Maryland Society of Accounting & Tax Professionals, Inc.

10/26/2026

One table. No podium. Maryland legislators, senior leadership from the Comptroller’s Office, and a room full of tax professionals saying what they actually see.

Friday was MSATP’s Legislative Roundtable in Annapolis — and our members came ready.

They raised what they actually deal with: making it easier to reach the Comptroller’s Office and get an answer, simplifying submissions on the preparer’s end, and fixing the process when an incorrect notice goes out. MSATP also made clear we’re prepared to support the Comptroller’s request for additional staff, because adequate staffing is what makes every other improvement possible.

Members took on how data centers should contribute to state and local revenue. And with Maryland facing a projected gap of roughly $3 billion in fiscal 2028, they drew a firm line: if new taxes are on the table in 2027, professional services — tax preparation, accounting, bookkeeping — need to stay off it.

Here’s the best measure of the morning. Afterward, a delegate asked MSATP to keep talking about expanding Maryland’s Offer in Compromise program as she prepares for session. That’s practitioner expertise reaching a bill before it’s even drafted.

Thank you to the legislators and Comptroller’s Office leadership who gave us a Friday morning in October.

Full recap: https://msatp.org/inside-fridays-legislative-roundtable-what-members-raised-and-what-happens-next/

10/21/2026

Social Security beneficiaries will see a 3.6% COLA in 2027, the biggest bump in four years. 💵

But Medicare Part B is projected to rise to $209.50/month, so the average retiree nets about $68/month more after premiums. Part D and out-of-pocket limits are rising too.

Worth folding into your retirement planning conversations: https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/10/14/3-6-social-security-benefit-increase-in-2027-is-the-biggest-in-4-years/191681/

The cost-of-living adjustment will equal an additional $75 a month for the average retired worker and an additional $59 a month for disability and survivor beneficiaries.

10/20/2026

🍎 NEW FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR: A Tax Break for Early Childhood Educators!

Pre-K and early childhood educators may now qualify for the $350 educator expense deduction under the expanded eligibility provisions of the SEED Act.

This is an important update for tax professionals to keep on their radar when preparing client returns!

📚 Who may qualify?
Head Start educators
Pre-K teachers
Childcare center teachers
Certain directors who work directly with children

✅ Important Eligibility Requirement: Educators must complete at least 900 hours of service during the school year in a qualifying educational setting.

💰 What's deductible? Eligible out-of-pocket expenses may include classroom supplies, books, computer equipment, supplementary materials, and qualifying professional development.

🔗 Read more: https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/10/08/a-tax-break-for-early-childhood-educators-why-this-policy-change-matters/191363/

10/19/2026

Maryland farmers and loggers can now use tax-exempt red-dyed diesel in on-road trucks under Gov. Moore’s new executive order, a first for the state. 🚜

That avoids both the state motor fuel tax (47.45¢/gal) and federal excise tax (24.4¢/gal) at a time when diesel prices are up about 76% year over year.

⚠️ The catch for your ag and forestry clients: neighboring states haven’t issued matching orders, so crossing state lines with dyed fuel creates compliance risk.

Read More:

Maryland farmers can use red-dyed diesel in their on-rad trucks for the first time after an order from Gov. Wes Moore (D).

10/19/2026

If you've ever called MSATP, chances are Kristy was the first friendly voice you heard! 📞

And if you've attended one of our in-person events, she's likely been one of the first smiling faces to welcome you through the door!

As MSATP's Member Services & Volunteer Representative, Kristy is often the first point of connection for our members. Whether she's answering questions, assisting with registrations, supporting our volunteers, or making sure everyone feels welcome, Kristy helps bring the heart of our MSATP community to life.

And this month, we're celebrating 3 wonderful years of having her on our team! 🥳

💬 Help us celebrate Kristy! Drop a 💙 in the comments or share a favorite interaction you've had with her!

10/12/2026

You see how Maryland tax law plays out for real taxpayers every day. On October 23, you can tell the people who write it.

Join us for the MSATP Legislative Breakfast Roundtable, a small, in-person conversation with state policymakers and representatives from the Comptroller’s Office ahead of the 2027 Legislative Session.

📅 Friday, October 23 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 The Westin Annapolis
🍳 Breakfast included
🎟️ Free for MSATP members

Come ready to speak up: bring the issues you want addressed, the solutions you’d propose, and the stories of how tax policy affects your clients and your practice. What you share helps guide MSATP’s advocacy positions for the session.

Only 20 seats left. Reserve yours: https://members.msatp.org/events/6031

10/09/2026

⚠️ Have Virginia small business clients? October 30 is the RetirePath Virginia registration deadline for employers with 5–9 employees.

Employers without a qualifying retirement plan must register and enroll eligible employees in the state-facilitated Roth IRA. Auto-enrollment is 5% of wages, and penalties can reach $200 per employee per year.

https://www.nfib.com/news/news/virginia-retirement-savings-mandate-expands-to-businesses-with-five-or-more-employees/

The state has lowered the threshold from 25 eligible employees to five.

10/08/2026

Taxpayers can now download a digitally authenticated Tax Compliance Report directly from their IRS Individual Online Account.

The report includes an IRS-issued digital certificate, giving taxpayers an official way to provide proof of their tax compliance when needed.

This could be especially helpful for clients who need documentation for:

💼 Employment
🏦 A loan or financing
🏛️ Government benefits or other official purposes

For tax professionals, this is another resource worth knowing about when a client asks, “How can I prove I’m in compliance with the IRS?”

10/07/2026

Tax season is coming. The question isn’t just “Are you ready?” It’s “Who’s in your corner when things get complicated?”

That’s where the MSATP community comes in.

MSATP membership connects accounting and tax professionals with 1,400+ peers and more than $4,000 in annual member value—resources designed to help you work smarter, stay informed, protect your practice, and get answers when you need them most.

As an MSATP member, you have access to benefits like:

📚 CPE/CE & Education — including unlimited Earmark CPE/CE, free regulatory ethics, complimentary CPE/CE opportunities, and member pricing on additional education.

🔎 MSATP Research Department — submit up to 3 deep research questions each year when a complex tax issue needs more than a quick answer. You’ll receive in-depth analysis supported by citations and authoritative publications.

💻 Professional Tools & Discounts — including Verifyle Pro, CCH AnswerConnect & TaxAware savings, Blue J AI pricing, TaxBook and Quickfinder discounts, and more.

🤝 A Professional Community — connect with practitioners who understand the challenges of running a practice, working through difficult returns, keeping up with changing rules, and surviving another busy season.

💬 Peer Support & Discussion Groups — ask questions, exchange ideas, get a second opinion, and build relationships with professionals you can turn to throughout the year.

📣 Advocacy — MSATP represents the interests of solo and small-firm professionals and gives our community a voice on the issues affecting our profession.

🛡️ Additional Member Protection & Perks — from complimentary $10,000 AD&D coverage to insurance options, business discounts, and other resources.

You don’t have to build your practice—or get through tax season—alone.

Join MSATP. Join the community. Go into tax season with people and resources in your corner.

10/06/2026

A 529 beneficiary change can look simple on paper — but moving the account down a generation can create a tax consequence that families may not expect. 🎓💰

For tax and financial professionals, here’s an important distinction to keep in mind:
➡️ Changing the beneficiary from a child to a grandchild is treated as a taxable gift for federal gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax purposes.
➡️ The previous beneficiary — not the account owner — is treated as the donor.
➡️ For 2026, amounts exceeding the $19,000 annual gift tax exclusion can trigger a Form 709 filing requirement.
➡️ And here’s the detail that can easily get missed: the special five-year election for 529 contributions does NOT apply to a gift created by changing beneficiaries. That election applies to contributions made to the plan.

Changing beneficiaries within the same generation—such as from one child to another qualifying family member—generally does not create the same gift or income tax consequence.

📌 Planning matters. Before recommending a 529 beneficiary change, tax professionals should consider the family relationship, generation level, account value, and potential gift/GST reporting implications.

Sometimes clicking “change beneficiary” is more than an administrative change. It can be a tax event.