In a case of first impression, the Tax Court held that it could not order the IRS to reopen an individual’s whistleblower claim under Sec. 7623(b), and the court dismissed his petition (Cohen, 139 T.C. No. 12 (2012)). Sec. 7623(b) authorizes an award to a whistleblower if the IRS proceeds
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Cohn-Reznick deal closes as market pressures portend more mergers
J.H. Cohn LLP and the Reznick Group have closed on their previously disclosed merger, a transaction that creates the 11th-largest U.S. accounting firm and represents the second marriage of top 20 firms consummated this year. The Cohn-Reznick combination, first announced in May, creates a firm with 2,000 employees, 25 offices,
Investors aware of issues before goodwill impairment announcements, study shows
By the time a company announces that goodwill is impaired, investors have been aware for months that the company is facing problems, a new study indicates. One objective of the fourth annual Financial Executives International (FEI) Goodwill Impairment Study was to compare the stock price performance of companies that recorded goodwill
ASB recommends scoping nonissuers out of “auditor commentary” requirements
An AICPA committee is weighing in on a recent International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) proposal that would require expanded commentary in auditors’ reports. Nonissuers, such as private companies and nonprofits, should be scoped out of requirements for “auditor commentary” when the IAASB’s proposed standard is developed, according to a
Former comptroller general urges fiscally responsible reforms
The giant red digits on the “U.S. Burden Barometer” outside the auditorium where David Walker spoke Friday provided the numbers behind this prominent CPA’s message: The United States urgently needs significant government financial reform. Counting upward at a feverish pace, the barometer represented an estimate of what Walker, a former
Succession planning on the rise, but about half of CPA firms haven’t implemented a plan
With Baby Boomers nearing retirement, the number of succession plans in place for CPA firms is on the rise. But fewer than half of multiowner practices have succession plans ready, mentoring is largely informal, and the development of future partners is in decline, new research shows. Forty-four percent of multiowner
IRS issues interim ITIN procedures for 2011 tax returns on extension
The IRS has posted special instructions for certifying acceptance agents (CAAs) to use in certifying identification documents for 2011 tax year filers who are filing on extension—returns that are due by Oct. 15, 2012. The identification number issued under these special instructions will be valid until Oct. 15, 2013. A
FASB, IASB keep time value of money in revenue recognition standard
Adjustments for the time value of money, which have generated some opposition from stakeholders, are likely to remain a part of the converged revenue recognition standard that is being jointly developed by FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The boards last week tentatively affirmed a proposal in the
GASB Chairman Attmore retiring in June
Robert Attmore, who has been chairman of GASB since July 2004, will retire from the post in June. Attmore, a former auditor and deputy comptroller for the state of New York, also has served as president of the National State Auditors Association. His retirement was announced Tuesday by the Financial
Google Play making serious run at Apple’s App Store
The battle for control of the mobile device market is heating up in an area long dominated by Apple—mobile application downloads. Google, developer of the Android operating system for smartphones and tablets, announced in a blog post Sept. 26 that users have downloaded mobile apps from the Google Play store
CPA mobility law takes effect in Washington
A new District of Columbia law makes it easier for CPAs from other jurisdictions to practice in the nation’s capital. The Accountant Mobility Act of 2011, which took effect on Monday, grants CPAs with valid licenses in U.S. states the ability to practice in the city without obtaining a reciprocal
IASB to issue “targeted re-exposure” of insurance proposals
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) decided this week to re-expose its proposals for insurance contracts accounting. Although the project, which has been undertaken jointly with FASB, has been in progress since 2007, the IASB decided that re-exposure for public comment is appropriate because substantial changes—whose effects need to be
Survey takes pulse of board members, shows opposition to audit firm rotation
Corporate board members charged with oversight of U.S. public companies are opposed to mandatory rotation of external auditors by more than 2 to 1, a new survey shows. Mandatory audit firm rotation is a continuing subject of debate in Europe and the United States, where regulators are exploring such a
U.S. starting salaries in accounting and finance appear headed for an increase in 2013
U.S. accounting and finance starting salaries will rise in 2013 despite an uncertain economy, according to a recently published salary guide. Average starting salaries for corporate accounting employees in the United States are projected to increase between 2.7% and 4.5% compared with 2012, depending on the position and the size
TIGTA shines light on large tax delinquencies of federal government agencies
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) found that 70 federal agencies had unpaid employment taxes totaling $14 million, and 18 federal agencies were delinquent in filing 39 employment tax returns, as of Dec. 31, 2011, in a report issued Thursday (TIGTA Rep’t No. 2012-30-094). Although federal agencies are
Special per diem rates updated for 2012–2013
The IRS on Wednesday issued the annual update of special per diem rates for use in substantiating certain business expenses taxpayers incur when traveling away from home (Notice 2012-63). The notice provides the transportation industry meal and incidental expenses rates, the rate for the incidental-expenses-only deduction, and the rates and
Tax Court defines gross receipts for the research credit
The Tax Court on Monday clarified that nonsales income is included in gross receipts for purposes of the Sec. 41 research credit (Hewlett-Packard Co., 139 T.C. No. 8 (2012)). The Tax Court granted partial summary judgment to the IRS, holding that for purposes of calculating average annual gross receipts under
PTIN information release concerns aired
The AICPA has expressed concerns to the IRS about the Service’s public release of information of CPAs and other federal tax return preparers the IRS collects as part of its preparer tax identification number (PTIN) registration requirement. Some of the PTIN information is subject to public release under the federal
California becomes 49th state to pass CPA mobility law
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed a bill allowing CPAs from outside California to represent clients in the state without being subject to additional license requirements. The law takes effect on July 1, 2013. It will allow out-of-state CPAs to provide many services to their clients without obtaining a
Draft instructions to Form 706 provide guidance on portability election
On Tuesday, the IRS posted a draft version of the instructions to Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, a follow-up to the draft Form 706 that was posted in August (see “Draft Form 706 provides check box to not elect portability”). The draft instructions provide more guidance
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From The Tax Adviser
March 31, 2026
Current developments in taxation of individuals: Part 1
March 31, 2026
Current Developments in Taxation of Individuals: Part 1
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