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Jeffrey F. Dwyer CPA, Wichita, KS (2026)

05/11/2026

Health Savings Accounts - Did You Know?

Changing jobs? If you have a health savings account (HSA), you can take it with you. Unlike flexible spending accounts (FSAs), which are usually tied to your employer, your HSA belongs to you. You can continue using your HSA funds after leaving the job where you opened the account. However, you may make new HSA contributions only if you remain eligible to contribute. To remain eligible, you generally must be covered by an HSA-eligible high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and have no disqualifying coverage.

05/04/2026

Receiving Online Payments - Did You Know?

If you are self-employed and receive payments through online payment processing platforms, take care to separate business and personal transactions. You can do this by setting up separate business accounts on the platforms, or by using features that allow you to specify the purpose of payments. Otherwise, the platforms may overreport your income.

04/27/2026

Updated Withholding Estimator Available for 2026

Having the right amount of tax withheld from your pay protects you against unpleasant spring surprises, while ensuring that you do not unnecessarily sacrifice take-home pay. The IRS recently made important updates to its Withholding Estimator tool (link below), to account for tax law changes enacted in 2025. Those changes include the "No Tax on Tips" and "No Tax on Overtime" deductions, the car loan interest deduction and special deduction for seniors, and the new deduction rules for charitable donations.

Verifying the accuracy of your withholding a couple of times a year is especially important if you and your spouse both work, or if you owed tax this spring, work multiple jobs, or have self-employment or investment income. It is also a good idea to complete a withholding checkup anytime you experience a major life change like marriage, or the birth or adoption of a child. Using the Withholding Estimator typically takes 25 minutes or less, and you do not have to log in or provide any personally identifying information. If an adjustment to your withholding is needed, the tool can help you complete a new W-4 form to submit to your employer.

IRS Withholding Estimator Tool: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator

04/20/2026

IRS Impersonation Scams – Did You Know?

Criminals continue to use IRS impersonation scams to steal money and personal information. Understanding how the IRS actually communicates can help you recognize and avoid these schemes.

The IRS generally initiates contact by sending a letter through the mail on official letterhead. If you have an IRS online account, you can log in to verify whether a notice is legitimate. If you are unsure, you can contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.

Scammers, however, often pose as the IRS in several ways:

By mail: Fake letters may look official but include incorrect contact details or suspicious language such as “in relation to your unclaimed refund.”

By email or text: The IRS does not initiate contact this way. Messages promising refunds, credits or urgent fixes often contain links to fraudulent websites designed to steal your information.

By phone: Scammers may leave threatening messages or demand immediate payment using gift cards or other unusual methods—tactics the IRS does not use.

In person: Unannounced visits are extremely rare. Most legitimate IRS appointments are scheduled in advance by letter.

If you suspect a scam, do not respond, click links or share information. Instead, contact the IRS using an official phone number to verify the situation.

04/17/2026

IRS Online Business Accounts Now Available to Partnerships & Tax-Exempt Entities

The IRS has expanded its Business Tax Account (BTA) service, which enables businesses to handle many federal tax matters online. Previously, only sole proprietors, S corporations and C corporations could use the BTA platform. Now, partnerships (including LLCs that file taxes as partnerships), along with many tax-exempt organizations, can benefit from the convenience of a BTA as well.

Tasks that can be readily completed through the BTA system include checking tax balances, making payments, viewing payment histories and downloading digital IRS notices. In addition, BTA users can access payroll and income tax return transcripts, seek help with compliance concerns, or verify the accuracy of a business name or address on file with the IRS.

Many government entities, including tribal governments, also qualify to use the expanded BTA service.

IRS Business Tax Account: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/business-tax-account

04/06/2026

Avoiding Costly Tax Problems - Did You Know?

As the April 15 federal tax filing deadline approaches, some people may find themselves unable to pay the full amount of tax they owe. In that circumstance, it is important to pay as much as possible by the deadline, as doing so will help keep IRS penalties and interest charges to a minimum. For any remaining balance, many people may qualify to set up a monthly payment plan that fits within their budgets. Typically, interest fees will accumulate over the course of an installment plan, but the balance owed will not spiral upward, and penalties will not escalate as long as monthly payments are made on time.

During the weeks and months after they file, some people may receive an IRS notice in the mail. The notice may request payment, especially if an installment plan has not been established. In other cases, IRS letters ask for additional information like the basis for a deduction amount, or require action to correct a filing mistake like omitting a form. A tax professional can help you properly respond to an IRS notice if you receive one, or help you set up a manageable payment plan if you cannot pay your tax balance in full.

04/01/2026

Tax Filing & Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments Deadline on April 15

The general filing and payment deadline for 2025 federal tax returns is Wednesday, April 15th, 2026. If you are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments, the first payments for the January 1 – March 31 quarter are also due on April 15th.

If you have already filed and haven't received your refund yet, you can check its status using the IRS “Where's My Refund?” tool at https://www.irs.gov/refunds. The tool is updated once daily, typically overnight, so checking more frequently will not provide new information. Refund status is usually available within 24 hours after the IRS receives an electronically filed return. For paper returns, processing times are longer, and returns are handled in the order they are received.

03/30/2026

Unfiled 2022 Federal Tax Refunds Must Be Claimed by April 15 – Did You Know?

The IRS estimates that over one million people are owed tax refunds from 2022, with the majority of those refunds exceeding $600. However, in order to claim their refunds, people must file their 2022 tax returns by April 15, 2026. Some people may also need to file 2023 and 2024 returns in order to receive an IRS refund.

Those who qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in 2022 but did not file a return could be missing out on much larger refunds, potentially exceeding $6,000. The adjusted gross income limits for the 2022 EITC ranged from $16,480 to $53,057 (or $22,610 to $59,187 for joint filers), depending on a person's number of qualifying children.

Filing an accurate tax return for 2022 may require referring to income statements like W-2 and 1099 forms. If you cannot locate those forms but have an IRS online account, you can generally obtain the needed information by using the free IRS Get Income Transcript tool (link below). Most people can set up an account in about 20 minutes, less time than it takes to request and receive replacement documents from employers, banks, etc.

IRS Get Transcript Online tool: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

03/25/2026

IRS Third Party Authorizations – Did You Know?

All U.S. taxpayers have the right to designate a third party to work with the IRS on their behalf. In order to exercise this right, taxpayers must formally grant permission to the third party to represent them. This authorization may take several different forms:

Oral Disclosure: This level of permission simply authorizes the IRS to share the taxpayer's tax information with another person present on a phone call or in a meeting.

Third-party Designee: On their tax returns, taxpayers may designate a third party to discuss the return with the IRS. This authorization is limited to that specific return and year.

Tax Information Authorization: Taxpayers may appoint a third party to receive and review their confidential tax information for a specific type of tax for a designated time period.

Power Of Attorney: This designation authorizes a person or firm to represent the taxpayer in federal tax matters. The person or firm must be certified to practice before the IRS.

Oral disclosure and third-party designee permissions expire automatically. Taxpayers have the right to revoke tax information or power of attorney authorizations at any time, either by notifying the IRS of the revocation, or simply by appointing a new representative.

03/23/2026

Changes to Postmarking Procedures May Affect Mailing of Tax Forms – Did You Know?

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) made an announcement in late December that may affect millions of people who mail tax forms or payments this filing season. In general, forms and payments sent by mail are considered to be on time if they are postmarked on or before the due date. Historically, mailed items were usually postmarked the same day they were handed to a postal employee, or deposited in a USPS drop box before the last scheduled pickup time.

However, the USPS is now in the process of consolidating mail processing activities down to just 60 regional sorting locations, with a limited number of truck deliveries to those facilities daily. Since most mailed items will not get postmarked until they arrive at one of the 60 locations, many postmarks will show a date several days after the item was originally mailed. These changes are especially likely to affect rural communities, many of which will now be hundreds of miles from the nearest processing facility.

Therefore, anyone who needs to send tax documents through the mail should play it safe by dropping parcels off at a post office or collection facility at least a week before the IRS deadline. As an alternative, consider e-filing tax forms whenever possible. A tax professional can help you securely submit your return, other IRS document or tax payment electronically for fast, verified delivery.

03/18/2026

Refund Amounts - Did You Know?

If your refund amount is different than stated on the filed tax return, part or all of your refund may have been used to pay off (offset) past-due federal tax, student loans, state income tax or other past-due debts.

You'll receive a notice from the IRS if such an offset occurs that will show the original tax refund amount, the offset amount, as well as the name, address and telephone number of the agency receiving the payment.

If you haven't received your refund yet, you may be able to check the status using the IRS' "Where's my Refund?" tool: https://www.irs.gov/refunds.

Jeffrey F. Dwyer CPA

05/11/2026

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