Kelly Phillips Erb

IRS data continues to suggest that taxpayers are not excited about filing this tax season.

IRS data continues to suggest that taxpayers are not excited about filing this tax season.

IRS data continues to suggest that taxpayers are not excited about filing this tax season. Statistics are down in every category—from filing to processing to tax refunds.

Plus: Job losses at IRS, taxpayer privacy, Congress is making progress on the budget, changing your name, taxes on tips, tax deadlines, updates, tax trivia, and more.

Nixon Administration abuses led to the passage of strict tax privacy laws. That’s one reason moves by DOGE to access sensitive data are so controversial.

The cuts follow on the heels of other reductions to IRS personnel and the IRS budget and a move that blocked some IRS workers from the delayed resignation program.

A court in the Eastern District of Texas has reinstated beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).

Plus: A slow start to the tax filing season, movement on the budget, refusing to file, rescheduling cannabis, tax filing deadlines, industry updates, trivia, and more.

Early filing data reflects a nearly 8% downturn in tax returns received compared to the prior year. That’s on top of a 14% dip last week.

For years, Amanda Riley faked having cancer. But law enforcement, including IRS Criminal Investigation, helped put a stop to the fraud.

While still prohibited by federal law, most states and D.C. have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use (or both). A move to reschedule the drug is on hold.

The Department of Homeland Security has asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to deputize IRS agents to help with efforts to crack down on immigration.

A bill that could offer a reprieve for businesses seeking certainty on beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements is making its way through Congress.

Plus: Trump tariffs, beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting, Earned Income Tax Credit, student loan interest deduction, seasonal filing statistics, and more.

Early filing data suggests a slow start to the filing season, with a nearly 14% downturn in tax returns received compared to the prior year—luckily, tax refunds are up.

The VITA program, which the IRS administers, began after the Tax Reform Act of 1969 and provides free tax filing assistance to underserved communities.

Treasury official notes the department aims to “reduce regulatory burden on businesses,” and is looking at modifying sweeping filing requirement.

After sending out an offer to federal employees encouraging them to resign, some IRS workers have been told they may not qualify—until after tax season is over.

Musk posted on Twitter that he had “deleted” 18F, the group responsible for creating Direct File. That caused some to incorrectly report that the program had been axed.

Plus: First-time filers, tax refund checks, new tax-related scams, IRS job rescissions, federal estate taxes, tax filing deadlines, industry updates, and more.