Business travel per diem rates changed October 1, 2026, and employers that reimburse employees for business travel should take note. The IRS recently released Notice 2026-60, establishing updated special per diem rates for the period beginning October 1, 2026. These rates can be used under applicable IRS rules to substantiate certain ordinary and necessary business…

The right to retain representation means you don’t necessarily have to face the IRS alone. When taxpayers receive an IRS notice, face an audit or find themselves dealing with IRS collection, they may assume they have to personally handle every conversation and meeting with the IRS. That’s not always the case. The Taxpayer Bill of…

Disaster tax preparedness probably isn’t the first thing most people think about when preparing for a hurricane, tornado, flood, wildfire or other emergency. But protecting your tax and financial records before a disaster can make the recovery process much easier. Tax returns, insurance policies, property records, payroll information and other financial documents may be needed…

IRS Revenue Officer procedures for analyzing taxpayers’ finances changed significantly in 2026—and taxpayers facing serious IRS collection problems should understand what those changes could mean. On June 29, 2026, the IRS issued a major revision to Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.15.1, Financial Analysis Handbook. This is the guidance used by IRS Collection personnel when securing,…

Payroll tax responsibilities are an important part of running a business with employees, and National Payroll Week provides a timely reminder to make sure those responsibilities are being handled correctly. Observed September 7–11, 2026, National Payroll Week recognizes the payroll professionals who help ensure America’s workers are paid accurately and on time. This year, the…

IRS tax transcripts provide taxpayers with important information about their federal tax history. You may need one when preparing a tax return, applying for a mortgage or loan, verifying income, investigating an IRS account issue or trying to understand an unresolved tax problem. On August 26, 2026, the IRS issued Tax Tip 2026-65, reminding taxpayers…

Charitable donation scams are becoming increasingly common, especially following natural disasters, public emergencies, and high-profile tragedies. While most charitable organizations work hard to help those in need, scammers often exploit people’s generosity by creating fake charities, requesting fraudulent donations, or promoting tax schemes involving inflated charitable deductions. The IRS recently highlighted charitable donation scams as…

Here’s What Really Happens Can the IRS freeze your bank account? It’s one of the most common questions taxpayers ask after receiving an IRS notice. Most people don’t think about their bank account until payday. Then one morning, the balance is lower than expected—or worse, it’s gone. Can the IRS really take money directly from…

Understanding the IRS Collection Process Most IRS collection cases don’t begin with a bank levy. They begin with a letter. In fact, the IRS typically sends multiple notices before taking serious collection action. Each notice represents another opportunity to resolve the problem before penalties increase, collection options become more limited, or enforcement begins. Unfortunately, many…