This past tax season was quite challenging due to new changes enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill, as well as the later (and later) arrival of taxpayer information, through no fault of their own. Consolidated 1099s arrive later every year, it seems, and sometimes with multiple corrections. This is such a broken system for tax compliance. As tax professionals, we are trying to help taxpayers have peace of mind, file their returns, pay what they owe, determine how much they overpaid, and decide whether to refund it or apply it forward. There's too much to do in such a short window of time. Though the filing season runs from late January to mid-April, it's really the 4 weeks between March 15 and April 15 that become impossible. It's just not enough time. This image shows why we are struggling to meet the due date. 

My new approach to this problem is to advocate for the elimination of Forms 4868 and 7004. These extension forms should only need to be filed if the taxpayer needs to make a payment. If the taxpayer's tax liability has been satisfied by the due date, there is no reason we should need to file the extension form to state nothing is due on the filing date. It's a giant waste of time for tax professionals, taxpayers, and the IRS. Many states already use this model of only needing to file a form if a payment is due with extension. I'm hoping for a writer with greater reach to cover this topic. Also, I recently met and provided some reading material to our National Taxpayer Advocate, Erin Collins. 

Thanks for signing this petition, sharing it, and joining in the fight to improve this system for everyone.