Tax season 2026 final countdown reminders you can’t miss

With filing deadlines closing in, tax professionals need a short list of issues that can still derail returns or create follow-up work after filing.

These last-minute tax season reminders can help you catch the problems clients are asking about now, before they trigger IRS notices or require amended returns.

Quick takeaways for tax pros

• Overtime and tips questions are creating confusion, especially when clients assume a new deduction applies automatically.
• Identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) problems can stall e-filing.
• Clean energy claims still need careful document review to support amounts reported on Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits.
• Missing or invalid direct deposit information can delay refunds and trigger a CP53E notice.
• Late business-return changes can still affect owner returns, even when the individual return looks ready to file.

Overtime and tips questions are still causing confusion

Clients are hearing about overtime and tips deductions, then assuming the tax treatment is simple. But it usually isn’t. Before filing, confirm what the law allows and which year it applies to. Then review the records supporting the claim.

This is also a good time to slow down when clients are estimating amounts or when payroll summaries don’t match final forms. Be careful, too, with clients expecting a benefit based on headlines instead of instructions. A five-minute review now can prevent a much longer cleanup later. 

IP PIN issues can stop a return cold

IP PIN mismatches are still a preventable filing-season problem. If the number entered on the return doesn’t match IRS records, the return may be rejected even when everything else is correct.

Ask clients early whether they received or retrieved an IP PIN. If they did, verify the correct year’s number is being used. This is one of the easiest late-season issues to miss, and one of the most frustrating to fix when the client is waiting for a refund.

Clean energy claims still need a document check

Energy-related claims can seem straightforward until you review the paperwork. If a return includes residential energy property or clean vehicle questions, don’t rely on the client’s memory of what they bought or what a salesperson told them.

For returns involving Form 5695, confirm the property and installation date. Then make sure the documentation supports the credit claimed. For 2025 property, that may also include confirming whether a qualified manufacturer identification number (QMID) is required. If a client is also asking about vehicle-related benefits or loan interest, be careful not to let separate rules blur together. A purchase may be tax-related without producing the deduction or credit the client expects. 

CP53E notices are changing the refund conversation

The IRS has already sent over 830,000 CP53E notices to taxpayers because valid direct deposit information was not on file. Under the current process, the IRS temporarily holds the refund and sends a notice asking the taxpayer to update banking information through their IRS online account.

Taxpayers generally have 30 days to respond. If they don’t, the IRS will usually issue a paper check instead, often after several more weeks of processing. In some cases, that can stretch the wait time to as much as 12 weeks.

That makes this a client communication issue as much as a processing issue. 

• If a taxpayer says their refund is delayed, ask whether they received a CP53E notice before assuming the problem is with the return itself. 
• For last-minute filers, double-check the account and routing numbers entered for direct deposit.

Late business-return changes can still affect owner returns

One business issue still worth catching before the deadline is the ripple effect from late business return changes. If an S corporation or partnership return changes just before the individual filing deadline, the owner’s personal return may need more than a simple K-1 update.

Basis questions, vehicle treatment, owner payments and reclassified items can all affect the final individual filing position. If a business return is still moving, resist the urge to treat the related individual return as finished. That pause can save an amended return later.

What to watch in the final stretch

Late-season returns often break down in predictable places. Clients assume a deduction applies, a missing PIN causes a rejection, a refund delay looks like a preparation error or a business return changes after the individual file is nearly complete.

This is the moment to stay process-driven. Confirm documents and verify assumptions. Flag anything that sounds too easy. In the final stretch, the most time-consuming returns are often the ones that looked almost done.