IRS Rolls Out New Enhancements to Tax Pro Account

Why It Matters

By digitizing CAF management for firms, the IRS streamlines compliance workflows and cuts administrative costs, giving tax professionals faster, more secure client service. This could accelerate adoption of electronic filing across the industry.

Key Takeaways

• IRS adds business-level features to Tax Pro Account
• Businesses can now manage CAF access for employees
• CAF numbers can be linked to employer identification numbers
• Active authorizations viewable and withdrawable via digital portal

Pulse Analysis

The Tax Pro Account, launched by the IRS in July 2021, was originally designed for sole practitioners to manage authorizations, request CAF numbers, and handle payments online. Over the past three years the agency has layered incremental upgrades, such as ‘act‑on‑behalf’ functionality and expanded data views, to modernize a historically paper‑heavy process. As tax preparation firms increasingly rely on cloud‑based platforms, the IRS’s digital push aligns with broader governmental efforts to improve taxpayer experience and reduce processing delays. The agency expects adoption to rise sharply as firms migrate to the new platform.

The February 2026 rollout adds a suite of business‑level tools that let firms control who can act under a corporate Centralized Authorization File. Users can now link a business’s CAF number directly to its employer identification number, monitor active authorizations, and withdraw them with a few clicks. This granular access management eliminates the need for manual forms, shortens the time to onboard new staff, and provides real‑time visibility into client relationships. For large accounting practices, the change translates into measurable efficiency gains and lower compliance risk.

Industry analysts view the enhancement as a catalyst for wider electronic filing adoption among mid‑size firms that previously hesitated due to administrative burdens. By offering a secure, centralized dashboard, the IRS encourages consistent data standards and paves the way for future innovations such as automated audit triggers or AI‑driven compliance alerts. The move also signals the agency’s commitment to a long‑term digital roadmap, suggesting that subsequent releases may integrate directly with popular tax‑software ecosystems, further reshaping the competitive landscape for tax‑technology providers.

IRS Rolls Out New Enhancements to Tax Pro Account

Published Feb. 9, 2026

The IRS has expanded Tax Pro Account, unveiling business‑level digital capabilities for tax practitioners who work in tax‑preparation companies, accounting firms, or other organizations, the agency announced on Feb. 9.

The latest enhancements give tax‑professional businesses greater visibility and control over their Centralized Authorization File (CAF) relationship, helping organizations that serve larger numbers of taxpayers manage authorizations more efficiently while reducing paper‑based processes, the IRS said in a media release.

“These updates establish the digital foundation for future expansions supporting tax professionals,” the agency said. “Sole proprietorships and other businesses that do not use CAF systems are not impacted by this change.”

Frank Bisignano

Frank Bisignano, the head of the Social Security Administration who is also serving as CEO of the IRS, said Monday that this taxpayer‑favorable change will improve the way tax‑professional businesses serve their clients.

“The improvement demonstrates that the IRS continues investing in technology improvements that reduce paper submissions, streamline taxpayer interactions, and expand self‑service digital options,” he said in a statement.

What’s new?

According to the IRS, this release allows designated business representatives to:

• Manage business CAF access, including specifying which employees are authorized to act under the business CAF.

• Link the business CAF number to the company’s employer identification number through their Tax Pro Account.

• View taxpayer information associated with the business CAF within the scope of active authorizations.

• View and withdraw active authorizations on behalf of the tax‑professional business.

“Building on enhancements delivered in 2023 and 2024 that expanded digital authorization management and ‘act on behalf of’ capabilities for individual clients, this release extends Tax Pro Account beyond sole practitioners to support tax professionals who operate as part of a business entity using a business CAF number,” the IRS said.

Launched in July 2021, Tax Pro Account provides individual tax professionals with a secure, intuitive digital experience to:

• Manage authorization relationships with taxpayers.

• Link or request individual CAF numbers.

• View taxpayer information, such as balance due, payment activity, and audit status.

• Make payments or create payment plans on behalf of individual taxpayers.

More information about Tax Pro Account can be found here.

Photo credit: hapabapa/iStock

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