In the blogs: Order in the court

Cryptocurrency disposals; cosmetic compliance; paper or plastic; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

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Order in the court

• Withum: The recent Supreme Court ruling forces the Trump administration to confront the potential dismantling of trade frameworks that were built upon the IEEPA-based tariff system. IEEPA reciprocal tariffs underpinned several recent agreements with trade partners around the globe. Now, the administration may have to unwind or renegotiate concessions in those agreements if it is unable to establish valid legal authority that would require importers to pay tariffs consistent with the negotiated terms. Historically, when a tax is overturned or deemed unconstitutional, taxpayers who previously paid this tax expect to receive refunds. 
• The Tax Times: With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs as illegal, it leaves a massive unanswered question: How will companies get back an estimated $175 billion in duties they paid at the border? The court invalidated the tariffs but did not spell out any refund process, effectively tossing that problem back to the lower courts and the trade bar.
• Taxable Talk: Mid-February is when brokerage firms issue Forms 1099-B to their customers noting brokerage sales. New for the 2025 tax year is Form 1099-DA, “Digital Asset Proceeds from Broker Transactions” (a.k.a. cryptocurrency disposals). Based on the initial review, many individuals who have these forms will see the cost to prepare their returns increase — potentially, substantially.
• Gordon Law: Welcome to the ultimate resource on Form 1099-DA, your go-to page for all the latest information on this critical IRS form.

If you build it …

• Dean Dorton: Top three tax strategies for construction companies ahead of the 2026 filing season. 
• National Association of Tax Professionals: Post-filing notices create rework and can extend engagement timelines. Preventing avoidable notices improves efficiency and allows you to focus on advisory work, rather than damage control. Join NATP’s “Preventing Post-Filing IRS Issues and Notices” webinar on March 5.
• Intuit Turbotax: The six top filing tips everyone should know.

Toe the line

• Don’t Mess With Taxes: The almost two dozen above-the-line tax deductions get some company this filing season. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added four below-the-line deductions. And in all cases, the tax breaks are available to eligible taxpayers regardless of whether they itemize or claim the standard deduction.
• Yeo & Yeo: Employees bent on fraud may misuse legitimate access to download or forward customer data. Others may use more underhanded methods, such as copying unsecured files left on a desk. Yeo & Yeo provides 10 questions to ask to keep your customer details confidential and out of the hands of dishonest employees.

Love is in the air

• Vertex: Across categories such as beauty and apparel, home décor, electronics, experiential gifts, curated bundles and pet accessories, Valentine’s Day purchases can create significant tax compliance challenges for businesses and their indirect tax teams.
• National Taxpayer Advocate: One way to protect against tax-related identity theft is to get an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS. An IP PIN is a six-digit number issued by the IRS that helps protect against someone else filing a tax return using your name and Social Security number or ITIN by serving as an additional authentication factor. 

Please Mr. Postman

• Trout CPA: On Dec. 24, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service changed how it puts dates (postmarks) on the mail. This change can affect when the taxing authorities consider payments as “on time.” Here’s what filers need to know about this update to protect from late fees or penalties.
• Wolters Kluwer: The IRS, working with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, confirmed on Sept. 23, 2025, that paper tax refund checks for individual taxpayers will be phased out beginning Sept. 30, 2025. This marks the agency’s first guidance, albeit limited, on how the IRS intends to transition from paper to electronic payments. Wolters Kluwer offers the latest developments tax professionals and preparers should know.
• Tax Vox: The IRS should move quickly to clarify who remains eligible for a paper check this year, begin working with those taxpayers to put electronic alternatives in place by the 2027 filing season, and remain flexible in responding to emergencies.