With uncertainty and caution about money common, it’s important to have a firm grasp on spending habits and other aspects of personal finance. A survey shed light on the mood, and the AICPA offered advice for managing financial stress as part of National Financial Literacy Month.
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Baker Tilly, Moss Adams merge to create 6th-largest US CPA firm
The deal, which includes private-equity investments, is expected to close in June. The Baker Tilly CEO will serve as leader of the combined firm until his retirement at the end of the year.
Faulkender named fourth acting IRS commissioner this year
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Michael Faulkender, who was confirmed as deputy Treasury secretary at the end of March, will step in to lead the IRS temporarily.
Basis-shifting transaction-of-interest regulations to be removed
The announcement by Treasury and the IRS is a reversal from January regulations. Thursday’s notice provides immediate relief from penalties under Secs. 6707A(a), 6707(a), and 6708 for any failure by participants or material advisers to file disclosure statements required by the regulations.
Financial Accounting Foundation issues annual report
FAF report highlights recent FASB and GASB actions and updates its strategic plan published three years ago.
AICPA backs bill that would add accounting to STEM program
The bipartisan bill would make accounting part of STEM, a federally funded program for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
Business advocacy group seeks destruction of millions of BOI records
The National Federation of Independent Business said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that millions of beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports filed by domestic companies before the government dropped the BOI requirement should be destroyed.
Uniform nonresident state income tax, withholding rules get AICPA support
A Senate bill would bar states from imposing tax and withholding on out-of-state workers who work for no more than 30 days within its borders. An AICPA letter described the bill as “critically important.”
IRS can make it easier to leave assets to younger generations, AICPA says
In a letter to the IRS, the AICPA recommended changes to the final regulations for generation-skipping transfer (GST) exemption and certain GST elections that it said would make it easier and less expensive for taxpayers to file.
IRS offers 3 voluntary separation programs as RIF gains steam
The programs include one open to the workers with the most seniority and a renewal of the previous deferred resignation program.
Pandemic-era ERC started with good intentions, ending with frustration
Congress authorized the employee retention credit, which ends April 15, to help businesses suffering in the throes of COVID-19. The arrival of promoters and ERC mills brought headaches for the IRS.
Retirement snapshot: 3 things to know about the average pre-retiree
Workers dreaming about the day they will retire reveal what circumstances they daydream about and what nightmares they hope to avoid while continuing to redefine what it means to retire in America.
IRS: 7,000 probationary workers will return to their jobs in next 10 days
“I’m just riding the government roller coaster,” says one worker, who lost her job in February, was placed on administrative leave in March, and plans to return to work later this month.
Bills dealing with tax administration, disaster victims pass House
The AICPA endorsed four of the six bills, all of which passed with bipartisan support and were forwarded to the Senate.
SEC ends legal defense of its climate rules
After a vote Thursday, the acting chair of the SEC described The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors as “unnecessarily intrusive.”
As time runs out for pandemic-era ERC, IRS adds 5 FAQs
The FAQs, which deal mainly with how to handle the employee retention credit on tax returns under various scenarios, are not authoritative but do provide some answers to questions about the expiration of the statute of limitation, an AICPA & CIMA tax practice and ethics manager said.
BOI reporting changes don’t affect CTA’s constitutionality, filing says
In a brief filed in the Eleventh Circuit, the federal government said the move to remove the beneficial ownership filing requirement for domestic companies does not affect the constitutionality of the Corporate Transparency Act.
AICPA, CalCPA jointly call for clarity regarding California climate rule
The organizations, on behalf of CPAs, responded to a request for feedback from the California Air Resources Board with recommendations related to guidance on the reporting and assurance requirements of recent legislation.
Amendment clarifies CPAs’ financial statement preparation engagements
The AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee approved an update to SSARS No. 21, clarifying that practitioners are not required to apply AR-C Section 70 when financial statements are prepared as part of a consulting engagement. The practical implication is that the engagement would not be required to be subjected to quality management standards or peer review.
AICPA recommends prop. regs. changes for some retirement savings plans
The AICPA submitted comments to Treasury and the IRS with recommended changes to proposed regulations for automatic enrollment requirements for most newly established 401(k) and 403(b) plans under the SECURE 2.0 Act.
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Flip out with the latest Tech Q&A
The September Technology Q&A column shows how to create dynamic to-do lists with Excel's checkboxes and also how to set up multifactor authentication texts that don't rely on phones. Flip through both items and view a video walkthrough in our digital format.
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