The Howler

January 6, 2026

Another year has gone and the start of a new year has begun. We want to say welcome to all our new friends we have made and we hope to see you again this season and welcome back to all our old friends we hold so near and dear. Times have been rough these past few years but hopefully things are going to start looking up and for some it just might. We are happy to help with all that we can and help direct you in the right direction if we can’t. 

With each year we make changes to help us improve ourselves to give you the best service we can offer so this letter is to let you know of the changes we are making and also of any updates that might be happening with the taxes that we feel you should know.

 Things you should know

It is important for you all to get ready because the One, Big, Beautiful Bill can significantly affect federal taxes, credits and deductions. The IRS and Treasury are working to implement the new legislation, including providing information on the new tax deductions, such as no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on car loan interest, the new temporary deduction for seniors and others. The IRS will release new information as it becomes available and we will do our best to forward this information on to you as it comes available.

 The Internal Revenue Service, working with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, today announced that paper tax refund checks for individual taxpayers will be phased out beginning on Sept. 30, 2025, as required by Executive Order 14247, to the extent permitted by law. This marks the first step of the broader transition to electronic payments.

The IRS will publish detailed guidance for 2025 tax returns before the 2026 filing season begins. Until further notice, taxpayers should continue using existing forms and procedures, including those filing their 2024 returns on extension of a due date prior to Dec. 31, 2025.

The change is designed to

• Protect taxpayers: Paper checks are over 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, altered, or delayed than electronic payments. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be returned to the IRS as undeliverable.

• Speed up refunds: Electronic refunds give taxpayers faster access to refunds, with payments issued in less than 21 days if filing electronically, choosing direct deposit and there are no issues with the return, whereas nonelectronic payments may take 6 weeks or longer for refunds sent by mail.

• Cut costs: Electronic payments are more efficient and cost less than paper.

What this means for individual taxpayers

• Filing stays the same: Taxpayers should continue to file their returns as they normally would, using one of the existing filing options.

• Refunds go digital: Most refunds will be delivered by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods.

• Help for those without access to bank accounts: Options such as prepaid debit cards, digital wallets or limited exceptions will be available.

• Act now: Taxpayers should make sure they know their banking information or consider opening a free or low-cost account. Visit FDIC: GetBanked and MyCreditUnion.gov for account options.

Most individual taxpayers already receive their refunds by direct deposit into their bank accounts. During the 2025 tax filing season, the IRS issued more than 93.5 million tax refunds to individual income tax filers, and 93% of those, almost 87 million refunds, were issued through direct deposit. Only 7 percent of individual refund recipients received their refunds by check through the mail.

Next steps

Executive Order 14247 also applies to payments made to the IRS. Taxpayers should continue to use existing payment options until further notice. Additional guidance and information for filing 2025 taxes will be issued prior to the 2026 filing season.

The IRS will share updated guidance on IRS.gov/modernpayments and through outreach efforts nationwide.

There are so many new changes due to the One Big, Beautiful Bill that it would make this newsletter a lot more like a journal than a letter so here is a link to the frequently asked questions on the IRS website that will give you an idea of some of what it all entails. 

Our Changes

So we informed you all before that we are making changes with how we do things and the most major of which is we will not be sending returns in without payment first for services rendered. Many of you are business owners yourselves and more than likely run by the same rules. We will be drafting up a client agreement that you all can sign that will list things out more clearly for you to sign.

We are also trying to make sure that everyone is sending their information to wolfleytaxes@gmail.com instead of to Dan’s personal email or texting it to his cellphone as he now has some experienced personnel that helps him with data entry and when he is out of the office we just are not able to access things sent to him personally, especially via text. We are all here and ready to help you with your tax needs! We look forward to getting to know you so we too can provide you that personal service and care that Dan has always tried to provide for all his clients.

We also have a new phone number! We have office phones now that you can reach us at 208-425-7332 besides our office cell phone 208-254-0804.

Please make sure to provide for us updated contact information and we do need an email address for all parties signing the return as our new signature program we use will be sending the documents we need signed to each email for each signature in turn of order listed before back to us. We also want to be able to get ahold of you should we have questions or information we need to get to you.

Our first priority is you! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call us.

Extensions if necessary 

Excluding the w-2’s and 1099’s we can file an extension if needed. The sooner we have the information and documents the sooner we can get you filed!

Save The Date!

Important 2026 tax deadline dates!

January 31*:  - more than likely will be February 2nd

• Employer – Form W-2

• Payors – Forms 1099 

March 15*: - more than likely will be March 16th

• Partnerships, LLCs – Form 1065

• S & C Corporations – Form 1120

April 15:

• Individuals – Form 1040

• Estates and Trusts – Form 1041

• Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) – FinCEN Form 114

May 15:

• Exempt Organizations – Forms 990

* These dates are subject to change if they land on a weekend. If that happens it is more than likely that the deadline date will be moved to the coming Monday.