Two AICPA tax experts from the Washington, D.C., office joined the JofA podcast to discuss a recent Government Accountability Office report on paid tax return preparers and why its findings matter during a busy filing season.

Melanie Lauridsen, vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy, and Todd Sloves, director–Congressional & Political Affairs, break down bipartisan legislation in Congress — including the TAS Act — and explain how its provisions could strengthen oversight and modernize IRS processes. The conversation also highlights the SAFE Act and its aim to simplify the task of filing extensions for taxpayers and practitioners.

The Q&A also outlines where broad consensus exists in the tax community and why this moment could be pivotal for long‑awaited tax administration reforms.

What you'll learn from this episode:

What the statistics in a GAO report on paid tax return preparers show.
How minimum professional standards could strengthen IRS oversight, and why the AICPA supports establishing competency and regulatory guardrails for all preparers.
Provisions in the TAS Act recently introduced in the Senate, including reforms shaped by bipartisan work and those aimed at improving taxpayer service.
Lauridsen's explanation of how the SAFE Act would simplify filing extensions, reducing the need for complex estimates.
A reminder of the particulars of the "mailbox rule."
The factors Sloves cites in his belief that the discussed legislation has a path to passage.

Tax advocacy: AICPA experts on new bills shaping tax preparer rules