IRS practice & procedure

TOPICS / TAX

March 16, 2026

AICPA pushes IRS to ease and expand first‑time abatement rules

The recommendations include allowing taxpayers to rely on substitute reasonable cause when appropriate, permitting them to reserve the automatic first-time abatement for future use.

March 12, 2026

Tax advocacy: AICPA experts on new bills shaping tax preparer rules

Two Washington‑based AICPA tax leaders break down a recent GAO report and proposed bipartisan legislation that would reshape rules on tax preparation. Listen to the podcast episode or read the Q&A.

March 9, 2026

IRS proposes regulations for Trump accounts, pilot program

Proposed regulations under Sec. 530A provide information on how to open initial Trump accounts, and proposed regulations under Sec. 6434 provide guidance on the program that provides $1,000 contributions to Trump accounts for eligible children.

March 6, 2026

IRS seeks to scrap basis‑shifting TOI reporting regulations

If proposed regulations become final, the withdrawal would let taxpayers treat the January 2025 transaction-of-interest regulations as having never taken effect.

March 6, 2026

IRS Dirty Dozen adds new capital gains scheme for 2026

The IRS says a surge in fabricated Form 2439 filings prompted the only new addition to this year’s Dirty Dozen, underscoring how quickly tax schemes evolve.

March 5, 2026

IRS proposal eases provision of 1099-DA statements by digital asset brokers

The proposed regulations would shift digital-asset reporting toward electronic-only delivery by loosening consent requirements for brokers.

March 4, 2026

IRS issues higher 2026 depreciation limits for passenger automobiles

The IRS issued the 2026 depreciation limitations for passenger vehicles, including those for which bonus depreciation is applied.

March 2, 2026

New Schedule 1-A for tips, OT, car loans, and senior deductions published

The Schedule 1-A does not differ from the draft version issued last year, but instructions for Form 1040 provide details and examples on the four temporary deductions.

March 2, 2026

Senate bill targets preparers who break the law, expands IRS reforms

The AICPA supports the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act but seeks further improvements.

March 1, 2026

District court dismisses taxpayer’s refund claim

The court held that it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over a taxpayer’s refund claim that did not meet the full-payment rule set forth in Flora, 357 U.S. 63 (1958).

March 1, 2026

Nondeductible W-2 wages not included in Sec. 199A deduction computation

The Tax Court determined that W-2 wages that are not deductible under Sec. 280E in calculating taxable income are not included when calculating the Sec. 199A qualified business income (QBI) deduction.

March 1, 2026

Court determines taxpayer lacked profit motive

The Tax Court applied the hobby loss rules under Sec. 183 to disallow losses from a taxpayer’s ranch.

February 27, 2026

IRS should open Trump accounts for eligible children automatically, AICPA says

In a letter to the IRS and Treasury, the AICPA said enrolling children by default “would promote equitable access, reduce procedural barriers, and strengthen the intended reach of the program.”

February 26, 2026

GAO says tax pros helped shape IRS response to ERC issues

The report to Congress also recommends four ways for the IRS to close the chapter on the pandemic-era credit.

February 23, 2026

Anticipated applicability date for future final RMD regs. announced

The IRS said it anticipates that the future final regulations on RMDs under Sec. 401(a)(9) will apply for the distribution calendar year that begins no earlier than six months after those regulations’ appearance in the Federal Register.

February 20, 2026

AICPA seeks guidance on Sec. 174A(c) capitalization and amortization of R&E

Requested guidance can be provided through modifications to Rev. Proc. 2025-28 and/or other published guidance.

February 19, 2026

Average tax refund rises 11%; total filings decline

The average individual tax refund is up nearly 11% in the first 10 business days of the 2026 filing season, rising to $2,290 from $2,065 last year.

February 9, 2026

IRS broadens Tax Pro Account for accounting firms and others

The update allows firms that serve larger numbers of taxpayers to manage centralized authorization file access, view client information, and streamline authorizations online.

February 9, 2026

AICPA urges Treasury, IRS to simplify Sec. 951 documentation rules

The AICPA told Treasury that Notice 2025 75’s “determine and document” requirement is “ambiguous and potentially onerous” and urges replacing it with a simple safe harbor or eliminating it.

February 2, 2026

IRS will stay fully staffed for first 5 days of shutdown

Treasury posted a lapsed appropriations contingency plan late last week that calls for the IRS to be fully staffed through Friday during the partial government shutdown.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Tax Court allows cattle ranch deductions

The Tax Court held that a Texas rancher operated with a profit motive, despite “troublingly large” losses more than 77 times his gross receipts from farming and ranching. Learn more in this Tax Matters article.