Q. Call me old-fashioned, but I rather liked the way the rows in columnar pads used alternating colors. It made it easier to read across the spreadsheet page. Why doesn’t Excel come that way? A. I don’t know why Excel doesn’t default the rows with alternating colors, but you can
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Back Wages and Payment of FICA and FUTA
Back Wages and Payment of FICA and FUTA Wage earners generally are required to pay FICA taxes in the year they receive their wages, computed at the applicable rates for that year. Likewise, employers are required to pay both FICA (IRC section 3111) and FUTA (IRC section 3301) in the
Anonymous Comments
Q. I need to embed comments in many of the reports I prepare in Word. I use the Comment function in the Insert menu, and while that’s okay, each comment includes my name. That may be great when several people add their comments to a circulated draft report, but all
SEC Jurisdiction Over Investment Advice
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MANY CPAs HAVE RESPONDED TO INCREASED client interest in financial products by formally offering investment advisory services. This generally requires them to register as investment advisers with either a state agency or with the SEC, based primarily on the amount of assets under management. CPAs CAN PROVIDE LIMITED
Accrual-Method Requirement Dropped for Some Service Providers
Accrual-Method Requirement Dropped for Some Service Providers In Chief Counsel Notice CC-2001-010, the IRS announced a change in its litigation position that certain taxpayers must use the accrual method of accounting. The IRS previously had told many cash-basis taxpayers, such as physicians and contractors, who provide services, that their use
Ready to Pull the Plug?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE ADVANTAGES OF A LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN) are obvious: Users can share software applications and data—in short, they can stay in touch. Equally obvious are its disadvantages: Each computer—even an otherwise portable laptop—must be tethered by cable to a port in the wall. Unplug and you’re offline
E-Commerce
For news from the AICPA and state societies, visit www.cpa2biz.com , which also offers online CPE, AICPA professional literature, practice management aids and links to state society Web sites. E-COMMERCE The SEC adopts rule amendments that permit registered investment companies and advisers to store required records on electronic
Tax Fears Plague the (Rather) Wealthy
BY THE NUMBERS In a recent survey, moderately affluent individuals—worried they weren’t doing enough to protect their assets from taxes—said they’re exploring financial planning strategies once considered the exclusive province of the very wealthy. How well they said their assets were tax-sheltered In addition to tax-deferred savings plans, respondents
Financial Reporting
FINANCIAL REPORTING A recent study by the Financial Executives Institute says the overall quality of corporate financial reporting is high, with relatively isolated, but significant, deficiencies. For example, in 2000, the earnings restatements of only 10 companies caused almost the entire decline in market value ( www.fei.org/download/QualFinRep-6-7-2k1.ppt ). New forms
When a Gift Is Not a Gift
TAX BRIEF When a Gift Is Not a Gift The Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that a person could not reduce her estate by writing checks to family and friends before her death. Because the checks were paid after she died, the gifts were not completed. Furthermore, the
Smart Stops on the Web
INVESTMENT SITES Research Online www.options-iri.com Investors can find information at this site on options trading and stocks after registering for free. Users can choose any of five e-mail newsletters that provide insights into the trading market. An options expiration calendar, pricing calculator and links to other financial and investment sites
Personal Financial Planning
PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING The CFP Board of Standards—which regulates certified financial planners—establishes a task force to propose changes to its organizational structure so the board can more effectively oversee the development of a global certification program ( www.cfpboard.org/press_archvdpr.html#5-21-01 ). The GAO says the ongoing decline in Americans’ personal savings shrinks
Never Underestimate the Opposition
LITIGATION/CONSULTING How using instructional visuals can help CPAs in litigation support. An Expert Witness Can Make or Break a Case BY GEORGE L. JOHNSON and CYNTHIA WALLER VALLARIO EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE CPA EXPERT WITNESS MUST CHOOSE an approach in the pretrial planning phase that will develop and integrate facts
CFOs Say No to Internet Tax
TAX MATTERS Source: RHI Management Resources, www.rhimr.com
Starting an Investment Advisory Practice
MONTHLY CHECKLIST SERIES Advisory Practice For many CPAs, becoming an investment adviser is a smart decision. Even after deciding to become one many people will still have questions. This checklist offers help to CPAs who want to establish their own investment advisory firms. Do client research. Get reactions from
FYI
FYI Commissioner Paul R. Carey’s death leaves the SEC three members short of its full complement, but it still can conduct business. The two remaining commissioners, Laura S. Unger and Isaac C. Hunt, Jr., constitute a quorum ( www.sec.gov/news/headlines/paulcarey.htm ; www.sec.gov/about/commissioner/carey.htm ). The Social Security Administration addresses women’s benefits issues
International
INTERNATIONAL Public ownership of banks stimulates banking-sector strength and resilience in the face of economic disruptions, says a new study by the World Bank ( www.worldbank.org/research/interest/policyresrpt.htm ). Research by the European Federation of Accountants reveals that in nearly half the countries it surveyed, there is no system for enforcing accounting
Double Take
TAX MATTERS Source: IRS, www.irs.gov .
john_ex1
Exhibit 1: Lay Out the Key Elements
Accounting
For news from the AICPA and state societies, visit www.cpaweb.org , which also offers online CPE, AICPA professional literature, practice management aids and links to state society Web sites. A FASB statement will provide guidance on asset retirement obligations related to tangible long-lived assets, such as factories or storage
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How to find the right CAS clients
The key to success with CAS is selecting the best clients. Tools like ideal client profiles (ICPs), buyer personas, and even artificial intelligence can help identify the businesses that best fit each CAS practice.
From The Tax Adviser
March 31, 2026
Current developments in taxation of individuals: Part 1
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Current Developments in Taxation of Individuals: Part 1
March 6, 2026
