An official website of the U.S. Gov An official website of the U.S. GovPreparing your taxes doesn’t have to be scary, but this spooky season I would like to share an example of how things can go frightfully wrong. Imagine this terrifying scenario: Someone offers to prepare your tax return, promising a big refund. All you have to do is take their word for it and look the other way, or sign a blank tax return, and they do the rest to work their magic.
Tax professionals and our tax industry partners are the backbone of tax administration. That is why I hosted Town Hall listening sessions at the IRS’s Nationwide Tax Forum this summer. Hearing the questions, issues and concerns of the tax professionals who attended is an important tool that my team and I at the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) are using to advocate for taxpayers more effectively.
The IRS Nationwide Tax Forum was back in-person and in full swing this summer after three years of going virtual during the pandemic. At each of the five tax forums held across the country, I had the honor of hosting a series of town hall events where I heard directly from tax professionals about the issues that give them, and the taxpayers they represent, heartburn.
TAS is pleased to share the news that the IRS has now opened up enrollment in the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program to anyone who has a Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
American Institute of CPAs selects NTA Erin M. Collins as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in the Accounting Profession.
The IRS announced it is ending the practice of unannounced visits from its revenue officers. The policy change is due to the rise in tax scams and taxpayer confusion over verifying an IRS employee’s identity, leading to safety concerns for both taxpayers and IRS employees. This is good news for taxpayers since they will no longer be caught off guard and unprepared to discuss their unpaid taxes. Additionally, there is the benefit of an improved taxpayer experience when taxpayers receive advance notice and other information in the mail.
Recently, I’ve received many questions about how Executive Order (EO) 14247, Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account, will affect taxpayers. The good news is that most taxpayers already receive their refunds using direct deposit and may not even be aware of the change. During the 2025 filing season, about 94% of individual taxpayers provided their direct deposit information on their Form 1040. But some taxpayers are unable to provide direct deposit information or may not wish to do so, and they may be wondering what the impact of the EO will be going forward.
