e-News for Tax Professionals 2026-43

Issue Number:  2026-43

Inside This Issue

1. PTIN renewals

2. Upcoming FIRE system deadlines

3. Did you know? Year-round tax planning can make filing easier

4. Technical guidance

1.  PTIN renewals

The IRS is now processing preparer tax identification number (PTIN) renewals for 2027.

Anyone who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns for compensation must have a valid 2027 PTIN before preparing returns. All enrolled agents must also have a valid PTIN.

Using IRS.gov is the fastest way to renew a PTIN. The online renewal process only takes about 15 minutes.

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2.  Upcoming FIRE system deadlines

Current Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system users should note the following dates:

• November 1, 2026: Last day to file test information returns through the FIRE Trading Partner Test System.

• November 9, 2026: Last day to make changes to Information Returns (IR) Applications for Transmitter Control Codes (TCCs). After this date, applications will become read-only and be retained for historical reference.

• November 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET: Last day to file information returns through the FIRE system.

Beginning January 2027, Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) will be the only IRS electronic filing system for information returns, including current-year returns, prior-year returns, and corrections.

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3.  Did you know? Year-round tax planning can make filing easier

Tax professionals know the importance of year-round tax planning, but clients may need a reminder.

The IRS’s Publication 5349-A, Year-Round Planning for Taxes, offers practical tips and IRS resources to help clients throughout the year. It can help clients stay organized, understand how changes in their lives or income may affect their taxes, and prepare for filing season. Taking steps now can help make tax filing easier for clients and their tax professionals.

For example, it’s not too late for clients to use the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov to check whether they’re having the right amount of federal income tax withheld.

Also, clients can use their IRS Individual Online Account to:

• View balance information;

• Make and view payments;

• Review payment plans;

• View certain IRS notices and letters;

• Access certain tax records; and

• Request an Identity Protection PIN.

Tax professionals should also remind clients about the importance of good recordkeeping and encourage them to organize tax records as they receive them.

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4.  Technical guidance

The Department of the Treasury and the IRS:

• Announced temporary reporting and recordkeeping relief for certain fuel uses; and

• Updated a retirement plan correction program and established a correction program for individual retirement accounts.

Temporary reporting and recordkeeping relief for certain fuel uses

The relief addresses temporary compliance burdens while Treasury and the IRS evaluate simplified procedures for administering reporting and recordkeeping requirements relating to taxes imposed by section 4041(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

In administering the requirements prescribed under sections 6001 and 6011, the IRS will not challenge temporary failures to meet return-filing, reporting, or recordkeeping requirements solely attributable to liability under section 4041(a) arising from taxable uses of dyed diesel occurring on or after Oct. 1, 2026, and before Jan. 1, 2027. This relief includes filing Form 720 solely to report that liability, reporting that liability on an otherwise required Form 720, and creating or maintaining records solely to substantiate that liability.

Clients required to file Form 720 for other liabilities must continue to file, report, and maintain records to substantiate those liabilities.

The IRS is aware of concerns regarding residual red dye in fuel tanks after the relief period ends and is considering an appropriate grace period or other mitigation measures, with further guidance to follow.

Updated retirement plan correction program and new IRA correction program

Two revenue procedures update the correction program for employee retirement plans and create one for individual retirement accounts.

Revenue Procedure 2026-34 expands the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System and replaces and restructures Revenue Procedure 2021-30 previously used by employee plan sponsors to make plan corrections. This allows sponsors of qualified plans, section 403(b) plans, SEP arrangements, and SIMPLE IRA plans to make corrections and continue providing retirement benefits on a tax-favored basis.

Modeled after the procedure for employee plans, Revenue Procedure 2026-33 establishes the IRA Compliance Resolution System (ICRS), a correction program for IRAs. The new system permits IRA custodians and IRA owners to request correction of certain eligible inadvertent failures caused by service-provider errors.

ICRS also provides a process for retirement plan participants and IRA owners to request to waive the requirement that a rollover to another plan or IRA be made within 60 days of the distribution from the first plan or IRA. Currently, requests for these waivers must be submitted as private letter ruling requests. During 2027 and 2028, these requests will transition to the ICRS process.

Existing automatic waiver and self-certification procedures remain available at no cost for taxpayers who meet the requirements under Revenue Procedures 2020-46, 2016-47, and 2003-16.

The ICRS revenue procedure is effective May 1, 2027. Treasury and the IRS invite comments on both programs. Each revenue procedure identifies issues on which comments are particularly requested, provides submission instructions, and specifies when comments are due.

Note: Revenue Procedures 2026-34 and 2026-33 will be published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2026-46, dated Nov. 9, 2026.

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