February 2020

February 27, 2020

FAF appoints Auchincloss to serve as executive director

The Financial Accounting Foundation selected John Auchincloss, who had been serving as acting president following Terri Polley’s departure, for the foundation’s executive director post.

February 26, 2020

Supreme Court overturns consolidated group tax refund allocation rule

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Bob Richards rule for allocating tax refunds among members of a consolidated group, holding that state law is well equipped to decide the matter.

February 25, 2020

Accounting profession leaders call for action against climate change

Accounting body leaders from across the globe issued a call for action urging accounting professionals to put the fight against climate change at the forefront of their work.

February 24, 2020

Proposed regs. issued on meal and entertainment expense deductions

The IRS issued proposed rules clarifying that taxpayers may generally continue to deduct 50% of the food and beverage expenses associated with operating their trade or business, despite changes to the meal and entertainment expense deduction under Sec. 274.

February 21, 2020

GASB proposes criteria for financial statement disclosures

GASB issued a proposed concepts statement that would establish new criteria for what state and local governments should disclose in the notes to their financial statements.

February 21, 2020

FASAB clarifies loss allowance for intragovernmental receivables

A technical bulletin issued by the FASAB clarified accounting guidance for federal governmental entities on the loss allowance for intragovernmental receivables.

February 19, 2020

AICPA requests clarity on Sec. 465 reporting relief

The AICPA has asked Treasury and the IRS to clarify that reporting relief on certain reporting under Sec. 465 will also apply to S corporations.

February 18, 2020

No need to report some transactions in video game currency, IRS says

Gamers who, as part of a video game, transact in virtual currencies that do not leave the video game environment do not have to report the transactions on a tax return, the IRS made clear in a statement released on its website.

February 12, 2020

FASB to propose private company expedient for share-based payment accounting

Accounting for employee share-based compensation could become less complex for private companies after FASB endorsed the decision by the Private Company Council to propose a practical expedient for nonpublic entities.

February 12, 2020

IRS proposes rules to update income tax withholding, revises Form W-4

The IRS proposed new regulations for withholding on individuals’ wages to reflect the statutory changes in the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including the elimination of the personal exemption.

February 11, 2020

ARSC further converges SSARSs with international standards and aligns closer with GAAS

The AICPA’s Accounting and Review Services Committee issued a new Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) that further converges the standards for reviews of financial statements in AICPA Professional Standards with international standards for such engagements.

February 10, 2020

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

AI risks CPAs should know

Are you ready for the AI revolution in accounting? This JofA Technology Q&A article explores the top risks CPAs face—from hallucinations to deepfakes—and ways to mitigate them.