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On October 1, 2025, the U.S. government officially shut down after lawmakers failed to agree on a new budget. The shutdown immediately impacted several federal agencies — including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — leaving many employees and taxpayers uncertain about what comes next.

When it comes to keeping the IRS accountable, there's one agency tasked with doing exactly that: TIGTA, or the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Established in 1999, TIGTA serves as an independent watchdog over IRS activities. Its job? To ensure that the IRS operates with integrity, efficiency, and fairness. TIGTA investigates misconduct, evaluates internal controls, and publishes public reports that shine a light on mismanagement and systemic issues.

Now that the “Big Beautiful Bill” has become law, there are some notable tax changes coming soon – effective for 2025. 

When you owe back taxes to the IRS, you can expect to receive several anxiety-inducing pieces of mail.  Some of the most stressful of them all are coded with “1058” or “LT11” – the Final Notice of Intent to Levy. 

Did you know that many types of IRS Tax Resolution are based on the Taxpayer's current financial "Ability to Pay"?  Eligibility for IRS Offers in Compromise, Currently Not Collectable Status, and certain Installment Agreement options require the IRS to look at the Taxpayers income and assets vs. expenses to determine what the Taxpayer is able to pay.  

If you’re a business owner, you’ve likely been keeping up with the ongoing discussions regarding the Financial Crimes Network’s Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirements established by the Corporate Transparency Act. 

Congratulations to Attorneys Cary B. Bryson, Angela S. Bryson, and Jessica Byrd Thibodeaux for being named "Super Lawyers" in 2025!

Cary and Angie were listed on the 2025 Louisiana Super Lawyers List. Jessica was listed on the 2025 Louisiana Rising Stars List. 

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.

If you found yourself one of the 140,000 Americans that used the Biden-Era free tax filing service “Direct File” last year – change could be coming by way of Elon Musk and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency.) 

It’s The Best Time of The Year – Tax Season! 4 Things to Avoid as You Prepare Your Returns. 

New year – new tax laws?  With a new Administration comes new proposals for tax law changes.  Here are the ones we’re watching:

• With many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire in 2025, many of those provisions may be extended.
• President Trump has proposed a cut on taxes on overtime pay and tips.
• The estate tax may be eliminated. 
• One proposal is to allow for auto loan interest tax deductible. 
• There has been a 10% import tariff proposed - a universal tax on US imports that would be taxed to the consumers.  
• The SALT tax deduction may be restored. This tax deduction previously allowed all state and local taxes paid to be deducted from the Taxpayer’s IRS bill. In 2017, the deduction was capped at $10,000. 
• Federal taxes on Social Security may be eliminated. Currently, Social Security is subject to federal income tax when there is “combined income” (1/2 of Social Security + other income) of more than $25,000 individual/$32,000 MFJ. The current proposal would eliminate taxes on Social Security entirely. 
• One Representative has introduced a bill that would do away with the current tax code and be replaced with a national consumption tax – the Fair Tax.
• With these new tax plan proposals, some tax breaks may be taken away, such as the mortgage interest deduction, Head of Household filing status, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, American Opportunity Credit, student loan interest deduction, and Lifetime Learning Credit.