Tax Software May Have To Check EFINs Before Returns Move

Fraudulent tax returns usually become visible after the damage starts. A new bill wants to move the checkpoint earlier. Before a return gets e-filed, the software would have to confirm that the EFIN is real, active, and allowed to file.

That sounds like a technical fix. For CPA firms, it is really a warning about how tightly they control one of the most valuable credentials in the tax workflow.

The EFIN Would Become A Live Gate

The EFIN Verification Act of 2026 would require tax software to validate an Electronic Filing Identification Number before electronic filing is enabled.

If the EFIN is not validated, the return or document could not be e-filed. The point is simple. Stop bad filings before they enter the system, instead of trying to unwind them after the IRS receives them.

The bill would have Treasury build a system that can confirm whether an EFIN is active and authorized, or whether it has been suspended, revoked, compromised, or made ineligible.

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