Tax Professionals to Follow on Social Media in 2022

The past year felt like an eternity—especially in the tax world. We wrestled with temporary tax credits, watched as potentially game-changing legislation made news, and waited for details of a global tax agreement.

And for a lot of us, this all happened inside our homes. Covid continued to spread, keeping offices closed and shutting down many in-person conferences.

But even as we sat with our laptops, we were never alone: The tax community always had each other. Social media allowed us to make and keep connections. We posted news about filing extensions and vented about IRS processing delays. We shared best practices for on-boarding clients virtually and exchanged war stories about IRS hold times. And when we had questions about the advance child tax credit, employee retention credit, or Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness, we knew that someone would have an answer.

Social media has long been an excellent resource for the tax community. A few years ago, I started making a list of folks on Twitter that I depended on for tax information and professional support. The annual list became popular—and it got long.

When I joined Bloomberg Tax this year, one of the first things I was asked was whether I would keep the list. I knew I wanted to keep it going, but I also wanted to make it a bit different. So, there are some changes this year—including the number of Twitter users. One hundred users was a bit daunting, so I scaled it back. And even with a shorter list, there was room for lots of new faces.

And there’s another significant change: Based on feedback, I’ve added a list for LinkedIn follows. Some tax professionals prefer one platform over another, so I’ve included both. And to keep it fair, no one appears on both lists.

About Twitter

Twitter is an easy way to find out what’s happening in the tax world. You can respond to tweets, post your own content, and participate in Twitter chats—moderated tweets based on specific topics. If you’re not sure how to get started, look for hashtags like #IRS, #TaxTwitter, and #taxpros. Or, you can follow some of the folks who are most engaged in sharing tax news and information. Here are some names to help you get started.

The Twitter List

• Ted Afield is a professor at Georgia State University School of Law and director of the Philip C. Cook Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.
• Brent A. Auberry is an attorney at Faegre Drinker, focusing on state and local tax, or SALT, issues.
• Lily Batchelder is the Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the U.S. Treasury.
• Glen Birnbaum is a CPA and partner at Sikich.
• Sam Brunson is a professor at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he researches and writes about federal income tax and nonprofit organizations.
• John Buhl is a senior communications manager at the Urban Institute, where he oversees media and communications efforts for the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
• Albert J. Campo is a CPA who works with individual and small business clients.
• Andrea Carr is a CPA with a tax and nonprofit bookkeeping focus.
• Nayo Carter-Gray is a virtual EA who is passionate about technology.
• Shayna Chapman is a CPA and founder of Shaynaco LLC where she works with small businesses and their owners.
• Nathan Clark is a CPA and partner at Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP. He tweets with “extreme sarcasm and dry humor.”
• Nicole Davis is a CPA and principal at Butler-Davis Tax & Accounting, LLC, where she specializes in small business accounting.
• Sylvia F. Dion is a CPA and managing tax partner at PrietoDion Consulting Partners LLC, a Massachusetts SALT firm.
• Tyler Evilsizer is a senior budget analyst at the U.S. Senate Budget Committee.
• Matt Foreman is a N.Y.-based tax lawyer—he’s also pretty funny.
• Deborah Fox is a CPA licensed in Texas and Florida who specializes in IRS compliance and strategy for small business owners.
• Jerry Gaddis is an EA and founder of CEO Tropical Tax Solutions in Florida.
• Brad Garland is a CPA at Alabama-based BrandBlackwell.
• Logan Graf is a Texas-based CPA with a focus on technology.
• Minh Graham is a CPA and lead manager in tax practice and ethics for the AICPA.
• Amber Gray-Fenner is an EA at a virtual tax firm in New Mexico and a tax writer.
• Tyrone Gregory is a California Tax Education Council certified tax preparer and creator of the Self-Employed Tax Academy Online.
• Philip Hackney is a tax professor focusing on the nonprofit tax-exempt sector of the economy.
• Brandon Harbeke is an Arizona-based CPA specializing in partnerships and corporations.
• Dan Herron is a CPA and principal of BBFS Inc & Elemental Wealth Advisors.
• David Herzig is a tax principal at EY and a self-described recovering law professor.
• Matt Hochstetler is a trusts and estates attorney at David J. Simmons & Associates, where he advises businesses and families.
• Chye-Ching Huang is the Executive Director of The Tax Law Center at NYU Law, focusing on legal work in the public interest.
• Naomi Jagoda is a reporter for The Hill covering taxes and budget.
• Rob Kovacev is a tax controversy attorney, formerly of the Department of Justice. He’s interested in the taxation of innovation, AI, and robotics.
• Joe Kristan is a partner at Eide Bailly LLP. He regularly tweets out a great round-up of tax articles.
• Phyllis Jo Kubey is a NYC-based EA. She also seems to know everyone in the tax world.
• Francine Lipman is a tax professor at UNLV. She tweeted and spoke often this year about advanced child tax credits.
• Adam Markowitz is an EA and advocate for small businesses.
• Darla Mercado is a certified financial planner and markets editor for CNBC digital.
• Matt Metras is an EA with a focus on cryptocurrency taxes.
• Chris Morrison is a CPA at Arizona-based Henry+Horne.
• David Morse is the tax policy director for The Coalition for a Prosperous America.
• Melinda Nelson is a CPA at Henry+Horne specializing in tax planning and compliance for closely held businesses and their owners.
• Jamie E. O’Kane is a CPA, tax strategist, and podcast host.
• Jan Roberg is an EA who specializes in individual and small business tax.
• Jacob Schroeder is a CPA and founder of Ascend Consulting, a firm specializing in helping businesses.
• Ed Slott is a writer and adviser focusing on retirement distribution issues.
• Manasa Sogal Nadig is an EA and the CEO of MN Tax & Business Services in Michigan.
• Jason Staats is a CPA with a focus on automation for accountants and operators. When I put out a call asking for the most valuable follows on Twitter, Jason was at the top of your list.
• Brian Streig is a CPA focusing on tax planning, compliance, start-ups & entrepreneurs.
• April Walker is a lead manager for the AICPA Tax Practice & Ethics Team.
• Nikki Winston is a CPA who supports future CPAs on the exam journey. She also hosts The WERKin’ Mommas podcast.
• Renu Zaretsky writes a monthly tax column called The Tax Hound for the Tax Policy Center.
• Ed Zollars is a tax CPA and continuing professional education lecturer for Kaplan Financial Education.

You can find me @taxgirl. You can also follow Bloomberg Tax and Accounting @tax as well as find a list of the entire team here.

About LinkedIn

LinkedIn claims to be the world’s largest professional network with nearly 800 million members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. It’s a bit more formal than Twitter, and the pace is different, mainly because there are no character limits—depending on who you are, that can be a blessing or a curse.

Like Twitter, a basic LinkedIn account is free. You can invite other users to connect with you, and they become part of your network. If you’re not up for connecting, you can just follow other users. That allows you to see their posts and articles, but they won’t see your posts. As with Twitter, hashtags like #tax and #IRS can be helpful.

You can share information in a LinkedIn Group. Not sure where to start? Bloomberg Tax has its own LinkedIn group for The Exchange. It’s a great place to stay on top of the latest news, check out upcoming events, and network with other tax professionals.

The IRS has significantly increased its social media presence. You can follow it on Twitter @IRSNews—but don’t expect a follow back. The agency routinely posts tax-related information but does not answer tax questions or engage with taxpayers online. Reminder: The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers on social media channels to request personal or financial information.

You can also follow the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS that helps with tax problems that you can’t resolve on your own.

IRS Criminal Investigation posts notifications about tax crimes and warnings about scams. It also offers resources for reporting fraud and other criminal activity. Other IRS sub-accounts include information for tax professionals, small businesses, IRS Tax Security, and IRS Recruitment.

The IRS’ LinkedIn account offers updates for taxpayers in the form of posts and videos. It also routinely posts recruiting-related information, though they refer you to their Twitter recruitment page.

Professional organizations

If you don’t follow a professional organization on social media, give one a click. Some of the most popular on Twitter include the ABA Section of Taxation, the American Institute of CPAs, the National Association of Tax Professionals, the National Society of Accountants, and the National Association of Enrolled Agents. You can find most professional organizations on LinkedIn, too—just be aware that you may have to request access to join.

More About The Lists

Information and descriptions about those on the lists are found on their social media profiles and publicly available websites as of the date of this article. If you’d like more information about someone, I encourage you to click through to find out more.

These lists are subjective. There’s no fancy algorithm, and I don’t count followers or connections, though I do consider the type and timeliness of shares and engagement. The goal is to present a wide range of tax professionals, offering different perspectives—this year, I’ve even included Braves fans. I appreciate that you may not agree with all of the mentions, and that’s okay: There’s always next year.

Each year, I receive emails with feedback about the lists. I do take it seriously, which is why the list changes every year. And this year, it changed a great deal—just like the tax world.

This is a weekly column from Kelly Phillips Erb, the Taxgirl. Erb offers commentary on the latest in tax news, tax law, and tax policy. Look for Erb’s column every week from Bloomberg Tax and follow her on Twitter at @taxgirl.