The American Institute of CPAs is sharpening its tax advocacy agenda, pressing for better taxpayer service and updates to IRS processes ahead of the next filing season. In new outreach featuring its vice president for Tax Policy & Advocacy, the organization lays out goals to make filing smoother for individuals and businesses and to ease pressure on tax professionals.
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’s effort signals a coordinated campaign to influence policy and day-to-day procedures before key deadlines return.
Why It Matters Now
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. While recent federal funding has supported technology improvements and staffing, many preparers say pain points remain, especially for complex cases and correspondence audits.
A clearer, more predictable process helps taxpayers comply and reduces costly errors. It also frees practitioners to spend less time navigating administrative hurdles and more time advising clients. With inflation, disaster events, and frequent law changes affecting filings, timely guidance and responsive service can reduce confusion.
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.
- 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.
Practitioners often cite correspondence delays as a top issue. When cases stall, interest and penalties can grow even when taxpayers act in good faith. Better triage and transparent status updates could ease that burden. For small businesses and pass-through entities, timely guidance on new credits and deductions is also essential to avoid amended filings later.
IRS Progress and Ongoing Constraints
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.
Yet constraints remain. 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. And disaster relief and special credits can alter deadlines and create spikes in calls and correspondence.
The AICPA’s advocacy acknowledges these limits while pressing for incremental wins that can deliver immediate relief. Improvements in notice clarity, broader use of secure messaging, and streamlined identity verification are frequent practitioner requests that could reduce repeat contacts and shorten case resolution.
The Policy Angle
Beyond customer service, the group 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’s vice president for Tax Policy & 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.
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’s focused agenda sets a clear benchmark for measuring service this season.
The bottom line: better guidance, quicker responses, and smarter digital access could turn a difficult filing season into a manageable one. Stakeholders will be looking for concrete steps and measurable results in the months ahead.
