taxgirl

09/02/2026

A little behind-the-scenes Taxgirl housekeeping: A few of you have asked what I’m using for the new newsletter. I moved to beehiiv when I relaunched independently, and so far, I’ve been really happy with it.

Beehiiv has a partner program, which means I now have a referral link. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own newsletter—or moving one you already have—you can use my link for a 14-day free trial and 20% off your first three months of a paid plan.

And because I believe in being clear about this stuff: it’s an affiliate link. If you sign up for a paid plan through it, beehiiv may pay me a commission. You don’t pay anything extra.

Here’s the link: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=kelly-phillips-erb

I’m pinning this post, so I have an easy place to send people when they ask what I’m using. No hard sell. Just sharing a tool that I actually use for Taxgirl—and a discount if it happens to be useful to you.

Create, grow, and monetize your newsletter with easy-to-use newsletter tools. Build email newsletters and websites without any coding.

09/02/2026

Taxpayers paid a record amount to the IRS last year—about $5.3 trillion.

At the same time, IRS enforcement revenue fell.

That sounds a little counterintuitive, but it’s important to look at the bigger picture. Collection is bringing in most of the enforcement dollars (at least partly due to a restart on notices), while audits are moving in the other direction. Examination revenue fell 35%, individual audit starts dropped, and IRS enforcement staffing took a significant hit.

Why does it matter? Collecting taxes the IRS already knows are owed isn’t the same thing as finding income or tax that was never reported.

I took a closer look at the new TIGTA numbers and what they say about the state of IRS enforcement.

09/02/2026

It’s back! 🎉

Getting To Know You Tuesday was one of my favorite Taxgirl® series, and today I’m officially bringing it back.

First up: Bruce Purcell, who started preparing tax returns as a teenager, helped fellow Marines with their returns in the 1970s, spent decades working in IT, and eventually came back to tax in retirement.

He also currently works seven different jobs and has given himself perhaps the best job title I’ve heard in a while: “gig-olo.” 😂

We talked about how he got started in tax, the tax myth he hears over and over, retirement savings, AI in tax practice, espresso, pancakes, and what he’d do with an unexpected tax refund.

Come meet Bruce Purcell—and welcome back Getting To Know You Tuesday.

And if there’s a tax pro you think I should feature, nominations (including self-nominations!) are open. Info in the post.

Bruce Purcell has been preparing tax returns for more than 50 years. Meet the former Marine and IT engineer behind an Idaho tax preparation practice.

09/01/2026

You may have seen the IRS publish “applicable federal rates” every month and wondered: Okay, but applicable to what? Quite a lot, actually.

AFRs can matter when you loan money to a family member, finance the sale of property, or structure certain estate and gift tax planning strategies. Charge too little interest—or none at all—and the IRS may have different thoughts about the transaction than you did.

For September 2026, the AFRs are 4.18% for short-term, 4.49% for mid-term, and 5.12% for long-term. The Section 7520 rate is 5.4%.

Here’s what those numbers mean, when they matter, and why the AFR is better understood as a tax benchmark than simply “the interest rate the IRS says you have to charge.”

https://www.taxgirl.com/2026/08/31/new-irs-rates-are-out-why-afrs-matter/

09/01/2026

Always fun to pop up in my home state. ❤️

I was quoted in the Rocky Mount Telegram about TikTok tax advice, why bad tax information spreads so quickly, and why it’s increasingly important for trusted tax pros to be part of the conversation.

“There’s a lot of noise out there, so it’s important now for trusted tax pros to get the word out. If the IRS isn’t saying this, TikTok is.”

Thanks for including me!

Create an LLC, and you can write off everything as a business expense on your tax return. Put your kids on the payroll, and they don’t pay taxes. Rent your

08/31/2026

You pay Social Security taxes while you’re working (either as a worker or as a business owner).

Then, eventually, you collect Social Security benefits. And then… you might pay taxes on those benefits.

So how does Social Security actually work—from the taxes coming out of your paycheck to the check you receive in retirement?

I broke it down, including the 2026 numbers, how benefits are calculated, and why income thresholds set in 1983 and 1993 still matter today.

Learn how Social Security taxes work in 2026, including payroll and self-employment taxes, retirement benefits, and when benefits may be taxable.

08/29/2026

Looking for a new job? September is a big month for job seekers—and scammers.

Job scams have exploded in recent years. Fake recruiters and job offers can cost you more than money—they can lead to identity theft, bogus tax forms (like fake Forms W-2), and fraudulent tax returns.

Here’s what to watch for and what to do if you think you might be a victim:
https://www.taxgirl.com/2026/08/28/looking-for-a-job-watch-out-for-scammers/

08/29/2026

My run this morning was particularly awful. But I went anyway. And here's why.

Most of you know that my dad died last October. I often say it was sudden—he was still young—but realistically, we were not really surprised. He had heart and blood pressure issues, among other things, and he was not taking care of himself.

Jump ahead to today. It's been a pretty stressful few months. Those of you who know me well (and have seen me at conferences) know that it's taken a toll. I've been sick—my immune system doesn't want to play nice right now—and to be honest, I haven't made things easier for myself. I threw myself into work, doubled down on taking care of family, and, well, neglected me.

In July, I started running again. Though I walk every day, I hadn't actually run more than a step or two since April. So, I started running again on the weekends. Today wasn't my favorite run (darn that humidity), but I can tell that I'm improving.

So, you may wonder why I'm posting this (along with a particularly odd picture of my shadow while running) on a tax-focused page. Since my dad died, I've heard from many of you about how hard things have been for you, too. Some of you, like me, have lost a loved one. Some of you, like me, are taking care of loved ones. And some of you, like me, work a little too much sometimes. We don't take care of ourselves like we should.

I thought I'd ask you to share one thing you did for yourself this week to take care of you. It doesn't have to be a run, though it could be (I know some of you are training for a 5k). It might be sitting quietly with a cup of tea. Or choosing not to have BTS Oreos for lunch (whistles as though I know nothing about this). Or getting enough sleep. Or simply going for a walk.

I thought maybe we could work on staying healthy together. And we can do this every week.

So, let's start now. Tell me one thing that you've done this week for you. Go!

08/27/2026

The Taxgirl newsletter is back. 💚

Every Wednesday, I’ll be in your inbox with tax news, IRS updates, Ask the Taxgirl, Taxes From A to Z, practical guides, deeper dives, scam alerts, and the occasional bit of tax weirdness that makes excellent cocktail party fodder.

It’s for taxpayers. It’s for tax pros. It’s for people who are inexplicably interested in tax (my people!).

And it’s free.

If you used to read my newsletters elsewhere, this is the new home. If you’re new here, welcome.

-> https://www.taxgirl.com/2026/08/25/the-taxgirl-newsletter-is-back-heres-how-to-subscribe/

Because paying taxes is painful… but reading about them shouldn’t be.

Subscribe to the free Taxgirl newsletter for tax news, IRS updates, tax law, court cases, scams, and smart, readable tax stories every Wednesday.

08/27/2026

Guess what’s back? Getting To Know You Tuesday. (Yes, I realize I’m announcing this on a Wednesday. Details.)

I started the series years ago because people would tell me I didn’t seem like someone who would like tax. Which made me wonder: What does someone who likes tax look like?

Turns out, there’s no good answer.

Tax pros are preparers and planners, lawyers and accountants, policy folks and academics. They work in government, at big firms and companies, and on their own. They teach, write, speak, audit, litigate—and sometimes do a little bit of everything.

That variety is one of my favorite things about the tax community. So I’m bringing Getting To Know You Tuesday back to Taxgirl®.

And I’m looking for tax pros to feature.

Know someone interesting? Nominate them.

Want to nominate yourself? Please do. And if you were featured more than three years ago, you’re eligible for another go.

More info:
https://www.taxgirl.com/2026/08/25/getting-to-know-you-again/

Let’s get to know some tax people. 💚