Nearly 13,000 tax professionals attended IRS events across five U.S. cities this year, getting an early look at issues that could affect taxpayers when the 2027 filing season arrives.
The Internal Revenue Service announced Sept. 21 that it had completed its 2026 Nationwide Tax Forum series after holding its fifth and final event in San Diego.
The five forums brought together enrolled agents, certified public accountants, attorneys and other tax professionals for workshops, seminars and opportunities to speak directly with IRS personnel.
Although the events are designed primarily for tax professionals, many of the issues discussed—including new tax provisions, digital-asset reporting, IRS audits and collection cases—can eventually affect the taxpayers whose returns those professionals prepare.
For taxpayers already thinking about next year’s return, the subjects receiving attention at the forums provide a useful preview of issues tax preparers are preparing to handle during the 2027 tax filing season.
Nearly 13,000 Tax Professionals Attended Five Events
The IRS held its 2026 Nationwide Tax Forums in Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Orlando and San Diego between July and September.
Each three-day IRS Tax Forum offered seminars and workshops covering federal and state tax issues, IRS procedures and emerging developments affecting tax preparation.
More than 40 seminars and workshops were offered, and qualifying attendees could earn continuing education credits while participating.
IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said the events allow the agency to receive feedback from tax professionals while providing information about emerging tax policies.
That two-way communication matters because tax preparers often see practical problems with new tax laws and IRS procedures while working directly with millions of individual taxpayers.
More Than 1,100 Tax Cases Were Resolved
The forums weren’t limited to classroom-style presentations.
Each event included a Case Resolution Room operated by the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service, where qualifying tax professionals could bring particularly difficult client cases for one-on-one assistance.
According to the IRS, 1,165 taxpayer cases were resolved across the five events.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service explains that specialists research cases brought to the program and work to resolve the tax matter, with TAS able to open a case for additional work when an issue can’t be completed during the appointment.
For taxpayers dealing with complicated IRS problems, those numbers illustrate one of the practical roles tax professionals can play beyond simply preparing and electronically filing an annual return.
Digital IRS Accounts Were Another Major Focus
Tax professionals also received help navigating the IRS’s increasingly digital services.
The agency says 1,635 tax professionals received assistance through Digital Account Services Rooms during the five forums.
Help included IRS e-services, Preparer Tax Identification Numbers, commonly known as PTINs, and identity authentication.
These systems can matter to consumers because legitimate paid federal tax return preparers generally must have a valid PTIN, and tax professionals increasingly use IRS digital tools when representing or assisting clients.
Taxpayers choosing someone to prepare a 2026 return can use the IRS’s online resources to understand preparer credentials and should be wary of anyone unwilling to sign a return or provide a valid PTIN when one is required.
Tips and Overtime Were Among the Topics Discussed
The forums also devoted multiple sessions to tax changes under the Working Families Tax Cuts.
According to the IRS, sessions covered provisions commonly described as “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime,” along with information about what tax professionals should expect during the upcoming 2027 filing season.
Those provisions can be particularly important for workers whose income includes qualifying tips or overtime because understanding eligibility and maintaining appropriate records can affect what ultimately appears on a federal tax return.
The forums gave tax professionals an opportunity to learn how the IRS is approaching implementation before millions of taxpayers begin filing 2026 returns.
Anyone who thinks a new tax provision may apply to their household should verify the requirements rather than assuming every dollar labeled as a tip or overtime payment automatically receives identical federal tax treatment.
Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets Remain on the IRS Radar
Digital assets were another subject receiving attention during the 2026 forums.
Seminars addressed digital-asset information reporting, an increasingly relevant issue as taxpayers buy, sell, exchange or receive cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
That matters financially because failing to understand the tax treatment of a transaction can lead to an incorrect return, an unexpected tax bill or the need to amend a return later.
Taxpayers who have digital-asset activity should keep transaction records rather than waiting until tax season and expecting a preparer to reconstruct an entire year of purchases, sales and transfers.
The fact that digital-asset reporting appeared among the IRS’s highlighted forum topics is another reason taxpayers with cryptocurrency activity should expect it to remain an important compliance issue during the 2027 tax filing season.
IRS Audits and Collection Cases Were Also Covered
Tax professionals also attended sessions on navigating IRS audits and managing collection cases.
Those subjects can become expensive for taxpayers when unresolved tax balances accumulate interest and penalties or when a complicated audit requires substantial professional assistance.
Good recordkeeping can therefore have a direct financial payoff, particularly for taxpayers claiming deductions or credits that may require supporting documentation.
Rather than scrambling for receipts, statements and tax forms months or years later, taxpayers can create a digital or paper tax file now and add important documents throughout the year.
A little organization before filing season can make preparing a return easier and potentially reduce professional fees if your accountant doesn’t have to spend additional time tracking down missing information.
Start Preparing for the 2027 Filing Season Now
The IRS forums may have ended, but the issues discussed at them are moving directly toward taxpayers as the next filing season approaches.
Changes involving tips and overtime, digital-asset reporting and other tax provisions mean some households may encounter questions on their 2026 returns that they didn’t face previously.
If you use a tax professional, waiting until filing season is underway to ask about a complicated new tax situation can leave less time to gather documents or correct recordkeeping problems.
The IRS Nationwide Tax Forum program is primarily professional education, but the nearly 13,000 attendees represent accountants, enrolled agents and other practitioners preparing for the real-world tax questions their clients will soon bring them.
For taxpayers, the financial takeaway is straightforward: organize records now, understand which tax changes could affect your household and don’t wait until you’re ready to hit “file” to discover that you’re missing information needed for your 2026 return.
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The post IRS Wraps Up 2026 Tax Forums — Here’s What Tax Pros Were Told About the 2027 Filing Season appeared first on The Free Financial Advisor.
