Latest briefs

Tax Pulse

Jurisdiction
Type
Trump Account Employer Contributions
Added: Oct 1, 2026

Proposed Rules for Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts

The IRS proposed rules for employer contributions to Trump Accounts for employees or their dependents. The proposal addresses written-plan and nondiscrimination requirements for these programs and dependent care assistance. IRS guidance describes tax-free employer contributions of up to $2,500 per year. These regulations are proposed, not final. A public hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2026; requests to speak and topic outlines are due October 13.

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IRS Guidance Update
Added: Oct 1, 2026

IRS Updates FAQs on Qualified Overtime Deduction

The IRS updated its FAQs on the qualified overtime deduction, revising FS-2026-01 with FS-2026-13. The updated FAQs are incorporated in IR-2026-88 and provide guidance on the deduction for qualified overtime compensation. More information about reliance is available on IRS.gov.

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Retirement savings
Added: Oct 1, 2026

Saver’s Match: Proposed Rules Cover 2027 Contributions, Payments in 2028

Treasury and IRS announced intent to propose Saver’s Match regulations. Eligible taxpayers may receive a 50% match on up to $2,000 of IRA or employer-plan contributions, up to $1,000 annually. It replaces the Saver’s Credit for retirement contributions. Match payments begin in 2028, based on 2027 contributions. TrumpIRA.gov is expected to launch Jan. 1, 2027. The rules are proposed, not final; comments on Notice 2026-48 are due Oct. 5, 2026.

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Proposed Regulations
Added: Oct 1, 2026

Treasury, IRS Propose Rules to Restrict Refundable Tax Credits to Citizens and Qualified Aliens

The Treasury and IRS proposed regulations applying PRWORA to four refundable credits: EITC, CTC, adoption credit, and American opportunity credit. To receive the refundable portion, taxpayers must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or qualified aliens on the filing date. Joint returns require only one spouse to qualify. Non-qualified aliens may still offset tax liability. Comments are sought; details in the proposed regulations. The rules would apply to tax years ending on or after final publication.

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IRS announcement
Added: Oct 1, 2026

IRS Launches Digitally Authenticated Tax Compliance Report via Online Account

The IRS has launched a digitally authenticated Tax Compliance Report through Individual Online Account. Taxpayers can securely obtain and download it when applying for a job, loan, government benefit, or other service requiring tax compliance information. The downloadable file includes an IRS-issued digital certificate, letting receiving organizations verify the report’s authenticity while protecting taxpayer data. The report is available on demand, with the same built-in verification features for every user.

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Disaster Preparedness
Added: Oct 1, 2026

IRS Reminder: Disaster Preparedness Starts with Tax Records

The IRS urges taxpayers to protect tax records before disasters strike. Steps include storing documents in waterproof/fireproof containers, creating electronic copies, photographing property, and updating emergency plans. After a disaster, IRS may automatically postpone deadlines for those in covered areas; others can call 866-562-5227. Uninsured losses may be claimed on tax returns. See Publication 547 for details.

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Proposed rules
Added: Oct 1, 2026

Proposed Trump Account Investment Rules: Low-Fee U.S. Index Funds, Comments Due Oct. 20

Treasury and IRS proposed rules for Trump Account investments. During the growth period—through Dec. 31 of the year the child turns 17—funds must go into mutual funds/ETFs tracking a U.S. equity index, with no leverage and annual fees at or below 0.1%. If no choice, trustees must pick an eligible investment. After that period, restrictions end. Comments due Oct. 20, 2026; proposal generally applies to tax years beginning on/after Jan. 1, 2026. A $1,000 pilot contribution is available for eligible children born 2025–2028.

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IRS expands self-service online tools for individuals and businesses
Added: Sep 30, 2026

IRS.gov Now Lets You View W-2s, Schedule Payments, and Handle Authorizations Online

The IRS has expanded Individual Online Account to let taxpayers view Forms W-2 and certain 1099s, schedule payments up to 365 days ahead, and e-sign tax professional authorizations. Business Tax Account is available for sole proprietors, partnerships, and corporations, but features depend on entity type and user role. Refund status is available without signing in. The IRS does not initiate contact by email or text.

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Tax Relief Extension
Added: Sep 30, 2026

IRS Extends Drought Livestock Replacement Period for 2026 Expirations

IRS Notice 2026-54 (IR-2026-110) extends the four-year replacement period for drought-forced livestock sales in 49 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and other areas. This applies only to eligible farmers/ranchers whose replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end of 2026—they now have until the end of their next tax year. Qualifying sales cover draft, dairy, or breeding livestock only, not slaughter or poultry. The area must have had severe drought between Sept. 1, 2025, and Aug. 31, 2026.

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Tax Security
Added: Sep 30, 2026

IRS Urges MFA, IP PINs to Fight Tax Identity Theft

The IRS and Security Summit urge taxpayers and tax pros to add layers against tax identity theft. Use multifactor authentication everywhere, especially tax software and email; tax prep firms must comply with the FTC Safeguards Rule unless a qualified individual approves an equivalent control. Get an Identity Protection PIN—six digits, renewed yearly, never shared with anyone but the IRS and trusted preparer. Create an IRS Online Account to block fraudulent account creation. The IRS will never call, email, or text for your PIN.

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IRS Direct Pay
Added: Sep 30, 2026

IRS Direct Pay: Free, Secure Tax Payments from Your Bank Account

The IRS reminds taxpayers that Direct Pay offers a free, secure way to pay federal taxes directly from a checking or savings account. No registration or fees are required; identity is verified using prior-year return info. Payments can be scheduled up to 365 days in advance or made same-day. Each payment must be under $10 million. Direct Pay cannot be used for refunds. Taxpayers who haven't filed in over six years may need another option.

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Deadline Extension
Official release: Sep 28, 2026

IRS Corrects Comment Deadline for Proposed QOZ Reporting Rules

The IRS corrected the comment deadline in its September 11 proposed regulations on Qualified Opportunity Zone information reporting and fund certification procedures. The correction changes October 16, 2026, to October 26, 2026, in the DATES section of proposed rule document 2026-18574. This notice is a correction to that proposed rule.

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Alabama Rate
Official release: Sep 28, 2026

Alabama’s new vapor-products tax starts Oct. 1

Starting Oct. 1, 2026, Alabama imposes a 10-cent-per-milliliter excise tax on consumable vapor products sold wholesale or imported for use, consumption or retail sale in the state. Wholesalers and registered retailers must obtain a no-fee Vapor Products Tax License through My Alabama Taxes, file monthly by the 20th and include the products on the WRAP resale report. Timely filers receive a 4.75% discount.

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Proposed Rule
Official release: Sep 28, 2026

Proposed rules detail a four-year tax-payment election for qualifying farmland sales

Treasury and the IRS proposed rules for section 1062, which lets eligible sellers spread the tax attributable to gain on a qualifying farmland sale over four annual installments. The proposal calls for 25% payments and addresses the prior-use, land-restriction and qualified-buyer requirements. It is proposed guidance; comments are due Nov. 30.

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California
Official release: Sep 28, 2026

California sets a 7% interest rate for the first half of 2027

California’s Franchise Tax Board says the daily-compounded interest rate for personal income, corporate income and franchise taxes will be 7% from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2027. The corporation-tax overpayment rate for the same period will be 4%.

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Arizona Deadline
Official release: Sep 28, 2026

Sept. 28 is the postponed IRS deadline for eligible San Carlos Apache Tribe taxpayers

Eligible individuals and businesses affected by the October 2025 storms and flooding have until Sept. 28, 2026, to complete many federal filing and payment obligations that were postponed. The relief applies automatically to taxpayers in the covered area; some information returns and deposits remain outside the postponement.

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Montana Deadline
Official release: Sep 28, 2026

Sept. 28 is the postponed IRS deadline for eligible Crow Tribe taxpayers

Eligible taxpayers affected by the December 2025 severe winter storm and straight-line winds have until Sept. 28, 2026, to complete many postponed federal filing and payment obligations. The IRS applies the relief automatically in the covered area; the notice explains which returns, payments and other acts qualify.

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Estate Tax Closing Letter Fee
Official release: Sep 25, 2026

Estate Tax Closing Letter Fee Rises to $76 Starting Oct. 26, 2026

The IRS final rule increases the estate tax closing letter (Letter 627) user fee from $56 to $76, effective for requests received after October 26, 2026. The fee covers the full cost of issuing the letter. This affects authorized persons requesting the letter for decedents' estates. No other changes were made.

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Administrative
Official release: Sep 25, 2026

IRS launches a new mobile app and retires IRS2Go

The IRS launched a new mobile app on Sept. 25, replacing IRS2Go. The app adds secure access to selected Individual Online Account features alongside refund-status and filing tools. Taxpayers who used IRS2Go should switch to the new IRS app rather than expect the old app to remain the agency’s mobile entry point.

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Washington
Official release: Sep 22, 2026

Washington adds a 9.9% tax for certain peer-to-peer car sharing

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Washington will impose a 9.9% tax on certain peer-to-peer car-sharing transactions when the vehicle was bought using a reseller permit or another approved exemption certificate. The platform collects the tax, which is in addition to retail sales tax.

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IRS Warning
Official release: Sep 18, 2026

IRS warns that “Tribal Tax Credits” being promoted to taxpayers do not exist

The IRS warned taxpayers and businesses about promoters selling purported “Tribal Tax Credits,” “Native American Tax Credits” and similar products. The agency says these federal credits do not exist. Acceptance of a previously filed return does not mean the IRS approved the claimed credit.

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Guidance
Official release: Sep 15, 2026

IRS extends drought-related livestock replacement periods

IRS Notice 2026-54 extends the replacement period for qualifying livestock sold because of drought when the taxpayer’s applicable region includes an area listed in the notice. The relief can matter to farmers and ranchers whose four-year replacement period otherwise would expire at the end of 2026.

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Deadline
Official release: Aug 24, 2026

FIRE is retiring; 2026 information returns move to IRIS

The IRS says FIRE will stop accepting information returns after Nov. 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET. Current FIRE users must move to IRIS to file tax-year-2026 information returns during the 2027 filing season. Direct filers should arrange IRIS access before year-end.

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Rate
Official release: Aug 21, 2026

IRS interest rate stays at 7% for individuals in Q4 2026

For the quarter beginning Oct. 1, 2026, the federal tax underpayment and overpayment interest rate for individuals remains 7% a year, compounded daily. The rate matters when tax is paid late and when the IRS owes interest on qualifying overpayments.

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New Jersey Relief
Official release: Aug 20, 2026

New Jersey changes Stay NJ payment timing and sets a Nov. 2 deadline

New Jersey says 2026 Stay NJ recipients will receive half of the payment previously scheduled for the third quarter in August and half in November, reducing the calendar-year total. For the 2025-tax-year program, homeowners who were age 65 or older during 2025, owned and occupied the home all year and had income of $200,000 or less must file Form PAS-1 by Nov. 2, 2026. Payments are scheduled for February and May 2027.

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Guidance
Official release: Aug 12, 2026

IRS publishes optional sample forms for retirement-plan rollovers

Notice 2026-49 provides optional sample forms and proposed procedures for direct rollovers between retirement plans and between a plan and an IRA. It does not cover IRA-to-IRA transfers. Treasury and the IRS requested comments by Oct. 23, 2026.

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Washington
Official release: Aug 3, 2026

Washington will allow advance capital-gains-tax payments

Beginning with tax year 2026, Washington taxpayers may prepay state capital gains tax up to six months before the return and payment deadline. For 2026 returns due April 15, 2027, the Department of Revenue says prepayments can begin Oct. 15, 2026.

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