When I was a kid, I was fascinated by space. I think most kids in my generation were. All the coolest movies, like the original Star Wars and The Right Stuff, and the campiest TV shows (think Mork and Mindy, V, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century) were about space travel. Even MTV launched its first broadcast at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981, opening with a montage that began with Columbia’s countdown and liftoff, moved to the Apollo 11 launch, and culminated in the moon landing—where an astronaut saluted an MTV flag as a voice-over declared, “Ladies and gentlemen: rock and roll.”

Astronauts were rock stars—especially for geeks like me.

That’s why I’ll admit to being a little giddy about the recent launch of Artemis II. It’s the first crewed voyage back toward the moon in more than 50 years. The April 1, 2026, mission carries four astronauts for a roughly ten day journey that orbits the moon without landing. If all goes well, it clears the path for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the moon and begin a more sustained presence there.

(I’ll also admit to being a little biased: the crew includes Christina Koch, who will be the first woman to travel to the moon. She and I also both graduated from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, NC—shout out, uni-pride.)

It’s amazing to think about all of the things that technology can do today. Besides taking us to the moon, tech allows us to send money around the world with a click of a button. We can pay and trade in digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies. But even though digital assets are practically mainstream now, the IRS is still playing a bit of catch-up when it comes to taxing those transactions. As reporting requirements evolve—including the introduction of new forms like Form 1099-DA—the IRS is aiming to close that gap. But compliance challenges remain, driven in part by confusion, complexity, and the relatively new nature of digital asset taxation.

Technology hasn’t just changed how we spend money—it’s also changed how we work. Now, you can order food, rides, and medications directly from your phone and often have them delivered to your door in minutes. That has boosted the gig economy, changing how taxpayers earn income, turning spare hours into revenue streams. Unlike traditional employees, gig workers typically don’t have taxes withheld from their paychecks, so they’re responsible for tracking their income, reporting it accurately, and paying any taxes owed. That can get complicated quickly. With more moving pieces, good record keeping and a clear understanding of the rules are essential to avoid mistakes and make sure nothing is left on the table.

Among the most dramatic technological advances is how quickly the world is moving toward incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into nearly every aspect of our lives—from global trade (where companies increasingly need more integrated, specialized systems that can connect tax, legal, and operational data in real time) to individual tax advice.

And while technology can make our lives easier, it can make life easier for scammers, too. The IRS is warning that confusion around new deductions and credits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has created opportunities for bad actors, particularly as filing season enters its final stretch. As with past filing seasons, the most common schemes rely on promising unusually large refunds or claiming eligibility for benefits that don’t apply. And now, thanks to social media, taxpayers can get........

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