IRS.com

Editorial Policy

Last updated: March 2026

IRS.com is committed to publishing accurate, trustworthy tax information. This page describes our standards for how content is created, reviewed, updated, and corrected.

Our Editorial Mission

Our goal is to make U.S. tax law understandable to ordinary Americans. Tax information has real consequences — errors can lead to underpayments, missed deductions, or incorrect filings. Because of this, we hold our content to a high standard of technical accuracy and apply a rigorous review process before anything is published.

IRS.com operates in the "Your Money or Your Life" (YMYL) category as defined by Google's Search Quality Rater Guidelines. We take that designation seriously. Content in this category must be held to a higher standard, and we treat it accordingly.

Who Writes Our Content

All content on IRS.com is written by, or written in close collaboration with, credentialed tax professionals. We do not publish anonymous articles. Our authors hold one or more of the following qualifications:

Each author page includes their full name, credentials, professional background, and where applicable, a link to their professional profile or LinkedIn. We verify credentials before publishing any author's content.

Our Review Process

Every article published on IRS.com goes through the following process:

  1. Draft — the article is written by a credentialed author based on primary sources, including the Internal Revenue Code, IRS publications, and IRS.gov.
  2. Technical review — a second credentialed professional reviews the article for factual accuracy, completeness, and compliance with current tax law.
  3. Editorial review — an editor checks for clarity, readability, and proper disclosure of any limitations or exceptions.
  4. Publication — the article is published with a clear byline, publication date, and disclosure of any affiliate relationships relevant to the content.

Sources We Use

We rely on authoritative primary sources. Our writers are required to cite the relevant IRS publication, tax code section, or official guidance for any factual claim. Primary sources we use include:

We do not use other content websites as sources. We go directly to the primary source.

How We Handle Tax Law Changes

U.S. tax law changes frequently — through legislation, IRS guidance, inflation adjustments, and court decisions. We maintain a content calendar tied to the legislative and IRS publication cycle. Articles are flagged for review whenever:

Updated articles display a "Last Updated" date alongside the original publication date.

Corrections Policy

We take accuracy seriously. If you believe any content on IRS.com contains an error, please contact us. We will review the claim promptly. If a correction is warranted, we will update the article and note the correction transparently. We do not silently edit articles to remove errors — corrections are acknowledged.

Editorial Independence

IRS.com earns revenue through affiliate partnerships with tax software and financial service providers. These commercial relationships have no influence on our editorial content. Our writers and reviewers are not compensated based on affiliate performance. Recommendations in our content are based on our editorial assessment, not on the size of any commission.

Affiliate links and sponsored placements are clearly labeled. If a page contains affiliate links, it will carry a disclosure notice at the top of the article.

What Our Content Is Not

The content on IRS.com is educational and informational. It is not legal advice, tax advice, or financial planning advice for your specific situation. Tax law is complex and fact-specific — what applies to one person may not apply to another. Always consult a licensed CPA, Enrolled Agent, or tax attorney for advice tailored to your circumstances.