Progress toward a converged financial reporting standard for revenue recognition continued Wednesday when the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) indicated its intention to approve the standard. The board’s staff now will prepare a ballot draft for a final vote. FASB also voted earlier this month to proceed to a ballot
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Whistleblower tips to SEC rise 8%
Tips to the SEC by whistleblowers rose 8% in fiscal year 2013 over the previous fiscal year, according to an SEC report to Congress. The SEC received 3,238 tips in FY 2013, compared with 3,001 tips in FY 2012, the first full year of the program. The SEC’s fiscal year
IASB releases new rules to better reflect hedge accounting
New rules released Tuesday by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are designed to improve how hedge accounting activities are reflected in financial statements. The IASB changed the rules to address preparers’ concerns about the challenges of appropriately representing their risk management activities in financial statements. The most significant changes
Accounting for income taxes standard achieves purpose, panel finds
A review panel has concluded that a 1992 financial reporting standard addressing accounting for income taxes generally achieves its purpose but may not have reduced complexity. The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) post-implementation review team received input for its report from financial statement users, preparers, auditors, and academics on FASB Statement
For penalty calculation, amount of tax shown on return reduced by credits, Tax Court holds
The Tax Court held that the amount of tax shown on the taxpayers’ return was reduced by refundable credits, but not below zero, for purposes of calculating the Sec. 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty (Rand, 141 T.C. No. 12 (2013)). The court reached that conclusion even though the taxpayers were not entitled
Five things the PCAOB considers in assessing firms’ remediation
The PCAOB on Monday posted to its website the criteria its inspectors consider when evaluating an audit firm’s efforts to address inspection report findings. If remediation efforts fail to satisfy the board within 12 months, the report that contains the criticism may be made public. While assessing firms’ remediation efforts,
Costs often derail qualitative goodwill impairment assessment
Many companies are not making use of an optional, qualitative goodwill impairment test FASB recently introduced to enable less burdensome financial reporting, a new survey report shows. Just 29% of public companies and 22% of private companies participating in financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps’s 2013 U.S.
Fed change won’t improve economy, U.S. finance execs say
Although U.S. CFOs and finance chiefs say a Federal Reserve chairman has the ability to significantly affect the world’s economy, they are not optimistic that the coming change in Fed leadership will hasten the economic recovery. Nearly six in 10 (59%) of 688 U.S. CGMA designation holders surveyed in October
Regs. permit midyear changes to employer contributions to 401(k) plans
The IRS issued final regulations that permit employers to make midyear reductions or suspensions of safe-harbor matching or nonelective contributions to retirement plans in certain situations (T.D. 9641). To qualify for salary deferral, Sec. 401(k) plans must meet certain nondiscrimination rules that require non-highly compensated employees to participate in the
United States and France sign FATCA agreement
The Treasury Department announced on Thursday that the United States and France have signed a bilateral agreement requiring French banks to report to the French government information about their U.S. account holders. The government of France will forward that information to the IRS, and in return the IRS will provide
Significant changes to compilation included in 3 proposed standards
From Staff Reports Three standards proposed by the AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC) as part of its clarity project include a proposal that would significantly change compilation literature. An exposure draft (ED) invites public comment on the proposals. The ED includes: A proposed, revised compilation standard that would
Private company VIE exception approved by PCC
A GAAP exception approved Tuesday by the Private Company Council (PCC) would exempt private companies from applying consolidation guidance for variable-interest entities (VIEs) under common-control leasing arrangements. Some changes were made from the original proposal, as the PCC struggled with concerns over the definition of “common control” and other issues.
Tax return preparers suspected of filing inaccurate EITC claims to be targeted by IRS
The IRS announced in an email to tax practitioners that it will send letters in November and December to return preparers “suspected of filing inaccurate EITC [earned income tax credit] claims” (Quick Alerts for Tax Professionals, Nov. 6, 2013). According to the IRS, the letters will explain “critical issues identified
GASB’s five things to watch in pension standards implementation
New financial reporting standards for pensions of U.S. state and local governments are among the most significant rules GASB has ever approved. The standards will place unfunded pension liabilities on the balance sheets of state and local governments that provide defined benefit pensions and call for immediate recognition of more
Prepare for new revenue guidance with six key actions
There may be some false comfort in the faraway implementation date of the proposed, converged financial reporting standard FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are in the final stages of developing. The standard, scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2014, would take effect for reporting
New guide helps navigate goodwill impairment testing challenges
Goodwill impairment testing has been a challenging area for many financial statement preparers since the issuance in 2001 of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Subtopic 350-20 (formerly FASB Statement No. 142). A FASB Accounting Standards Update issued in September 2011 was designed to make this topic easier for preparers. The
Permanent injunction closes large tax preparation firm
A federal district court in Ohio has issued a permanent injunction ordering ITS Financial LLC, the parent company of Instant Tax Service tax franchiser, to cease operations (ITS Financial LLC, No. 3:12-cv-95 (S.D. Ohio 11/6/13). The order, which was issued as a result of a two-week trial in June, also
FASB proposes eliminating “development stage entity” distinction
A new FASB proposal seeks to eliminate the designation of “development stage entity,” as well as related disclosure requirements, from U.S. GAAP. FASB on Thursday issued a Proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that originated with the Private Company Council (PCC) and was expanded in scope to include public and private
Affordable Care Act holds opportunities, challenges for internal auditors
Health care regulations associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), P.L. 111-148, have created new opportunities for internal auditors. But internal auditors may need to get more familiar with PPACA’s provisions to help their organizations understand the risks associated with the law and their organization’s preparedness to
PCAOB establishing Center for Economic Analysis
The PCAOB is establishing a Center for Economic Analysis to advise the board on how economic theory, analysis, and tools can enhance the effectiveness of the board’s programs. University of Chicago economist Luigi Zingales will be the founding director of the center, which will promote and encourage economic research related
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