Tax, accounting, auditing news - Journal of Accountancy

January 30, 2026

IRS will stay fully staffed for first five 5 days of shutdown

Treasury posted a lapsed appropriations contingency plan that calls for the IRS to be fully staffed through Feb. 7 if the government shuts down at midnight Friday.

January 28, 2026

New law, IRS workforce cuts raise red flags for tax season, reports say

Separate reports from two federal oversight bodies warn that the IRS may struggle to maintain service levels between now and April 15, possibly causing delays in tax refunds and in getting answers by phone.

January 27, 2026

SECURE 2.0 amendment deadline extended for IRAs, other retirement plans

The IRS extended the deadline for SECURE 2.0 related amendments to IRAs, SEPs, and SIMPLE IRAs to Dec. 31, 2027, saying that additional time is needed to complete model language.

January 23, 2026

IRS releases FAQs on qualified overtime pay deduction under H.R. 1

An IRS fact sheet explains when overtime compensation qualifies for the H.R. 1 deduction and how Fair Labor Standards Act rules apply, including for federal employees.

January 21, 2026

Fraud and technology: How to handle the double-edged sword

As audit committees get down to business, they face risks related to technology but also can empower their organizations to use technology as a tool to fight fraud.

January 20, 2026

Undergraduate enrollment in accounting continues to rise

National Student Clearinghouse data reveals a 7.3% year-over-year increase for the fall semester, more than six times the increase across all majors.

January 20, 2026

Cost-of-living increases could hurt 2026 financial goals, poll says

The Harris Poll, conducted on behalf of the AICPA, found that most Americans have financial goals, with saving money as the top one.

January 16, 2026

IRS Advisory Council report defends workers, criticizes budget and staff cuts

In its annual report, IRSAC said the IRS has been through “an extraordinarily difficult year” with budget and staff cuts while preparing for numerous tax law changes. The report also noted tax practitioners’ prolonged wait times when contacting the IRS.

January 16, 2026

AICPA tax policy and advocacy successes: 2025 highlights

The AICPA’s Tax Division volunteer committees and technical resource panels can point to many positive results last year from its advocacy to Treasury, the IRS, and Congress for law changes and administrative guidance.

January 14, 2026

AICPA pushes for congressional support of Fiscal State of the Nation Act

The AICPA also released survey results showing that 81% of Americans support an annual fiscal report to Congress.

January 14, 2026

Report: AI speeds up work but fails to deliver real business value

Organizations are capturing speed through AI, but much of the reclaimed time is spent correcting or rewriting low-quality AI output, a global report says.

January 13, 2026

CFOs signal crucial role that technology will play in 2026

Confidence among finance leaders at large companies rises along with their expectations about the impact that artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies will have in the coming year.

January 12, 2026

Stablecoin reporting: AICPA’s updated criteria includes controls

A new section in the AICPA’s guide to stablecoins supports operations related specifically to the reporting of asset-backed fiat-pegged tokens.

January 12, 2026

5 imperatives for auditors from the PCAOB chair

George Botic, using his signature colorful language, shares the focus areas that auditors should prioritize for the coming year.

January 9, 2026

Prop. regs. amend Sec. 3406 backup withholding regulations

The IRS issued the proposed regulations to reflect changes made by H.R. 1 to the threshold for backup withholding for third-party settlement organizations such as PayPal, Venmo, and others.

January 9, 2026

SEC proposes amendments to small entity definitions

The SEC proposed amendments to the rules that define which companies and advisers qualify as small entities for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

January 9, 2026

IRS IT overhaul set to finish by 2028, former official says

After years of delays, the IRS expects to complete modernization of its fragmented IT systems by 2028, a former acting IRS commissioner said at an AICPA webcast.

January 8, 2026

AICPA proposes changes to independence guidelines related to private equity

The Professional Ethics Executive Committee voted to issue an exposure draft of Proposed Revisions Related to Alternative Practice Structures.

January 8, 2026

IRS to start accepting and processing tax returns on Jan. 26

The IRS acknowledged that new tax provisions could affect federal taxes, credits, and deductions. The start of filing season is in line with previous years.

January 7, 2026

Electronic filing for business tax returns starts next week

The IRS said it will begin accepting business tax returns electronically next week. No date has been announced yet for individual tax returns.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Tax-efficient drawdown strategies in retirement

Want to stretch retirement funds and avoid tax pitfalls? This article shares tips and models for smarter drawdown strategies that maximize after-tax wealth, manage Social Security and Medicare impacts, and minimize surprises. Also see: Tax season preview and quick guide.