What the IRS Is Saying About This Tax Season

Several observers, including the National Taxpayer Advocate, have warned that staffing cuts and new tax laws may hinder the IRS this filing season. But the U.S. Treasury Dept. remains optimistic. Addressing the USC Gould School of Law Tax Institute, Senior Advisor Don Snyder pointed out that the tax season started “on time and on schedule” […]

Not All Commuter Benefits Are Created Equal

Employer reimbursements for bicycle commuting costs, such as purchases, repairs and storage, remain taxable income to employees. That’s because the suspension of the $20-per-month tax-free benefit was made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025. Although this exclusion is gone, qualified transportation fringe benefits such as parking, mass transit passes and van […]

3 Medicare pitfalls to avoid

Still Waiting on a W-2 or 1099? Don’t Panic

Missing a W-2 or 1099 this tax season? If your Form W-2 or Forms 1099 aren’t available by the Feb. 2, 2026, deadline for most of these forms, or if the information is incorrect, contact your employer or the payer. If you still don’t receive the missing or corrected form by the end of February, […]

Sold Crypto or NFTs? Don’t Miss This New IRS Form

A reminder from the IRS: If you used a broker to sell or dispose of digital assets such as cryptocurrency or nonfungible tokens (NFTs) after Jan. 1, 2025, you might receive Form 1099-DA, “Digital Asset Proceeds From Broker Transactions,” this tax season. Brokers must report the gross proceeds from certain transactions to both taxpayers and […]

Tip and Overtime Deductions may require extra effort for 2025 filings

Eligible workers can claim new federal income tax deductions on their 2025 returns for qualified tip income (up to $25,000) and qualified overtime premiums (up to $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filers). You don’t need to itemize to claim these breaks, but complex rules and restrictions apply. Both deductions begin phasing out when your modified […]

Bill advances requiring IRS to modernize processing for tax returns

The House Ways and Means Committee has advanced a bipartisan bill that would require the IRS to modernize its digital processing technology for tax returns. Dubbed the Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act, the bill would require prepared tax returns to include a scannable code on paper forms. […]

If you suffered a disaster, you may be eligible for a casualty loss tax deduction

Every year, severe storms, flooding, wildfires and other disasters affect millions of taxpayers. Many experience casualty losses from damage to their homes or personal property. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law last year, generally made permanent the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) limitation on the personal casualty loss tax deduction. […]

IRSAC publishes recommendations on current and emerging tax administration issues

The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) has published its annual public report, which provides recommendations to the IRS on current and emerging tax administration issues. The report covers 29 topics, including IRS operations, taxpayer service, compliance and administrative processes. Key areas addressed include funding for IRS operations, enhancements to IRS websites and online tax […]

IRA issues guidance on changes to first-year depreciation

On Jan. 14, the IRS released guidance on changes to the additional first-year depreciation deduction. Also known as bonus depreciation, this break was increased to 100% and made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in July 2025. Notice 2026-11 explains how to determine whether depreciable property qualifies and how […]