The American Institute of CPAs is sharpening its tax advocacy agenda, pressing for IRS service improvements ahead of the next filing season. For self-employed pros and the CPAs who serve them, the campaign matters. After years of helping clients navigate notices, ID verification snags, and slow refund processing, I have seen how each procedural fix can reduce hours of work per return and free up real cash for small businesses.
The push comes as taxpayers and preparers continue to report uneven service, even as the IRS says recent upgrades have shortened wait times and sped up processing. The AICPA effort signals a coordinated campaign to influence policy and day-to-day procedures before key deadlines return.
Why IRS service improvements matter for self-employed pros
Tax season strains government systems and private firms each year. During the pandemic, paper backlogs and long phone waits drew criticism from taxpayers and practitioners. Federal funding has supported technology upgrades and staffing, but many preparers say pain points remain, especially for complex cases and correspondence audits.
A clearer, more predictable process helps self-employed filers comply and reduces costly errors. It also frees CPAs to spend less time chasing letters and more time advising clients. With inflation, disaster events, and frequent law changes affecting filings, timely guidance and responsive service can reduce confusion and lower the cost of getting things right.
What practitioners want to see
The AICPA says its advocacy will center on practical fixes that can be implemented before or during the filing season. The group emphasizes changes that reduce bottlenecks and make it easier to resolve problems without repeat contacts. Four priorities sit near the top of the list.
Faster, more reliable phone and digital support for practitioners and taxpayers. Clearer notices with specific next steps and realistic response timelines. More consistent processing of paper and e-filed returns and amended returns. Expanded, secure online tools for account access, transcripts, and case resolution.
Self-employed filers benefit most from the third and fourth items. Faster amended return processing matters when retroactive deductions or corrected 1099s require revising a prior year. Better online tools reduce the need to call in for routine transcripts or account history, which are essential for loan applications and SBA paperwork.
Where progress has happened
IRS officials have reported shorter call wait times and improved service levels over the past two filing seasons. The agency has expanded online accounts, upgraded scanning of paper documents, and added staff to handle peak demand. Those steps have helped reduce backlogs that built up during the pandemic.
The IRS newsroom publishes regular updates on processing times, hiring milestones, and new digital tools. Reviewing those updates each quarter helps self-employed pros and their CPAs anticipate which procedural changes will land before their next filing.
Where constraints remain
Yet barriers persist. Hiring and training new employees takes time. Legacy systems limit how quickly new tools can be deployed. Complex law changes require updated forms, instructions, and programming across multiple platforms. Disaster relief provisions and new credits can alter deadlines and create spikes in calls and correspondence that strain even well-staffed teams.
Self-employed filers feel these constraints most acutely when correspondence is required. A single CP2000 letter or identity verification request can take months to resolve through certified mail, which leaves clients exposed to interest and penalty accrual even when they are acting in good faith.
The case for stronger practitioner pathways
Beyond customer service, the AICPA is seeking a stronger practitioner pathway for resolving cases. That includes consistent authorization processes, more reliable transcript access, and the ability to submit documents digitally across a wider set of issues. Clear escalation channels when cases stall could also prevent unnecessary penalties.
The organization vice president for Tax Policy and Advocacy is amplifying these points in public forums to build momentum. The strategy blends technical recommendations with on-the-ground experiences from firms serving individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits. Practitioners who routinely manage self-employed clients have particular interest in expanded e-services for Schedule C audits and SE tax adjustments.
What self-employed pros can do to prepare
While the AICPA presses for system-wide IRS service improvements, individual filers can take steps that reduce friction immediately. Three habits cut the most common service delays I see in my work with self-employed clients.
First, set up an IRS online account before tax season. The account provides instant access to transcripts, payment history, and prior-year filing status. Many calls to the IRS can be avoided if you have the data in hand. Second, keep digital copies of every 1099, K-1, and 1098-T tied to the relevant tax year in one folder. When a notice arrives, you can respond within days rather than weeks. Third, file an extension proactively if your records will not be complete by April. Extensions reduce penalty exposure and give preparers room to file a clean return rather than an amended one.
These steps fit naturally alongside your essential tax forms workflow and reduce the surface area for IRS errors that require time-consuming correspondence to fix.
How to track the AICPA campaign
The AICPA tax policy page publishes regular updates on advocacy priorities, comment letters, and IRS responses. Self-employed pros who use a CPA can ask their preparer to flag any procedural change that affects their specific filing situation. Those who self-file should subscribe to IRS Quick Alerts to catch e-file outages, new form releases, and processing changes during peak season.
For state-level filers, advocacy on federal IRS service improvements often translates into state revenue department changes too. Many state agencies mirror federal procedures, so a faster federal authorization process eventually drives state systems toward similar standards.
What to watch next
As the next filing season approaches, several markers will show whether these efforts are gaining traction. Practitioners will watch call service levels, the pace of processing for amended returns, and the availability of secure digital tools. Notice redesigns and clearer instructions would signal a push toward fewer errors and faster resolutions.
If adopted, the proposed changes could lower compliance costs and reduce stress for taxpayers and preparers. If progress stalls, pressure will likely build for stronger oversight and additional resources. Either way, the AICPA focused agenda sets a clear benchmark for measuring service this season.
Bottom line for self-employed filers
Better guidance, quicker responses, and smarter digital access could turn a difficult filing season into a manageable one. For self-employed pros, the payoff is real: fewer notices, faster amended return processing, and cleaner authorization flows for CPAs who manage complex Schedule C and S corporation filings.
Stakeholders will be looking for concrete steps and measurable results in the months ahead. In the meantime, the strongest defense against IRS service gaps is your own preparation. Build a clean record-keeping habit, file complete returns the first time, and integrate your tax workflow with your monthly self-employed bookkeeping process so nothing slips between filings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the AICPA pushing for in IRS service improvements?
Faster phone and digital support, clearer notices, more consistent return processing, and expanded secure online tools are the four priorities at the top of the AICPA advocacy list.
How can self-employed filers benefit from these changes?
Faster amended return processing and better online tools reduce the hours required to handle notices, transcripts, and ID verification, which lowers compliance costs.
What can I do now while the IRS improves its systems?
Set up an IRS online account, keep digital copies of every tax document by year, and file an extension if your records will not be complete by April.
How long does it take to resolve an IRS notice today?
Common notices like the CP2000 can take three to six months to fully resolve, especially when correspondence is required. Online account access can shorten that timeline.
Will the IRS process amended returns faster soon?
The AICPA is pressing for faster amended return processing, and the IRS has begun expanding e-file capability for Form 1040-X. Progress is incremental but visible.
Where can I track AICPA advocacy progress?
The AICPA tax policy page publishes comment letters, advocacy priorities, and IRS responses. CPAs serving self-employed clients can flag any procedural change that affects specific filing situations.
Do state tax agencies follow IRS service improvements?
Many state revenue departments mirror federal procedures over time, so improvements at the IRS often translate into faster state systems within a few years.
Photo by Olga DeLawrence: Unsplash
