Episode Details

In this joint Tax Section Odyssey and Journal of Accountancy (JofA) podcast episode, host Neil Amato is joined by Melanie Lauridsen, AICPA VP of Tax Policy & Advocacy and Todd Sloves, AICPA Director of Congressional & Political Affairs, to discuss why paid tax preparer oversight is back in the spotlight. The conversation looks at key findings from a recent Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, what "minimum professional standards" could mean for the largely unregulated preparer market, and how the Senate's Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act would implement guardrails and enforcement tools. The episode also explains a practical proposal from the SAFE Act that could simplify filing extensions and reduce penalty risk for taxpayers.

Questions answered in this episode:  

• What did the GAO find in its latest report on paid tax return preparers, and why does it matter to taxpayers and the IRS?
• Why are so many paid tax preparers considered "unregulated," and what risks can that create for taxpayers?
• What are "minimum professional standards" for paid preparers, and what role does the AICPA support for establishing them?
• How would the TAS Act change IRS authority and guardrails around PTINs (including the ability to revoke and restore a PTIN)?
• How would the SAFE Act's extension safe harbor simplify filing an extension and help reduce underpayment penalty exposure?

AICPA resources

Listen Now