As enrolled agents assisting clients with federal and state tax matters, staying informed on the latest IRS and Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) developments is crucial. Below is a curated summary of press releases and news items from the past week, including key highlights relevant to your practice, along with direct links to the source materials.
IRS News Releases
IR-2026-81 — July 7, 2026
The IRS and Security Summit partners launched the summer "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" campaign, a five-week series covering emerging scams targeting tax professionals, core security safeguards, and identity theft reporting. Week one warns of IRS impersonation scams, misleading social media tax advice, "new client" spear-phishing schemes, and phishing for EFIN/PTIN/CAF numbers.
What it means for your practice: Review your Written Information Security Plan (WISP) now and remind staff to verify any unusual "new client" contact before opening attachments or links.
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IR-2026-82 — July 8, 2026
Treasury and the IRS issued final regulations identifying certain abusive Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT) arrangements as listed transactions, effective July 9, 2026. The targeted structure involves transferring appreciated property to a purported CRAT, selling it, and using proceeds to buy a single premium immediate annuity while misapplying sections 72 and 664 to shelter gain.
What it means for your practice: Material advisors and participants in these specific CRAT structures must now file Form 8886 and/or Form 8918 disclosures or face penalties. If you have clients who used this strategy, review it carefully — only the described abusive pattern is captured, not ordinary CRATs.
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IR-2026-83 — July 8, 2026
The IRS announced Automatic Exemption from Penalty (AEP), a new systemic process that will replace First Time Abate. Taxpayers with a history of timely filing and paying (three prior years, or 12 consecutive quarters) will have failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, and failure-to-deposit penalties waived automatically, with no request required. AEP applies to eligible 2025 returns and 2026 quarterly returns going forward, and fully replaces First Time Abate for returns due on or after January 1, 2027.
What it means for your practice: Clients with clean compliance histories may start seeing automatic penalty relief without you having to call the IRS — but during the transition this summer, some qualifying clients may still receive penalty notices, so First Time Abate requests remain available as a backstop.
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Oklahoma Tax Commission & State Tax News
Oklahoma State Treasurer — June 2026 State Tax Revenue Report — July 8, 2026
State Treasurer Todd Russ released the June 2026 revenue report: total monthly collections of $1.6 billion, up 5.8% from June 2025. Over the trailing 12 months, Oklahoma revenues totaled $17.91 billion, up 5.9% year-over-year — the tenth consecutive month of positive rolling growth. Income tax collections were $613.1 million (up 3.2%), sales & use tax $617.4 million (up 6.0%), and gross production tax (oil & gas) $113.4 million, up a striking 27.2% year-over-year. The state's unemployment rate held at 4.1%, and the Consumer Price Index measured 4.2%.
What it means for your practice: Continued state revenue growth and strong energy-sector tax receipts are useful context when advising business clients on Oklahoma's fiscal outlook and any state-level policy discussions this year.
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OTC — Quarterly withholding reports due July 20 — July 8, 2026 (X/@oktaxcommission)
The Oklahoma Tax Commission reminded businesses that quarterly withholding reports are due July 20, and can be filed and paid online through OkTAP.
What it means for your practice: A good moment to confirm business clients have their Q2 withholding filings queued up in OkTAP ahead of the deadline.
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OTC Taxpayer Roadshow continues statewide — July 10, 2026 (X/@oktaxcommission)
OTC Executive Director Doug Linehan addressed the Guthrie Rotary Club as part of the agency's Taxpayer Roadshow, which is visiting more than 40 Oklahoma communities. Interested community groups can reach out to OTC directly to request a visit.
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Upcoming OSEA Events
OSEA Board Meeting
July 16, 2026 · 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM · Zoom
Regularly scheduled board meeting. All members and associates are welcome to attend.
Register →
OSEA Education Committee Meeting
July 17, 2026 · 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM · Zoom
Regular meeting of the OSEA Education Committee. All members and associates are welcome to join and help plan our educational events for 2026 and beyond.
Register →
Northeast Oklahoma Chapter Seminar: Representation in Practice
July 17, 2026 · 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM · The Big Biscuit, 5335 E 41st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135
Edward Moore, EA, presents a 1-hour CE session on taxpayer representation before the IRS, using real-world case studies covering CP2000 cases, amended return substantiation, retirement distribution issues, IRS transcripts, and effective IRS communication. IRS Course ID: FAHHB-T-00196-26-I. 1 CE Hour — Federal Tax Law. No cost; purchase your own meal at the venue.
Register →
Annual Seminars
2026 OSEA Northeast Annual Seminar — October 29–30, 2026
Northeastern State University – Broken Arrow, 3100 New Orleans Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74014
Up to 16 CE units available, in-person or via Zoom. Headliners Marc J Dombrowski, EA (financial analysis, streamlined installment agreements, offers in compromise, appeals, CDP, transcripts) and Jane Ryder, EA CPA (ethics, NIL income, maximizing QBI, stock options, tax planning for business & rentals) will together deliver 15 CE units. IRS Stakeholder Liaison Mercean Lam will present additional CE-eligible IRS topics, and Mike Kaufmann will cover Oklahoma tax updates (non-CE). Lunch provided both days for on-site attendees; virtual attendees receive the Zoom link one week prior.
Pricing: Member $300 / Nonmember $350. Early-bird pricing is currently in effect — act before it ends! (Discount codes for members/nonmembers who attended both 2025 conferences: $275 / $325.)
Bonus: Attend both the OKC and NE OK conferences and receive a $25 discount on a 2027 event!
Register →
2026 OSEA Oklahoma City Annual Seminar — November 12–13, 2026
Rose State College, 1720 Hudiburg Drive, Midwest City, OK 73110
Up to 16 CE units available, in-person or via Zoom. Headliners David L Mellem, EA and Mary Mellem, EA will deliver 15 CE units covering federal tax updates, amended tax returns, an "Ask the Experts" session, basis rules for gifted/inherited/remainder-interest property, business credits, teens and taxes, ethics, and bankruptcy. Mike Kaufmann will present a non-CE hour on Oklahoma tax updates, and IRS Stakeholder Liaison Mercean Lam will present a CE-eligible hour on multiple tax topics. Taxpayer Advocate Service availability is still TBD. Lunch provided both days for on-site attendees.
Pricing: Member $350 / Nonmember $400. Early-bird pricing is currently in effect — act before it ends! (Discount codes for members/nonmembers who attended both 2025 conferences: $325 / $375.)
Bonus: Attend both the OKC and NE OK conferences and receive a $25 discount on a 2027 event!
Register →
The Oklahoma Society of Enrolled Agents (OSEA) is a professional organization dedicated to representing and supporting enrolled agents in Oklahoma through education, advocacy, and networking opportunities. Visit us at EAOK.org for more information and resources.
