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TaxBuzz Top 5 - IRS Says Churches Can Endorse Political Candidates, Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Handed Prison Sentence & More

TaxBuzz Top 5 - IRS Says Churches Can Endorse Political Candidates, Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Handed Prison Sentence & More

Each Friday, TaxBuzz brings you the top five tax and accounting headlines you need to know from the workweek. We know life can get busy and you don't always have time to scroll through your news feed to stay informed.

We weed through all of the week's stories to showcase the most important updates in the tax and accounting world.

1. IRS Urges Early Filing for Extension Holders Ahead of October Deadline

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Credit: Silverman Media Services/Getty Images

Per Newsweek, the IRS is urging taxpayers who requested extensions on their 2024 federal returns to file during the summer, warning of a fall rush ahead of the October 15 deadline. The agency emphasized that early submission can help avoid system slowdowns, reduce penalties, and resolve potential filing issues more efficiently.

To assist filers, the IRS is promoting its Free File program, which offers free, guided tax prep for individuals earning $84,000 or less. Free Fillable Forms are also available to all taxpayers regardless of income. Multiple secure payment options are supported, and taxpayers unable to pay their full balance can apply for online payment plans.

Short-term plans (under $100,000 owed) offer 180 days to pay, while long-term agreements (under $50,000) provide up to 72 months—cutting the failure-to-pay penalty in half. However, interest continues to accrue.

Tax experts caution that even with an extension, interest began accruing after April 15. “Unpaid balances are now compounding daily at a 7% rate,” said Rutgers professor Jay A. Soled.

The IRS will continue processing returns throughout the summer. Early filers can avoid the October bottleneck by submitting their documents now.

2. Tax Breaks Ignite Factory Optimism But Tariffs Keep Manufacturers Wary

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Credit: Vithun Khamsong/Getty Images

U.S. manufacturers are cautiously optimistic after the passage of Donald Trump’s $3.4 trillion budget bill, which reinstates key tax breaks including 100% bonus depreciation and immediate deductions for R&D and interest. Industry groups say the provisions offer much-needed certainty to businesses that had paused investment decisions.

“Tax was a huge one and it is now off the table,” said Charles Crain of the National Association of Manufacturers in a Bloomberg article.

While some, like North Carolina’s Ketchie Inc., are moving forward with million-dollar equipment upgrades, many manufacturers remain hesitant. The uncertainty stems from Trump’s erratic tariff policy, including a proposed 50% duty on imported copper and rising levies on steel and aluminum.

“If companies can’t price their product accurately... their decisions will stay largely frozen,” Susan Spence of the Institute for Supply Management told Bloomberg.

Economists caution that while tax incentives may boost investment over time, tariffs could neutralize their impact. “In the end, the ‘best case’ likely tariff scenario adds far more costs to most capital investment than this legislation could possibly offset,” said Ball State professor Michael Hicks.

For now, businesses appear to be in wait-and-see mode, vacillating between generous tax relief and a volatile trade environment.

3. Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Handed Prison Sentence in Spanish Tax Case

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Credit: Wagner Meier/Getty Images

A Madrid court has sentenced Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti to one year in prison and fined him €386,000 ($452,000) for tax fraud related to image rights earnings during his first stint as Real Madrid manager in 2014. According to ESPN, prosecutors had sought up to 4 years and 9 months, but Ancelotti avoided jail time under Spanish law, which typically suspends sentences under two years for nonviolent offenders without prior convictions.

Ancelotti was cleared of a similar 2015 charge after the court determined he had not stayed long enough in Spain that year to qualify for tax liability. Prosecutors had accused him of hiding income using shell companies, including one allegedly based in the Virgin Islands without real economic activity.

His legal team welcomed the verdict, according to an unnamed staff member cited by the Associated Press. The Brazilian football confederation has not issued a statement.

Ancelotti joins a long list of football figures—Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Diego Costa—who have faced tax fraud cases in Spain. Unlike many who settled out of court, Ancelotti’s case proceeded through legal channels.

The 66-year-old soccer coaching legend left Real Madrid in May to lead Brazil’s national squad.

4. Gamblers Face Higher Taxes Under New Trump-Backed Law

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Credit: Tatiana Maksimova/Getty Images

A somewhat under the radar provision in Donald Trump’s sweeping budget package is causing major concern in the professional gambling world. Starting January 1, 2026, USA Today reports, gamblers will only be able to deduct 90% of their losses from their winnings, down from the current 100% deduction.

The change could hit professional gamblers especially hard, potentially leaving them owing taxes on so-called “phantom income.” For example, a gambler who wins and loses $100,000 in the same year would still be taxed on $10,000. Poker pro Phil Galfond noted the math could mean some gamblers end up paying more in tax than they actually earn.

“People are screaming from rooftops about it,” said Brett Abarbanel of UNLV’s International Gaming Institute.

While casual bettors won’t feel much impact, high-stakes players could be driven overseas, warned legal expert Nelson Rose in the USA Today piece. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the provision could raise $1 billion over the next decade.

With U.S. gaming revenue hitting a record $72 billion in 2024, lawmakers appear focused on capturing more tax from the booming betting economy. But experts warn this new rule could make professional gambling in the U.S. “entirely unprofitable" for some.

5. IRS Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates Without Losing Tax-Exempt Status

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Credit: Erica Shires/Getty Images

In a major shift with potentially wide-reaching political consequences, the IRS has agreed in a legal filing that churches may endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status under the Johnson Amendment. The agreement came in response to a lawsuit filed by the National Religious Broadcasters and other religious organizations and must still be approved by a judge in Texas.

The Johnson Amendment, introduced in 1954 by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, prohibits all 501(c)(3) nonprofits—including churches—from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Though rarely enforced, the rule has long chilled political speech in religious settings.

The court filing reinterprets the amendment to exclude sermons and internal communications “in connection with religious services,” likening them to a “family discussion” and not a political campaign intervention.

Per NBC News, Notre Dame law professor Lloyd Mayer called the move a “green light” for political endorsements from the pulpit, noting that it could increase pressure on churches to engage politically—even if pastors prefer not to.

The IRS did not comment on the filing. President Trump, a long-time critic of the Johnson Amendment, previously pledged to eliminate it entirely. While this court agreement doesn’t do that, it targets the very language Trump had vowed to dismantle.

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Feature Image Credit: Wagner Meier/Getty Images

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