Tax Trending Topics

To help with your writing efforts, here’s what people are looking for in Tax Law online. Trending topics culled from JD Supra, search analytics, social media conversations, and other sources:

Tariff-Related FAQs: What Businesses Need to Know Now 

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Answers to the top questions you have been getting from clients in the wake of the U..S Supreme Court’s tariff ruling and President Trump’s subsequent actions involving new tariffs. What are the main concerns (or potential misunderstandings) that clients are voicing at this point, or that you foresee as likely to arise on their end? What are the most pressing matters that clients need to understand, especially as regards prospects for tariff-related refunds and any processes for securing them; the legal authority for new tariffs and potential legal challenges to those; and companies’ evolving compliance obligations and risks? Also: What deadlines should companies be aware of amid continued wrangling over President Trump’s tariffs and their consequences?

Related information:

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/fedex-trump-trade-tariffs-refunds-supreme-court-lawsuit.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/congress-democrats-trump-tariffs.html

IRS, Treasury Release Interim Guidance on Depreciation Allowance 

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Guidance released last week by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding a depreciation allowance for “qualified production property;” what this type of property consists of; other key criteria for qualifying for this deduction; timeline for proposed regulations pertaining to this deduction.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-guidance-on-special-depreciation-allowance-for-qualified-production-property-announce-upcoming-proposed-regulations-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill

Tax-Related Scams to Watch Out For 

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Your choice of familiar or newer tax-related scams, especially those that start popping up more frequently as we approach tax filing deadlines. Take your pick of scams targeting individual taxpayers or businesses in general, or tax professionals in particular. What should taxpayers or their tax advisers be on the lookout for this season, and how might tax-related scams be evolving with increased accessibility to AI systems and other tech tools? What guidance is the Internal Revenue Service or law enforcement offering on these threats, and what additional guidance would you add (whether in terms of precautions or ways to mitigate damage after the fact)?

New Tariffs Threatened in Response to Iran’s Policies 

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Potential new Iran-related tariffs that are the subject of a recent Executive Order from President Trump; countries or transactions to which the tariffs could apply; potential tariff rates; related enforcement mechanisms; countries or industries that stand to be most affected by any such tariffs.

Will Washington State Implement a Millionaire Tax? 

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Washington state legislation dubbed the “millionaires’ tax;” what to know about the proposed size and duration of this tax if it passes; whom it would apply to; arguments being made for or against this tax measure; status of Senate Bill 6346 and its prospects for passage; potential for legal challenges to the Washington tax, should it pass; how the Washington legislation compares to existing, previous, or proposed wealth taxes in other jurisdictions; whether momentum is growing (nationally or internationally) for the passage of new or harder-hitting wealth taxes.

Tax-Related Pointers for Expats [Ongoing] 

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Tax tips for expats. Common tax questions, misunderstandings, or blind spots that may arise for U.S. citizens when living or working outside the United States; related pointers involving tax benefits, credits, obligations, or potential pitfalls; relevant best practices, or related pointers on how to simplify one’s tax reporting process or perhaps minimize one’s tax bill after relocating to another country, whether full-time or part-time.

Takeaways From Ruling in Sirius Solutions Tax Dispute 

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A recent 5th Circuit decision in a tax dispute involving limited partners; background of, and key issues in, this case; practical implications of the federal appeals court ruling; possible next steps in this case; what else to know about the limited partner exception from self-employment tax.

Related information:

https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-60240-CV0.pdf

Tax Issues to Address as Part of the M&A Process [Ongoing] 

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Tax issues that commonly arise during M&A discussions and in the run-up to potential mergers or acquisitions; related due diligence reminders; how to mitigate tax-related costs, obligations, risks, or other tax-related complications that may occur in connection with M&A deals; plus, additional tax issues that may be triggered by cross-border M&A transactions in particular. Alternatively or additionally, consider reviewing any noteworthy legal disputes involving M&A-related tax issues and using that information as a jumping-off point for presenting useful lessons.

What to Know About Recent IRS Guidance on Retirement Plans 

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Updated guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service on Jan. 15 regarding retirement plan rollover distributions; reasons for the update; practical takeaways for retirement plan administrators from the IRS guidance; related guidance regarding plan administrator obligations.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-provide-new-safe-harbor-explanations-for-retirement-plan-administrators

Practical Takeaways From Recent Tariff Evasion Developments 

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Recent responses by the U.S. Department of Justice to alleged incidents of tariff evasion; outcomes of any significant investigations; related enforcement trends or information from the DOJ; practical guidance on how businesses can best maintain compliance and reduce risk involving tariff-related requirements.

What Taxpayers Should Know About IRS Voluntary Disclosure Program 

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The Internal Revenue Service’s Voluntary Disclosure Program; its history, focus, and track record; eligibility criteria for taking part in the voluntary disclosure process; pros and cons for taxpayers of participating in this program; how the program may be changing.

Tax Highlights From 2025: Let Us Hear From You 

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Your choice of five or more noteworthy tax-related developments or trends from 2025. Take your pick of legislation, Trump administration policy, enforcement trends, court rulings, and more. Also consider how much you want to delve into the immediate or longer-term implications of each, with an emphasis on any relevant liability and compliance issues.

What Are the Chances of, and Steps for, Securing a Tariff-Related Refund? 

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Possibilities for businesses to get refunds on expenses incurred as a result of tariffs that the Trump administration levied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; conditions under which a refund scenario might arise; process for pursuing a refund; potential challenges or limitations to be aware of when setting out on this endeavor; how to maximize one’s chances of securing a tariff-related refund.

IRS Releases Guidance on ‘Trump Accounts’ 

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Guidance released by the Internal Revenue Service on Dec. 2 regarding a new type of retirement savings account created by Congress under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; how these accounts – branded by the White House as “Trump accounts” — would work in terms of eligibility, initial setup, individual or employer contributions, withdrawals, taxation, and more; what else individuals or employers should know about these accounts before deciding whether to participate in them.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-68.pdf

What’s Happening With the Work Opportunity Tax Credit? 

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The Work Opportunity Tax Credit; its history, intent, whom it most affects, how it has performed, and how widely used it has been; current status of this tax credit and the prospects of the credit expiring, being revised, or being replaced by a different form of tax relief.

IRS Announces Updated Contribution Limits for Retirement Plans 

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New contribution limits announced by the Internal Revenue Service this month for employee retirement accounts; types of accounts affected; how much the contribution limit amounts have changed; any surprises among the changes; what else employers or employees should know about the changes, and their related obligations or options.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500

Will California Place a Special Tax on Billionaires? 

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A proposal to impose a one-time tax of 5 percent on California billionaires; purpose of the tax; mechanism and timeline for its approval; how likely such a tax is to actually be implemented; potential grounds for challenging a tax of this type; whether other states have, or are considering, similar taxes.

Related information:

https://apnews.com/article/california-ballot-initiative-billionaire-tax-health-care-f163325bfd033c8e12024b129aca24e8

What to Know About Tax Reporting Obligations Involving Overtime and Tip Income 

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Employers’ tax-related obligations involving cash tips and overtime compensation; reminder about how obligations changed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; timeline for the changes pertaining to tips and overtime pay; what to know about penalty relief for non-compliance, as recently announced by the Internal Revenue Service.

Takeaways From Oral Arguments Before Supreme Court Over Trump Tariffs 

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Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 5 regarding tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Which tariffs are at issue in this case? What stood out to you about the justices’ line of questioning? What are this case’s potential implications for presidential authority, the use of emergency powers, international trade policy, the potential for refunds to affected businesses, and more?

Implications of Federal Appeals Court Ruling in 3M Tax Case 

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An Oct. 1st ruling by the 8th Circuit in 3M Co. v. Commissioner; key issues in this case regarding royalty income, company subsidiaries, and the Internal Revenue Service’s authority; what the federal appeals court’s ruling in the 3M case illustrates about the potential impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright ruling on tax cases; additional lessons other taxpayers may be able to draw from the 3M case as regards their own tax obligations and strategies.

Is a Value-Based ‘Tax’ in Patent Holders’ Future? 

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Reports that the U.S. Department of Commerce is considering whether to impose on patent holders a value-based charge that some are referring to as a tax; what is known or not known regarding how the patent values and related charges would be calculated and by whom; types of patents or patent holders to whom the fee may apply; rationale for such a plan, and how a plan of this type would compare to the current system.

IRS Announces New Pilot Program 

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A two-year pilot program launched this month by the Internal Revenue Service’s Independent Office of Appeals; purpose of the pilot program; what to know about the post-appeals mediation process; when the pilot program launches, how long it will be available, and how interested parties can best access and participate in the pilot program.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-independent-office-of-appeals-starts-post-appeals-mediation-pilot-program

Cyberscammers Using Text Messages to Prey on Taxpayers 

Consider writing about:

An apparently nationwide phishing scam targeting taxpayers; what form this phishing campaign is taking; red flags to be on the alert for; how individuals can protect themselves, their loved ones, or their businesses from these types of scams; how to mitigate financial fallout or other damage after the fact; how to work with financial institutions, tax authorities, law enforcement, or other entities on these issues.

Related information:

https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-warns-californians-text-based-scams-targeting-taxpayers

https://www.michigan.gov/treasury/news/2025/09/15/be-alert-for-text-message-phishing-scam-making-the-rounds

What to Know About Disregarded Payment Loss Rules 

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A recent announcement by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service that they plan to withdraw disregarded payment loss rules; what to know about the rules’ history, intent, and whom they most affected; what the rules’ withdrawal would mean for taxpayers.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-44.pdf

China Tariffs From First Trump Administration Upheld by Federal Circuit 

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A Sept. 25 ruling by the Federal Circuit regarding tariffs imposed on billions of dollars worth of imports from China during the first Trump administration; where those tariffs stand now, as a result of the court’s Sept. 25 decision; what the Federal Circuit ruling may mean for the United States Trade Representative’s authority and potentially for other tariffs (whether China-related or more broadly speaking) that have been levied during either the first or second Trump administration.

Related information:

https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/23-1891.OPINION.9-25-2025_2578632.pdf

Mayo Clinic Scores $11M Win in Refund Dispute With IRS 

Consider writing about:

The Mayo Clinic’s tax victory in a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service; background to the case; what to know about key obligations or any significant trends involving unrelated business income tax; practical takeaways for other entities from the 8th Circuit’s ruling in Mayo Clinic v. U.S.

Related information:

https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/25/07/232246P.pdf

Tax Tips for Real Estate Owners and Investors [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Tax-related tips and strategies for new or experienced investors or owners of real estate, whether commercial or residential; how to reduce the impact of tax obligations stemming from real estate deals; any common misunderstandings involving real estate and tax law; specific issues involving tax deductions, potential pitfalls regarding tax filings, tax-related issues involving the sale of property, and more. Also consider whether to present a list of do’s and don’ts, or whether to examine any noteworthy real-life tax disputes, rulings, or cautionary tales to illustrate any of your points.

U.S. Supreme Court to Take Up Trump Administration Tariffs 

Consider writing about:

Where Trump administration tariffs stand in the wake of the Federal Circuit’s Aug. 29 ruling on the president’s use of emergency powers to implement wide-ranging tariffs; which tariffs are at issue in the lawsuits to be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court; when the high court will take up the matter; potential scenarios that could unfold for tariffs, presidential authority, trade policy, and international trade. Also, under what circumstances might the Trump administration be compelled to return tariff proceeds to businesses affected by the administration’s tariff policies, and how would parties on either side of the refunds manage that process? How unusual or unprecedented would such a situation be, or what historical parallels exist regarding such a system? And from a practical standpoint, are there steps that businesses can take to maximize their chances of securing a tariff-related refund?

Related information:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/supreme-court-grants-unusually-quick-hearing-on-whether-trump-has-power-to-impose-sweeping-tariffs

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/trumps-tariffs-now-federal-appeals-court-knocked-125113276

How OBBBA Provisions Will Impact Opportunity Zones 

Consider writing about:

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s impact on Opportunity Zones; what the changes mean for the designation and existence of current or future Opportunity Zones; OBBBA’s impact on tax incentives; additional incentives or benefit changes that existing or potential investors should be aware of; what else to know about Opportunity Zones’ purpose, eligibility criteria, other requirements, or key points.

What to Know About Vacancy Taxes 

Consider writing about:

Vacancy taxes; under what conditions they are typically triggered; enforcement mechanisms and potential penalties; types of properties on which vacancy taxes are commonly imposed; related rights and obligations on the part of property owners, before or after a vacancy tax is implemented; how common vacancy taxes are (in the jurisdiction of your choice), and whether they have multiplied, and persisted, since the COVID pandemic; any noteworthy legal challenges to vacancy taxes, and how they have fared.