WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Internal Revenue Service announced that applications for the 2026 Compliance Assurance Process (CAP) program will open on September 3, 2025, and remain available through October 31, 2025. Selected applicants will be notified in February 2026.
First launched in 2005, CAP is designed to improve federal tax compliance by allowing large corporate taxpayers to resolve potential issues in real time, before their tax returns are filed. The program fosters early collaboration between corporations and the IRS, helping reduce disputes and streamline the compliance process.
To qualify, applicants must meet several criteria, including having assets of at least $10 million and being either a U.S. publicly traded corporation required to file SEC Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, or a privately held C-corporation, including foreign-owned entities. Privately held applicants must submit annual audited financial statements prepared under U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or another IRS-approved standard, along with unaudited quarterly financial statements. An unqualified audit opinion from an independent auditor is required, and the company’s audited net income or loss must reconcile with its Schedule M-3 filing.
Applicants also must not be under investigation by or engaged in litigation with any government agency that would restrict IRS access to tax records.
In addition to the CAP announcement, the IRS is seeking public input through an anonymous feedback survey on tax preparation and filing options. The survey, open through September 5, 2025, supports a Treasury Department report to Congress required under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. Treasury is expected to deliver its findings by October 2, 2025, focusing on options for expanding free tax filing services.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to participate in the survey to help inform future decisions on filing accessibility and taxpayer services.
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