IRS to Create New Office for Tax Professionals Starting June 28

The IRS will create a new office for tax professionals, integrating two separate divisions, the agency said in a statement Monday.

Starting June 28, the IRS will launch the Tax Professional Management Office, combining the Return Preparer Office and the Office of Professional Responsibility. It will be led by Chris Pleffner, the current director of the Return Preparer Office.

Former officials and tax preparer groups opposed the merging of the offices citing a conflict of interest. The Return Preparer Office focuses on helping tax professionals register to practice before the IRS and manage enrollment programs. The Office of Professional Responsibility is tasked with overseeing tax practitioner conduct and discipline.

Both offices saw significant workforce losses when the administration tasked billionaire Elon Musk to shrink the federal workforce. The Return Preparer Office lost almost 40% of workers and the Office of Professional Responsibility lost almost 30%, according to the National Taxpayer Advocate.

The IRS said the reorganization will not change the distinction between credentialed tax professionals and uncredentialed tax preparers and the offices will operate independently.