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Federal Court Rules Health Care Insurance Mandate Unconstitutional

A federal district court has held that the health care reform legislation’s mandate that individuals obtain health insurance is unconstitutional (Virginia v. Sebelius, docket no. 3:10-CV-188 (E.D. Va. 12/13/10)). In so holding, however, the court severed that mandate from the rest of the health care reform legislation and refused to

Final Regs Issued Requiring Uncertain Tax Position Disclosure Statement

On Monday, the IRS issued final regulations requiring some corporations to file a Schedule UTP, disclosing their uncertain tax positions when filing a return (TD 9510). The final regulations adopt regulations proposed in September (REG-119046-10), with one change relating to the effective date. For prior coverage, see “IRS Issues Proposed

FASB May Delay Troubled Debt Restructuring Standard for Public Entities

FASB on Thursday proposed to delay indefinitely the effective date of new disclosures about troubled debt restructurings in Accounting Standards Update (ASU) no. 2010-20 for public-entity creditors. Currently, the new standard is scheduled to become effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after Dec. 15, 2010. Comments

Provisions in the Senate’s Tax Cut Extension Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced legislation late Thursday that would postpone the sunset of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, reduce the estate tax, and extend a number of expired provisions, as well as extending unemployment benefits. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of

IASB Hedge Accounting Proposal Adds Disclosure, Presentation Requirements

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Thursday released a principle-based proposal on accounting for hedging activities that includes new presentation and disclosure requirements. The IASB said the changes in the proposal would enable companies to better reflect their risk management activities in their financial statements. The changes are intended

Security Replaces Modernization as Top IRS Challenge

In its 2011 annual report, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) said security is the top management challenge facing the IRS. Last year, TIGTA said modernization was the top challenge, but, “Due to recent events at IRS facilities and the potentially expanding role of the IRS, Security has

IASB Issues Guidance on Management Commentary

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Wednesday published an IFRS Practice Statement Management Commentary, which the standard setter said is a broad, nonbinding framework for the presentation of narrative reporting to accompany financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRSs. The Practice Statement is not an IFRS, therefore, an entity

AICPA Questions Costs/Benefits of EC Audit Proposals

In its response to a recent European Commission (EC) green paper, Audit Policy: Lessons from the Crisis, the AICPA said that any resulting recommendations for improvements to the audit profession should be subject to robust cost/benefit analyses and impact assessments. The Institute also challenged any implication that the “audit profession

Panel Expected to Finalize Private Company Financial Reporting Model Recommendations

The blue-ribbon panel on private company financial reporting on Friday appears set to finalize its recommendations that the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF), FASB’s parent organization, move to U.S. GAAP with modifications and exceptions for private companies and that those standards should be set not by FASB but by a separate

Broker-Dealer Audits, Reporting Model on PCAOB Agenda

Broker-dealer audits, the auditor’s reporting model and foreign inspections will be among the PCAOB’s top priorities in 2011, according to the board’s acting chairman, Daniel L. Goelzer. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act gave the board authority over auditors of all SEC-registered securities broker-dealers. Those auditors had previously

Schapiro, SEC Staff Want Companies to Have Ample Time for IFRS Adoption

The SEC will allow public companies a minimum of four years to adjust if it decides to mandate the use of IFRS, SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro said Monday. The remark came in response to a question from the audience at the AICPA’s National Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments

CPA Financial Execs Plan for Slow and Cautious Hiring, Higher Health Care Costs

After a dramatic drop in optimism the previous quarter, CPA executives regained some confidence about the economic prospects for their organizations, according to results from the AICPA/UNC Kenan-Flagler Business & Industry Economic Outlook Survey Q4 2010. This improved sentiment, however, is not translating into hiring growth, which remained virtually unchanged

IRS Releases 2011 Standard Mileage Rates

The IRS released on Friday the standard mileage rates for use in 2011 (Notice 2010-88). The optional standard mileage rates can be used by taxpayers to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile. For business use of an automobile after Dec. 31, 2010, the rate is 51 cents a

Preparer Mandatory E-File Guidance Proposed

The IRS on Wednesday issued proposed guidance on how return preparers may meet their new electronic filing requirement for individual and fiduciary income tax returns starting Jan. 1, 2011. The proposed regulations (REG-100194-10) and a proposed revenue procedure (Notice 2010-85) provide for a hardship exception to the requirement and specify

IRS Releases Form and More Guidance on Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

On Thursday, the IRS released a new form and guidance relating to the small business health care tax credit for the 2010 tax year. The guidance (Notice 2010-82) discusses issues relating to employers’ eligibility for the credit and other eligibility issues. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PL 111-148,

Exhibit Issued for AICPA Audit Guide Compilation and Review Engagements

The AICPA issued an exhibit to help answer questions regarding the impact of Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) no. 19, Compilation and Review Engagements, on compilations and reviews of personal financial statements. The Accounting and Review Services Committee issued SSARS no. 19 in December 2009, making

Shulman Urges Congress to Fix AMT and Extender Issues Before Year-End

IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman urged Congress to pass tax legislation before the start of the next tax season. Shulman focused on the alternative minimum tax (AMT) patch and the extension of various income tax incentives for individuals. In identically worded letters to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin,

FASB, IASB: Convergence Priorities on Target for June 2011

FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) released a convergence progress report on Monday that said their priority projects are on target for completion by June 2011 or earlier. (For recent JofA coverage of the FASB-IASB convergence project, see “Convergence Milestone,” Aug. 2010, page 26.) The priority projects, which

Featured Online Content for December 2010

FEATURED VIDEO Use the 2010 MAP Survey to Benchmark Your Firm The AICPA’s James Metzler, CPA, and Mark Koziel, CPA, discuss findings from the 2010 PCPS/TSCPA National MAP Survey, conducted by the AICPA’s Private Companies Practice Section and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. The 2010 survey includes responses

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