Date: January 30th , 2026

Time: 3pm ET | 2pm CT | 1pm MT | 12pm PT

Duration: 120 minutes

Description:

The IRS is back in full compliance mode—and tax professionals are seeing the effects through increased audit activity, non-filer investigations, and a surge in post-filing notices. With significant funding from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the IRS is expanding its resources, technology, and enforcement efforts to close the tax gap and ensure greater taxpayer compliance.
This timely course provides practitioners with an up-to-date overview of the IRS’s current and emerging compliance initiatives, including audit programs, under-reporter notices, collection priorities, and non-filer enforcement. Attendees will gain valuable insight into how these changes affect their clients and their practice, as well as practical steps to prepare for heightened IRS activity.
Led by an experienced tax expert, this session highlights best practices for responding to IRS notices, managing compliance risks, and maintaining proactive client strategies in an era of intensified enforcement.

Session Highlights

• IRS Reinvigoration Post-IRA: Understanding how the Inflation Reduction Act has reshaped IRS enforcement capacity and priorities.
• The Expanding Tax Gap Focus: IRS strategies to detect and close compliance gaps through data analytics and targeted audits.
• Audit & Examination Trends: New patterns in individual and business audit selections.
• Non-Filer and Under-reporter Initiatives: IRS programs aimed at increasing filing compliance and income reporting accuracy.
• Collection and Enforcement Tactics: How the IRS is prioritizing high-balance accounts and delinquent taxpayers.
• Best Practices for Practitioners: Tools and strategies for helping clients navigate and resolve IRS compliance issues efficiently.

Topics Covered

• The IRS, the Tax Gap, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
• Overview of key IRS compliance enforcement functions
• Current-year initiatives in audits and under-reporter programs
• IRS enforcement actions against non-filers
• IRS collection priorities and recent procedural updates
• Special enforcement topics and compliance campaigns
• Best practices and practical tips for dealing with the IRS

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on IRS compliance enforcement and resource allocation.
2. Describe the primary IRS enforcement functions and how they are evolving.
3. Identify current IRS compliance initiatives related to audits, under-reporters, non-filers, and collections.
4. Recognize emerging trends and future plans in IRS enforcement and their implications for practitioners.
5. Apply best practices for responding to IRS notices and managing client compliance issues effectively.

Credits and Other information:

• Recommended CPE credit – 2.0
• Recommended field of study – Taxes
• Session Prerequisites and preparation: None
• Session learning level: Update
• Location: Virtual/Online
• Delivery method: Group Internet Based
• Attendance Requirement:  Yes
• Session Duration: 120 minutes

Who Will Benefit:

• CPA
• Enrolled Agents (EAs)
• Tax Professionals
• Attorneys
• Other Tax Preparers
• Finance professionals
• Financial planners

About Our Speaker

Jim Buttonow, CPA, CITP

Jim Buttonow is a leading expert in tax administration and resolving tax problems with the IRS. He spent 19 years at the IRS in various compliance enforcement roles before transitioning to private practice in 2006. Jim specializes in tax controversy and tax administration, and he has contributed significantly to the development of software tools for tax professionals.

Jim has been instrumental in improving IRS operations, having served as Chairperson of the IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) in 2015 and 2016. His leadership helped shape the IRS’s digital strategy to address systemic challenges in tax administration. He has also served on the IRS Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) from 2020-2022.