Federal Tax Updates 40% Through: Filing Season Updates & Legislative Chaos
Mar 16, 2026
They recap being 40% through filing season and highlight IRS service and callback tech upgrades. They cover proposed minimum standards for tax preparers and new crypto regulatory bills. They flag rising practitioner scams and security measures. They also dive into confusing car loan interest guidance and a provocative AI tax prep service that could shake up the market.
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IRS Service Bill Bundles Tech And Preparer Rules
- IRS service improvements are being pushed: digitize returns, public dashboards for wait times, and expanded callback/online help features.
- The proposed bill bundles preparer standards with tech changes and taxpayer advocate hiring authority to improve transparency and responsiveness.
Small Bipartisan Fixes Passed Quickly
- Recent bipartisan laws addressed narrow IRS pain points: disaster deadline alignment and clearer math‑error notices.
- The Math and Taxpayer Help Act forces clearer explanations on math error notices so taxpayers can respond accurately.
Harden Practitioner Security Now
- Practitioners must strengthen cybersecurity: adopt multi-factor auth, IP PINs, and a current Written Information Security Plan (WISP).
- Roger and Annie warn that even strong controls can fail because attackers exploit tiny staff mistakes.