The Internal Revenue Service/Federal Taxes,Tax Evasion, State Income Tax, etc

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Getting the IRS on the phone is more difficult this tax filing season, experts say

WASHINGTON (AP) — Taxpayers calling the IRS for help processing their taxes this filing season may find it harder than normal to get someone on the phone, experts say, a problem that is only expected to get worse next year with staffing cuts that could slash the workforce considerably.

https://apnews.com/article/irs-taxpayers-doge-filing-season-3b109e74c16dd7d119205bf4193b8c99?

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Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn’t lose tax-exempt status, IRS says in filing The IRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt status. The move effectively calls for a carve out for religious organizations from the rarely used IRS rule called the Johnson Amendment, put in place in 1954 and named after then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson. Read more.

Why this matters: In a joint court filing intended to end an ongoing case against the IRS, the tax collection agency and the National Religious Broadcasters Association — an Evangelical media consortium — and other plaintiffs have asked a federal court in Texas to stop the government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the plaintiffs. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 amendment to the U.S. tax code that prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

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Tax implications

The IRS will have a limited view into how much income small businesses and independent contractors make because there will be much less third-party reporting required. The changes could also affect payment apps like Venmo.

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IRS announces first day of 2026 filing season; online tools and resources help with tax filing

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced Monday, January 26, 2026, as the opening of the nation’s 2026 filing season. This year, several new tax law provisions of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill become effective, which could impact federal taxes, credits and deductions.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-first-day-of-2026-filing-season-online-tools-and-resources-help-with-tax-filing

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Here’s when you’ll get your tax refund from the IRS

NEW YORK (AP) — Tax filing season is underway, and the IRS expects 164 million people will file returns by April 15.

https://apnews.com/article/tax-refund-irs-2026-filing-season-079936ab8233e76d75b3341b34a21d3d?

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A privacy breach at the IRS: Taxpayer data wrongly shared with DHS, court filing says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS erroneously shared the taxpayer information of thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security, as part of the agencies’ controversial agreement to share information on immigrants for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S, according to a new court filing.

https://apnews.com/article/treasury-dhs-irs-taxpayer-data-e5d4ff426610fa6dc0ff20c567da2357?

ps:Personally I don't believe it was a breach!!

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'Taxman'

Why the IRS is necessary The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, is a division of the US Treasury Department created in 1862 that enforces the Internal Revenue Code—Title 26 of the US Code, a compilation of federal statutes—and, effectively, oversees tax collection. In 2024, the IRS's roughly 75,000 employees collected roughly $5T in tax revenue.   Given its role in diverting household income streams, it also has a bad reputation. Half of Americans had an "unfavorable view" of the IRS as of 2024 (see data). In a ranking of 16 well-known federal agencies by popularity that year, the IRS came in dead last, behind both the Department of Justice and the Department of Education.   Specifically, the IRS is responsible for determining, assessing, and collecting internal revenue in the US, such as personal and corporate income taxes; excise, estate, and gift taxes; and payroll taxes for the nation's Social Security system (state governments are responsible for collecting state taxes) (read how it's organized). These taxes help pay for government spending on everything from maintaining roads to funding the military. ... Read what else we learned about the agency here. Want more Business and Finance? Sign up here for our Thursday newsletter.    Also, check out ...  > What happens when you don't pay your taxes? (Watch) > Here are 15 red flags that could result in an audit from the IRS. (Read) > It cost the IRS $0.36 to collect $100 in 2024. (Read) > The story of the Beatles' "Taxman." (Read)

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Tax surprise

Some people who have Affordable Care Act coverage might owe the government money for premium subsidies received during the previous year. Here’s what you should know.

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Fatter refund checks

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios Tax refunds are up so far this year, but they're still less than many Americans expect, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports. This is the first filing season reflecting changes from the "One Big Beautiful Bill" — including no tax on tips and new deductions that promise to boost refunds for millions. Higher standard deductions and updated tax brackets are also pushing refunds higher. 💰 The average refund, as of April 3: about $3,460, up 11% from last year. A recent New York Times article was headlined, "'I Got Back Every Penny': Inside Trump's Supercharged Tax Season." (Gift link.) Data: Tax Foundation. Map: Axios Visuals 🤔 Yes, but: Early forecasts promised even bigger gains. The typical increase is around $300, not the $600–$700 many expected. 👵🏻 Many of the new deductions — including those for seniors, tips and overtime pay — have had uneven uptake and mixed results. Go deeper. ps:I remember when I used to do taxes, whenever there was a democrat president I always got money back and each year after it increased. So when I republican became president, the first year I still got back money, but starting the next year I'd get less and less. Now why that would happen still baffles me? The only republican president that I got money back, an increase each year, was Bush 2. Also the only time I ever owed any money was when I let some else do my taxes! Luckily I only allowed that once and after that I also did my own taxes!!

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Tax tech

The IRS is using artificial intelligence to optimize the auditing process. What does that mean about the chances of your tax return getting flagged for review? The jury is still out.

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IRS may owe you a refund for coronavirus-era fines. Here’s how to apply

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of millions of taxpayers who were penalized by the IRS during the coronavirus pandemic for failing to pay their taxes or filing late may qualify for a refund or termination of the penalties they incurred during that period.

https://apnews.com/article/irs-treasury-tax-covid19-pandemic-refund-948b9034f49d416b994770627d4d1f1a?

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💰 Charted: America's tax divide

Data: Census Bureau. Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals America's state governments have split into two camps: those that tax what you earn, and those that tax what you spend, Axios' Russell Contreras writes. Why it matters: States built on income taxes ask more of high earners. States built on consumption taxes ask more of everyday spenders. 🧮 By the numbers: In 2025, 27 states — many in the Sun Belt — relied most on sales and gross receipts taxes, while 21 states, heavily located on the coasts, relied most on income taxes, per an Axios analysis of new Census data. Most sales-dependent: Texas (86.6%), South Dakota (83.1%), Florida (80.3%), Tennessee (79.4%), Washington (74.6%), Nevada (73.9%). Most income-dependent: Oregon (71%), New York (67%), Massachusetts (66.8%), California (61.1%), Connecticut (59.5%). Between the lines: The divide isn't perfectly partisan. Blue Washington is sales-tax-reliant, while purple New Hampshire relies most heavily on corporate income tax (32.9%).