September is here, which means back to school, the unofficial end of summer, and—because apparently we can’t have nice things—another round of scams.

This time of year can be especially busy for job seekers, from students looking for part-time work to recent graduates and workers ready for a post-summer change. Scammers know that, too. They may impersonate legitimate companies or recruiters, advertise jobs that don’t exist, or rush applicants through interviews conducted entirely by text or messaging apps—all in an effort to get personal information or money.

If you or someone you know is job hunting this fall, do a little homework before handing over either. Verify the opening on the company’s actual website, independently confirm the recruiter works there, and be suspicious of anyone who asks you to pay for equipment, training, or anything else as part of the hiring process. Sometimes the red flag isn’t that an opportunity looks terrible. It’s that it looks a little too good.

September also marks the end of the federal government’s fiscal year, making it a good time to take stock of what’s happening at the IRS. One big question: what happens when the IRS has fewer people to enforce the tax laws? A new report shows just how sharply enforcement activity has fallen as the agency’s workforce has shrunk. I took a closer look at the numbers—and what they could mean for taxpayers and tax compliance—here.

A new month also means new Applicable Federal Rates, or AFRs. The IRS publishes AFRs monthly, and while they may not get much attention outside the tax world, they can matter for everything from loans between family members to installment sales and estate planning. September’s rates are now out, so I took a look at what they are—and, more importantly, why you might care.

(These aren't the rates the IRS charges on tax underpayments or pays on overpayments. Those rates were announced last week, and you can find them here.)

Finally, thank you. The response to last week’s Taxgirl relaunch was even better than I hoped, and I’m so grateful that so many of you subscribed, shared it, and sent notes. And we’re just getting started: this week brings the return of Getting To Know You, along with more tax news, answers, explainers, and a few other things I’m working on behind the scenes.

Let’s talk tax.

Q: Doesn’t everyone collect the same amount from Social Security? 

A: No. Social Security retirement benefits vary from person to person because they’re based largely on your earnings history. The Social Security Administration generally looks at your 35 highest years of earnings, adjusts those earnings to account for changes in average wages over time, and uses a formula to calculate your basic benefit. If you worked fewer than 35 years, years with no earnings generally count as zeros in the calculation.

When you claim benefits matters, too. You can generally claim retirement benefits as early as age 62, but claiming before full retirement age permanently reduces your monthly benefit. If you wait beyond full retirement age, your benefit increases through delayed retirement credits until age 70.

And there are other wrinkles. Some people may qualify for benefits based on a spouse’s or former spouse’s work record, and continuing to work can sometimes affect your benefit calculation. So while we often talk about an “average Social Security benefit,” there isn't a single standard check everyone receives. Your earnings history, the age at which you claim, and individual circumstances all matter.

Want to know more about how Social Security benefits are calculated—and how much you might receive? I took a deeper dive here.

Normally, when a business buys property that will last more than one year—such as equipment, machinery, or computers—it can't deduct the full cost immediately. Instead, the cost is generally recovered over time through depreciation. Bonus depreciation changes that by allowing businesses to deduct a larger portion of the cost of certain qualifying property in the year it is placed in service.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made a significant change to those rules. It permanently restored 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying property acquired and placed in service after January 19, 2025. That means a business may be able to deduct the full cost of qualifying property in the first year rather than spreading the deduction over several years. Qualifying property generally includes equipment, machinery, computers, and other depreciable property with a recovery period of 20 years or less—and certain used property can qualify, too.

The dates matter, especially for businesses preparing 2025 returns now on extension. Property acquired before January 20, 2025, and placed in service in 2025 generally remains subject to the old phase-down rules, which provide a 40% bonus depreciation deduction for most qualifying property. 

And since taking the biggest deduction immediately isn't always the best tax move, businesses can elect out of bonus depreciation. Plus, for the first tax year ending after January 19, 2025, OBBBA also provides an election to use the 40% rate instead of the restored 100% rate.

Which of these Social Security numbers would never be issued under current SSA rules?

A. 212-45-6789
B. 665-21-3456
C. 666-12-3456
D. 899-34-6789

Find the answer at the bottom of this newsletter.

This week, meet Bruce Purcell, who started preparing tax returns as a teenager and later helped fellow Marines file their returns before building a career in IT. More than 50 years later, he’s still doing taxes—and juggling enough other gigs that he jokingly calls himself a “gig-olo.”

Get to know Bruce. And if you know someone who should be featured in a future Getting To Know You Tuesday, you’ll find nomination and submission information at the bottom of the post.

If you filed for an extension, now is the time to get your return in order. The October 15 filing deadline may still feel a long way off, but September is a good time to make sure you have everything you need to finish your return. Check for missing tax documents, track down basis information and receipts, and respond to any outstanding questions from your tax professional.

And if you haven’t sent your information to your tax professional yet, don’t assume that handing it over on October 14 means your return can be filed on October 15. Extensions give you more time to file—but they don’t magically create more hours in your tax professional’s day.

September 15, 2026 — Estimated tax payments due. Individuals who make estimated payments generally must make their third 2026 payment by this date. The fourth and final 2026 estimated payment will be due January 15, 2027. 

September 15, 2026 — Extended partnership and S corporation returns. Calendar-year partnerships and S corporations that received six-month extensions generally must file their 2025 Forms 1065 and 1120-S by this date. 

October 15, 2026 — Extended individual income tax returns. This is the big one for individuals who requested a timely extension to file their 2025 Form 1040. Remember, it’s an extension to file, not to pay. Tax was due April 15. 

October 15, 2026 — Extended C corporation returns. Calendar-year corporations that timely requested an extension generally must file Form 1120. 

September 15–17 — IRS Nationwide Tax Forum, San Diego, CA
The final IRS Nationwide Tax Forum of 2026, featuring federal tax updates, practitioner issues, IRS speakers, TAS, and more.

September 21–22 — NATP Tax Forum, Minneapolis, MN
Practitioner-focused federal tax education covering S corporations, rentals, planning, compliance, and more.

September 30–October 1 — NATP Tax Forum, Philadelphia, PA
The same NATP program—and obviously in a great city!

September 29 — Advisory Amplified, Minneapolis, MN
As for me? I’m headed to Advisory Amplified in Minneapolis à la Mary Tyler Moore.  As someone who runs my own firm, I totally get that conferences can be expensive. So if you’re a solo, too, register using this code for 20% off: Taxgirl-roadie

The IRS is officially killing FIRE. The Filing Information Returns Electronically system will stop accepting information returns at 3 p.m. ET on November 19, and filers must move to IRIS for tax year 2026 information returns filed in 2027.

Treasury has finalized backup withholding rules for third-party payment platforms. The rules coordinate backup withholding with the reporting threshold for third-party settlement organizations—the businesses behind many payment apps and online marketplaces.

Maryland’s first-in-the-nation digital advertising tax has been struck down. The Maryland Tax Court ruled in three cases involving Apple, Google, and Peacock TV that the tax violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act and the Commerce and Due Process Clauses. The court ordered refunds of the companies’ 2022 taxes, with interest.

Taxpayers can now get an authenticated IRS compliance report online. The new report is available through Individual Online Account and can be downloaded for use when someone needs to demonstrate federal tax compliance—for example, in connection with employment, loans, benefits, licensing, immigration, or other purposes. 

The tax world is full of interesting people. Here’s who’s making news.

Wiggam Law is growing its tax controversy team. The Atlanta-based firm has added attorneys Blake Kelley and Christina “Tallulah” Lanier, along with enrolled agent Tabitha Relota, bringing experience in federal, international, state, and IRS controversy matters.

The answer is C: 666-12-3456.

Since 2011, the Social Security Administration has used a randomized system to assign Social Security numbers, but some combinations are still off-limits. SSA will not issue a number with 000, 666, or 900–999 as the first three digits, 00 as the middle two digits, or 0000 as the last four digits.

Labor Day weekend is almost here, so consider this your reminder that taxes can wait until Tuesday. Enjoy the unofficial end of summer—and I’ll see you next week with more tax news, answers, and plenty more to talk about.

Have thoughts about the newsletter? I’d love to hear what you liked, what you didn’t, and what you’d like to see more of. You can email me here.