer-related payments
Stakeholders have until Nov. 23 to comment on a proposed Accounting Standards Update related to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Also, FASB is set to hold an update for private companies and not-for-profits.
AI is reshaping finance jobs rather than eliminating them, survey finds
Just 3% of CFOs report actively reducing headcount where AI has replaced work in the finance function, although few organizations are yet in position to fully implement AI across all workflows.
Ellison-Taylor, Dodaro receive AICPA’s highest honors
A pioneering former AICPA chair and the former head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office were honored as Gold Medal award recipients at Council.
Problem solved: A math example of CPA-led assurance using AI agents
A CPA who recently solved a 40-year-old math problem using AI believes that the “gold rush” to solve similar problems is creating a golden opportunity for CPAs in the assurance space.
AICPA partners on new offering that assures AI systems and agents
The first-of-its-kind assurance certification, developed with the Artificial Intelligence Underwriting Company, is in a piloting phase and is expected to fully launch in early 2027.
Final regulations clear path for direct IRS card payments
The IRS on Friday issued final regulations implementing Taxpayer First Act provisions that would allow taxpayers to make credit and debit card tax payments directly to the IRS rather than through third-party payment processors. The final regulations adopt, without change, proposed regulations issued in July 2024.
IRS urged by national taxpayer advocate to pause Kwong claims denials
National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins urged the IRS to halt denials of claims tied to ongoing Kwong litigation, arguing that taxpayers could lose rights or pursue unnecessary litigation while courts continue to consider the case. The IRS has received more than 275,000 refund and abatement claims related to Kwong, she said.
IRS proposes regulations implementing premium tax credit changes
The IRS and Treasury proposed regulations implementing Sec. 36B premium tax credit changes enacted in H.R. 1, including new eligibility and verification requirements, reporting changes, and rules governing repayment of excess advance premium tax credits.
Features
SPONSORED REPORT
Get your clients ready for tax season
Help clients avoid surprises with year-end planning strategies for managing taxable income, maximizing deductions, and adjusting to OBBBA changes affecting individuals and businesses.
From The Tax Adviser
October 31, 2026
AI risks to the Sec. 7525 practitioner privilege
September 30, 2026
Navigating the QSBS rules in pass-through structures
September 30, 2026
Sec. 338(h)(10) elections in business acquisitions
August 31, 2026
