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FinREC seeks clarity in principal vs. agent proposal

The AICPA’s Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) sent a comment letter to FASB stating concerns about operational challenges that could be triggered by Proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU), Consolidation (Topic 810)—Principal Versus Agent Analysis. FASB issued the Proposed ASU on Nov. 3. The proposal would amend the evaluation of kick-out

President signs payroll tax cut extension bill; new Form 941 released

On Wednesday evening at the White House, President Barack Obama signed into law the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, H.R. 3630. On Thursday, the IRS released a revised Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, to reflect the extended payroll tax cut. The act extends

Supreme Court: Filing a false tax return can lead to deportation

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Tuesday holding that a conviction under Sec. 7206 for willfully filing a false tax return (or for aiding and abetting filing a false tax return) is an aggravated felony that can result in deportation. Kawashima v. Holder, S. Ct. Dkt. No. 10-577 (U.S.

Budget proposal includes change to treatment of intentionally defective trusts

Among the various estate tax proposals in President Barack Obama’s recently released fiscal year 2013 revenue proposals is a new plan that could alter estate planning techniques and benefits with intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs); the assets in these trusts would be included in the estate of the grantor at

IFRS decision a “few” months away, based on SEC staff report timeline

An SEC decision on the use of IFRS by U.S. public companies is still a “few” months away, SEC Chief Accountant James Kroeker indicated Monday. At an IFRS Advisory Council meeting in London, Kroeker declined to get more precise because he wants the SEC staff focused on completing a report

Congress passes payroll tax cut extension

On Friday, the House of Representatives and the Senate both passed a bill that will extend the reduced 4.2% Social Security tax rate through the end of the year (The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, H.R. 3630). The vote was 293–132 in the House and

Round table explores investment company proposals

Questions arose about the scope and substance of accounting standards proposals on investment companies Friday during a round-table meeting sponsored by FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The meeting, which was held in Toronto, was the first of four public meetings to discuss the FASB and IASB proposals.

Portability election extended for some estates

Some executors who missed a deadline to apply a decedent’s unused estate and gift tax exclusion amount to a surviving spouse received an extension Friday. The IRS announced the extension in Notice 2012-21. It applies to estates of decedents dying in the first six months after provisions for “portability” of

SEC changes performance fee thresholds, net worth calculation

Investors no longer will include the value of their home in the net worth calculation that can determine whether registered investment advisers can charge them performance fees, the SEC announced Wednesday. SEC rules allow registered investment advisers to charge performance fees if the client’s assets managed by the adviser or

Three financial reporting standards to get FAF reviews

The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) will conduct post-implementation reviews on standards regulating financial reporting for business combinations, operating segments and investment disclosures. Standards selected for review, as announced in a FAF news release, are: FASB Statement No. 141R, Business Combinations, which requires an acquiring organization to recognize the assets acquired,

FinCEN once again extends FBAR filing deadline for certain financial professionals

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a further extension of the deadline for filing Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), to June 30, 2013, for a small group of financial professionals (FinCEN Notice 2012-1). In 2011, FinCEN announced that three small groups of

IRS proposes PTIN regs. for supervised, nonsigning and non-1040 preparers

The IRS issued proposed regulations on Tuesday regarding the availability of preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) for supervised nonsigning preparers and for preparers of forms other than Form 1040. They also address what tax forms are considered returns for purposes of the PTIN rules (REG-124791-11). The proposed regulations do not

Partnerships can issue Schedules K-1 electronically

The IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2012-17, which contains rules partnerships must follow if they want to supply Schedules K-1, Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., electronically. The guidance is effective Feb. 13, 2012. Failure to furnish the Schedule K-1 as required in Rev. Proc. 2012-17 can be deemed a

President’s budget proposes AMT elimination, tax reform

President Barack Obama unveiled his proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 on Monday. Included in its 256 pages are several tax reform proposals, including plans to eliminate the alternative minimum tax (AMT), to repeal LIFO, and to tax dividends of high-income taxpayers at ordinary income rates. The budget estimates that

Oversight groups report on steps to enhance IASB governance, financing

In a move that will be closely scrutinized in the United States, the IFRS Foundation Monitoring Board and trustees announced Thursday joint plans for improving the governance and financing of the IASB’s parent organization and setting its strategy. The monitoring board, a group of public authorities, will begin making the

Employer health coverage questions addressed

The IRS and Treasury Department, along with two other federal departments, on Thursday further described planned guidance on provisions for employer-sponsored health coverage mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), P.L. 111-148, scheduled to take effect in 2014. Treasury and the IRS issued Notice 2012-17 covering frequently

Guidance issued on work opportunity credit for veterans

The IRS issued a notice on Thursday that gives employers guidance on two new tax credits for qualified veterans and provides extra time to comply with some of the credits’ requirements (Notice 2012-13). The Three Percent Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act, P.L. 112-56, extended the work opportunity tax credit

The most popular videos of 2011

Here’s the list of the JofA’s most-watched videos of 2011: 1. Why the iPad Is a Game ChangerDebbie Lambert, CPA, managing partner of Johnson Lambert & Co. LLP, details why she thinks Apple’s iPad, when combined with advantages of moving accounting software to the cloud, will change the way CPAs

Proposed FATCA regs. take comprehensive approach to foreign financial institution reporting

The IRS on Wednesday issued proposed regulations providing rules on information reporting by foreign financial institutions (FFIs) and withholding on certain payments to FFIs and other foreign entities (REG-121647-10). Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 (FATCA), part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act of

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