Though 2025 was a gamechanger in many ways, Tax Court went on resolving controversies both arcane and mundane. Inventive counsel tried extending Supreme Court pronouncements and stretching narrow jurisdictional limits as always, Tax Court dealt with the Supreme Court's efforts to bring "discipline" to Tax Court practice, and self-represented petitioners continued to wander into sand traps of their own making.

2026 Changes to Form 2441 and Dependent Care Benefits
The credit for dependent-care expenses (such as daycare costs) has long been stuck at 20% for “average” taxpayers. It finally gets a permanent boost in 2026 (for returns filed in 2027). Also, the amount of money a taxpayer can put into a dependent care assistance program is increasing by $2,500 for 2026. This change presents a chance for taxpayers and tax pros to reevaluate which is better – claiming the credit or using a flex plan.


