Roger and Annie check in mid-tax-season with a candid look at what's actually landing on desks — from W-2s showing overtime pay coded a half-dozen different ways to clients convinced their entire salary qualifies for the new deduction. They also break down the meal and entertainment changes taking effect in 2026, including why your office coffee pot is now a tax problem.

Sponsors
Padgett - Contact Padgett or Email Jeff Phillips

Chapters

• (00:00) - Mardi Gras Catch Up
• (01:53) - Tax Season Pulse Check
• (05:17) - New Tips and Overtime Law
• (07:07) - Tracking and Payroll Prep
• (10:58) - New Fees and Tip Confusion
• (12:46) - W2 Example Box 14 Codes
• (16:25) - Should We Ask About Overtime
• (20:36) - OT Premium Smell Test
• (24:39) - Weird W2 Overtime Codes
• (27:04) - Pay Stub Premium Math
• (29:25) - Pay Stub Math Costs
• (29:55) - Overtime Premium Basics
• (32:13) - W2 Box 14 Overtime
• (33:27) - When Details Are Missing
• (35:35) - Double Overtime Limits
• (36:18) - Salary vs Overtime Claims
• (38:36) - Due Diligence and Fees
• (41:01) - Meals Rules Change 2026
• (45:01) - Zero Deduction Office Meals
• (45:37) - Coffee and Snacks Debate
• (48:59) - Client Education and COA
• (51:48) - IRS Paper Checks Ending
• (55:49) - Wrap Up and Next Steps

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

All content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.

NAEA President Jennifer MacMillan joins Roger and Annie to talk about what she's hearing from enrolled agents on the front lines this tax season — including an IRS that's putting undertrained staff on the phones, backlogs that aren't getting resolved, and one practitioner who made 25 calls on a single issue without ever getting an answer. They also dig into the bipartisan push for minimum preparer standards, NAEA's win on Oregon licensing, and why Jennifer thinks managing client expectations around social security, tips, and overtime is going to be one of the biggest challenges of the season.

Sponsors
Padgett - Contact Padgett or Email Jeff Phillips

Links mentioned in this episode

Chapters

• (00:00) - Welcome to Federal Tax Updates
• (03:55) - Jennifer's Journey
• (05:55) - Selling a Tax Practice the Smart Way: Timing, Systems, and Profitability
• (08:36) - What NAEA Offers: Community Support, Web Board, and Member Resources
• (09:54) - IRS Service Breakdown: Phone Lines, Staffing Losses, and Backlog Reality
• (12:43) - Real-World IRS Call Horror Stories: POA Issues, Callbacks, and TAS Limits
• (15:09) - Returns & Refunds: E-File Works—But Humans and Paper Still Slow Everything
• (16:34) - Managing Client Expectations in a Misinformation Tax Year
• (20:32) - Pricing Your Expertise: Value Billing, Fee Schedules, and Getting Paid for Knowledge
• (26:30) - Why Community Matters + The Accounting Today Webinar Recap
• (28:43) - Tax season prep: new laws, IRS notices & online accounts
• (30:59) - DC advocacy + NAEA Fly-In (May 5–6): what to expect
• (32:05) - Minimum standards for paid preparers: the bipartisan push
• (34:50) - Why regulation matters: tax gap, weak enforcement & bad actors
• (41:18) - State battles: Oregon licensing surprise + Minnesota win
• (48:09) - Join NAEA: member benefits, volunteering & community
• (51:07) - Wrap-up: upcoming topics and tax-season sendoff

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

All content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.

Roger and Annie welcome back Thad Inge to decode what's happening in Washington DC as filing season kicks off. With potential government shutdowns, billion-dollar IRS budget cuts, and 25% of IRS staff gone through early retirements, uncertainty looms over tax professionals trying to implement retroactive provisions for overtime and tips. The conversation shifts to the renewed push for minimum tax preparer standards and why getting bipartisan legislation passed might be harder than ever in an election year.

Sponsors
Padgett - Contact Padgett or Email Jeff Phillips

Connect with Thad Inge
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thad-inge-9342155
Website: https://www.vsadc.com/

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Greetings
• (03:15) - Congressional Updates and Government Shutdown Concerns
• (09:19) - IRS Staffing and Service Levels
• (11:31) - Tax Legislation and Employer Guidance
• (16:08) - State Tax Variations and Software Updates
• (19:35) - IRS Budget Cuts and Inflation Reduction Act Funds
• (25:25) - Student Loan Offsets and Political Implications
• (28:31) - Potential Tax Legislation and ACA Premium Tax Credits
• (29:35) - Trump's Healthcare Plan and Legislative Challenges
• (30:10) - Tax Extenders and Bipartisan Cooperation
• (32:36) - Child Tax Credit and Legislative Vehicles
• (33:24) - The Legislative Process and Unanimous Consent
• (37:02) - Senator Tillis and Party Defections
• (40:10) - Minimum Standards for Tax Preparers
• (53:57) - Incentivizing E-Filing for Small Businesses
• (58:12) - Conclusion and Upcoming Tax Season

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

All content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.