IRS Opens Comment Period on Electronic Furnishing Rules, AP Teams Should Weigh In

The IRS is accepting comments on potential revisions to its electronic furnishing of returns to recipients for information returns. The deadline is May 23, 2026. If your organization still mails a significant number of 1099s rather than furnishing them electronically—particularly due to challenges with the current electronic furnishing requirements, this is the window to comment.

AP and tax compliance teams rarely get a direct line to shape IRS rulemaking. This is one of those moments.

The notice, titled Request for Comments on Electronic Furnishing of Certain Payee Statements and published in the Federal Register on March 5, 2026, was triggered by several converging developments: the introduction of Form 1099-DA for digital asset transactions, broader internet adoption, and growing pressure to modernize information reporting infrastructure. At 13 pages, it’s worth reading before your respond.

Non-financial businesses have historically had little voice in how these rules get written. The organizations that comment will have more influence over what comes next than the ones that don’t.

Submit comments before May 23^rd. Positive and beneficial change comes from having your voice heard.

About the Author Colin Brien is an attorney with an LL.M. in Taxation and over 20 years of experience in information reporting and withholding. He is the founder of InfoReporting Solutions, where he advises nonfinancial businesses on withholding and compliance requirements.