The IRS Just Made Tax Pro Account Actually Useful for Firms — Here's What Changed

If you run an accounting firm and have been jealously watching sole practitioners get all the love from the IRS's Tax Pro Account, that just changed.

Monday, the IRS rolled out business-level features that let firms — not just individual CPAs — manage their centralized authorization files (CAF) digitally. Translation: you can finally ditch the paperwork avalanche and control who on your team can act on behalf of clients.

Here's what you can do now that you couldn't do before.

What's New for Firms

If you're a designated business representative, you can now:

• Set employee access levels — decide who on your team is authorized to represent the firm

• Link your CAF number to your EIN — directly through Tax Pro Account

• View client info tied to active authorizations — see what your firm is currently authorized to handle

• Withdraw authorizations online — no more paper forms to yank access when a client leaves

If you're a sole proprietor or don't use CAF systems, this update doesn't affect you. You're already good.

Why This Matters

Before this, individual practitioners could manage authorizations digitally starting in 2023. Firms? Still drowning in paper.

Now, larger practices that serve hundreds (or thousands) of clients can centralize control, track active authorizations in real time, and onboard or offboard staff without filling out forms like it's 1997.

IRS CEO Frank Bisignano says the goal is to "help firms streamline operations and reduce paperwork." Shocking, we know.

Quick Reminder: What Tax Pro Account Does

Launched in July 2021, Tax Pro Account is the IRS's secure online portal for tax professionals. You can:

• Manage authorization relationships with clients

• Request or link CAF numbers

• Review client account info

• Make payments or set up payment plans on behalf of taxpayers

Now it just works for firms, not just individuals.

Bottom Line

If your firm still manages CAF authorizations on paper, log into Tax Pro Account and explore the new business features. The IRS rarely makes compliance easier — take the win.

Link your EIN, set your team's access levels, and save yourself a filing cabinet's worth of hassle.