The FIRE to IRIS transition is in full swing and if you're like most tax and compliance professionals, the questions are already piling up before your first cup of coffee.
Join Sovos for Coffee & Compliance – a live, unscripted Q&A where two of the industry's leading experts sit down to answer the questions that are keeping you up at night. No slides. No canned answers. Just real, practical guidance on what the FIRE to IRIS transition actually means for your organization.
Enjoy your morning brew with like-minded peers and get answers straight from the experts who know this transition inside and out, Wendy Walker, VP of Regulatory Affairs and John Kreger, VP of Product Management from Sovos.
Live Q&A
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026 10:00 AM CT | 11:00 AM ET | 8:00 AM PT
- Thursday, October 15, 2026 10:00 AM CT | 11:00 AM ET | 8:00 AM PT
Venue
Virtual — Live WebinarSpeakers
Wendy Walker
VP, RegTech Regulatory Affairs Sovos
Wendy has worked directly with the IRS on information reporting and tax administration issues for many years, through a combination of industry working groups, advisory roles and direct engagement on systemic filing issues.
For the past three years, Sovos product teams have participated in the IRS’s monthly IRIS working group, with Wendy involved in the broader regulatory and tax administration issues arising from the transition. Sovos began using IRIS for its own information return filings in the system’s first year and has worked closely with the IRS throughout the expansion of the platform, including API implementation and testing across form types, business rules and schema validations. As filing volumes have grown, Wendy and the Sovos team have regularly provided feedback on operational issues, system performance, filing scenarios and edge cases the developing system needs to accommodate.
Wendy also served on the IRS Advisory Council (IRSAC) from 2021–2024, where she advised the IRS on information reporting issues and modernization initiatives. Her work included recommendations related to the design of IRS online business and taxpayer accounts and how information return data is presented and used within those systems. Wendy still engages regularly by working to identify and escalate issues affecting information return filers.
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VP, Product Management Sovos
As Vice President of Product Management for Sovos’s U.S. tax and regulatory reporting products, John Kreger leads the team responsible for Sovos’s 1099, ACA, Unclaimed Property, and Insurance Statutory Reporting solutions. John is a seasoned technology leader who believes in the transformative power of innovation to simplify complex compliance challenges.
With over a decade of experience, John’s previous roles as a software developer and IT manager have deepened his commitment to using technology to enhance both the speed and accuracy of compliance processes. His expertise and vision were recognized during his three-year tenure on the IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC), where he served as group chair for Information Reporting.
John earned his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Winona State University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Beyond his professional endeavors, he cherishes quality time with his partner and their son, exploring the many lakes and rivers of the Upper Midwest.
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Arrivals & Welcome
Log in, grab your coffee, and get settled.
FIRE to IRIS: Setting the Stage
A brief level-set on where the transition stands today, what has changed since FIRE retirement, and the most common misconceptions Sovos is hearing from organizations right now.
Open Q&A: Your Questions, Answered Live
Wendy Walker and John Kreger take your questions live — no filters, no pre-screened softballs. Bring your most pressing IRIS questions and get direct answers from the experts who live this every day. Common topics include:
- XML schema requirements and how they differ from FIRE
- TCC transfers — what carries over and what doesn't
- Why your ERP may not have you covered
- Dual-format filing obligations and what they mean operationally
- Timelines, deadlines, and the real cost of waiting
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Key takeaways and resources to help your organization move forward with confidence.
Registration & Breakfast
Complimentary espresso coffee bar and continental breakfast.
Registration & Breakfast
Complimentary espresso coffee bar and continental breakfast.