September 1999 - Journal of Accountancy

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE TAX SOFTWARE INDUSTRY, already buffeted by wrenching consolidations fueled by the swing to Windows, now faces a new technological challenge: the Internet. And as with Windows, either tax software vendors meet the challenge or face possible extinction. STARTING THIS TAX YEAR, at least one vendor, RIA, is

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SMALL CPA FIRMS ARE FEELING THE PINCH from a shortage of qualified staff. It is important for firms to do what they can to keep the best and brightest employees from leaving. FIRMS CAN ASK STAFF WHAT THEIR SALARIES should be and work with them on an annual

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SEVERAL OBSTACLES PUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS, Hispanics and Native Americans at a disadvantage in the profession. A large gap exists between median incomes of these groups and that of the nonminority population. This affects educational opportunities for minorities. MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, RALPH KENT, AICPA president, declared in his

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE IRS RESTRUCTURING AND REFORM ACT OF 1998 shifted the burden of proof to the IRS in civil tax matters. Paradoxically, this does not relieve the taxpayer of the need to keep proper records. The burden shift is not automatic; it occurs only if the taxpayer introduces credible

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TAX SOFTWARE PREPARERS continue to be satisfied with the products they used this year, but their fondness has cooled somewhat from last year. CUSTOMER SUPPORT HAS IMPROVED, they report. SOME 83% OF THE USERS said they would continue to use the same package this year; 6% said they

Accounting Software Series on the Web This entire series of articles on accounting software appears on the AICPA Web page at www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/index.htm EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MANY ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE vendors have engineered their applications to accommodate a variety of database engines. It’s imperative that prospective buyers give careful consideration to database selection

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE CHOICE OF ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING software can be a make-or-break decision for a company. ERP comes in modules named after the functions each performs such as general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, purchase orders, inventory, job costing, point of sale, manufacturing and bill of materials. A

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MANY COMPANIES AND FIRMS ARE DISCOVERING that staff from different ethnic backgrounds bring valuable perspectives to the table and are effective in working with a wide spectrum of customers and clients. At the same time, businesses are finding that achieving and maintaining diversity is a complex undertaking. FOR

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A BUSINESS THAT WANTS TO CONTINUE PAYING WAGES to a key employee in the event of sickness or disability can do so only under an IRC section 105 qualified sick-pay plan (QSPP). If a business doesn’t have such a plan in place, wage payments are not tax deductible