Roger and Annie check in at the 40% mark of filing season, covering a flurry of legislative activity — from a bipartisan Senate bill that would finally create minimum standards for tax preparers, to new crypto regulatory frameworks and the surprisingly complex mess around car loan interest deductions. They also break down what the IRS CEO told Congress this week, including some filing season stats that are better than expected, and some quality concerns that aren't.

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Links mentioned in this episode

Chapters

• (00:00) - Tax Season Check In
• (02:38) - Bipartisan IRS Service Bill
• (03:48) - Modernizing IRS Tech
• (08:07) - Tax Preparer Standards
• (12:17) - OBBBA 2.0 Talk
• (16:19) - Healthcare Proposals
• (17:48) - Crypto Regulation Bills
• (21:45) - Bills That Passed
• (24:47) - Scams and Security Focus
• (28:33) - Filing Season Updates
• (29:03) - IRS Service Struggles
• (30:26) - Union Morale Fallout
• (32:25) - Notices and Forms Update
• (34:28) - CEO Hearing Highlights
• (37:13) - Audits and Tax Gap
• (39:19) - New Deductions Growing Pains
• (40:51) - Car Loan Interest Confusion
• (48:03) - ERC and Other Fraud Lessons
• (50:32) - Tariffs and Refund Questions
• (52:17) - AI Tax Prep Threat
• (54:04) - Wrap Up and Sign Off

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

All content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.

Roger and Annie check in mid-tax-season with a candid look at what's actually landing on desks — from W-2s showing overtime pay coded a half-dozen different ways to clients convinced their entire salary qualifies for the new deduction. They also break down the meal and entertainment changes taking effect in 2026, including why your office coffee pot is now a tax problem.

Sponsors
Padgett - Contact Padgett or Email Jeff Phillips

Chapters

• (00:00) - Mardi Gras Catch Up
• (01:53) - Tax Season Pulse Check
• (05:17) - New Tips and Overtime Law
• (07:07) - Tracking and Payroll Prep
• (10:58) - New Fees and Tip Confusion
• (12:46) - W2 Example Box 14 Codes
• (16:25) - Should We Ask About Overtime
• (20:36) - OT Premium Smell Test
• (24:39) - Weird W2 Overtime Codes
• (27:04) - Pay Stub Premium Math
• (29:25) - Pay Stub Math Costs
• (29:55) - Overtime Premium Basics
• (32:13) - W2 Box 14 Overtime
• (33:27) - When Details Are Missing
• (35:35) - Double Overtime Limits
• (36:18) - Salary vs Overtime Claims
• (38:36) - Due Diligence and Fees
• (41:01) - Meals Rules Change 2026
• (45:01) - Zero Deduction Office Meals
• (45:37) - Coffee and Snacks Debate
• (48:59) - Client Education and COA
• (51:48) - IRS Paper Checks Ending
• (55:49) - Wrap Up and Next Steps

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

All content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.

NAEA President Jennifer MacMillan joins Roger and Annie to talk about what she's hearing from enrolled agents on the front lines this tax season — including an IRS that's putting undertrained staff on the phones, backlogs that aren't getting resolved, and one practitioner who made 25 calls on a single issue without ever getting an answer. They also dig into the bipartisan push for minimum preparer standards, NAEA's win on Oregon licensing, and why Jennifer thinks managing client expectations around social security, tips, and overtime is going to be one of the biggest challenges of the season.

Sponsors
Padgett - Contact Padgett or Email Jeff Phillips

Links mentioned in this episode

Chapters

• (00:00) - Welcome to Federal Tax Updates
• (03:55) - Jennifer's Journey
• (05:55) - Selling a Tax Practice the Smart Way: Timing, Systems, and Profitability
• (08:36) - What NAEA Offers: Community Support, Web Board, and Member Resources
• (09:54) - IRS Service Breakdown: Phone Lines, Staffing Losses, and Backlog Reality
• (12:43) - Real-World IRS Call Horror Stories: POA Issues, Callbacks, and TAS Limits
• (15:09) - Returns & Refunds: E-File Works—But Humans and Paper Still Slow Everything
• (16:34) - Managing Client Expectations in a Misinformation Tax Year
• (20:32) - Pricing Your Expertise: Value Billing, Fee Schedules, and Getting Paid for Knowledge
• (26:30) - Why Community Matters + The Accounting Today Webinar Recap
• (28:43) - Tax season prep: new laws, IRS notices & online accounts
• (30:59) - DC advocacy + NAEA Fly-In (May 5–6): what to expect
• (32:05) - Minimum standards for paid preparers: the bipartisan push
• (34:50) - Why regulation matters: tax gap, weak enforcement & bad actors
• (41:18) - State battles: Oregon licensing surprise + Minnesota win
• (48:09) - Join NAEA: member benefits, volunteering & community
• (51:07) - Wrap-up: upcoming topics and tax-season sendoff

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

All content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.