The Internal Revenue Service last week wrapped up the fifth and final 2026 Tax Forum in San Diego with nearly 13,000 attending the five forums where tax professionals participated in workshops and seminars and received one-on-one assistance with taxpayer cases.
“The tax forums provide a great opportunity for the IRS to hear feedback from tax professionals and for the IRS to provide presentations on emerging tax policies,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. “The two-way communications at the tax forums give all stakeholders a professional space to share critical insights about how tax law operates in practical, real-world situations. Year after year, the tax forums prove their value as a tool to enhance tax administration.”
Other forums this year were held in Chicago, New Orleans, New York and Orlando.
Each forum included a Case Resolution Room that allowed the Taxpayer Advocate Service, along with the IRS, to focus on some of the toughest cases through one-on-one assistance. This year 1,165 cases were resolved during the five events.
Also at the Digital Account Services Room, 1,635 tax professionals were able to get assistance with e-services, Preparer Identification Numbers (PTIN) and identity authentication support.
Topics covered in seminars and workshops included Artificial Intelligence, Digital Assets Information Reporting, managing IRS collection cases and navigating IRS audits. There were multiple sessions covering provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts including no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, and what to expect during the upcoming 2027 filing season.
Commenting on the meeting, Felicia Jester, a tax professional from Atlanta, Georgia and owner of Mastermind Taxes, said “the IRS and tax professional speakers and presenters were extremely knowledgeable and engaging. You can genuinely tell that the presenters care about getting accurate and useful information out to tax professionals. I also really appreciated the Q&A portions of the sessions and the Stakeholder Liaison and Case Resolution tables.”
“I personally visited the Stakeholder Liaison table for assistance with an actual client case, and they were extremely helpful in pointing me in the right direction. Being able to take what I learned at the Forum and immediately apply it to help a client made the experience even more valuable. I’m already looking forward to attending again in 2027,” she added.
The event also featured an Expo Hall that had IRS engagement tables and an IRS Zone for tax pros to connect directly with IRS subject matter experts who were able to answer questions and provide IRS resources and services. The Forum also included participation from associate partners, including: the American Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Low Income Taxpayer Clinics, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Association of Tax Professionals, the National Society of Accountants, the National Society of Tax Professionals and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
The IRS Nationwide Tax Forums are annual events where tax professionals attend educational seminars, participate in hands-on workshops, and receive direct assistance from the IRS on complex client cases. In 2026, forums were hosted across five U.S. cities: Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, and San Diego.
Nearly 13,000 tax professionals attended the five forum locations. Attendees had access to two dedicated assistance centers:
Case Resolution Room: Resolved 1,165 complex taxpayer cases through one-on-one sessions with the Taxpayer Advocate Service and IRS specialists.
Digital Account Services Room: Helped 1,635 professionals with e-services, Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTIN), and identity authentication support.
Seminars and workshops focused on emerging operational and legislative developments, including:
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Assets Information Reporting
Navigating IRS audits and managing collection cases
Provisions under the Working Families Tax Cuts, specifically highlighting rules for no tax on tips and no tax on overtime Preparation strategies for the upcoming 2027 tax filing season
The forums featured an Expo Hall with an IRS Zone, allowing tax professionals to consult directly with IRS subject matter experts. Additionally, standard industry partners participated, including the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITC), the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), the National Society of Accountants (NSA), the National Society of Tax Professionals (NSTP), and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
As highlighted by attendees, the forums provide a platform for direct engagement with IRS decision-makers, offering clarified guidance on new regulations, practical solutions to active client cases, and Q&A sessions with Stakeholder Liaisons that can be immediately applied in tax practice.
Suresh holds a Master of Commerce (M.Com) degree and is a dedicated personal finance researcher and writer. Combining his advanced academic background in commerce with deep industry research, he covers complex topics like taxation, banking systems, credit analysis, and personal finance strategies. As the founder of Tax Assistant (taxassistant.org), Suresh is committed to translating complicated financial guidelines and economic data into simple, accurate, and actionable educational resources for everyday readers.
