On Friday, the Supreme Court of Illinois held that Illinois’s click-through nexus law is expressly preempted by the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), P.L. 105-277, which prohibits states from imposing discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce (Performance Marketing Ass’n v. Hamer, No. 114496 (Ill. 10/18/13)). The Illinois law (35 Ill.
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Private company initiatives making progress
David Morgan, CPA/PFS, said members of the Tennessee Bankers Association seemed pleased earlier this fall after he gave a presentation about the features of the AICPA’s Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities (FRF for SMEs). “Once … it was explained to them, that it was a good alternative,
A leadership tutorial from education innovator Sal Khan
Sal Khan’s story has many of the markings of a classic Silicon Valley narrative. Khan, an investment analyst working in Boston at a hedge fund, in 2004 began using Yahoo Doodle and phone calls to tutor a faraway cousin struggling with math. That evolved into posting simple video lessons on
Six trends that are reshaping business
Accountants excel at analyzing numbers and developing strategies based off them. The way University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor James Johnson, Ph.D., sees it, the numbers describing the demographics of the United States leave accountants little choice today but to embrace diversity and new business practices. Johnson spoke
Commission to survey accounting profession’s diversity climate
An AICPA-led body plans to gather perspectives on the profession’s views on diversity and inclusion through a survey and provide a new best practices resource for firms that are developing diversity initiatives. The recently formed AICPA National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion is charged with developing methods to help the
Smart ways to tap accountants’ business process acumen
It’s not unusual for organizations to run into problems when they implement business solutions. Some organizations cannot launch the software at all. Others struggle with cost overruns or lose revenue because a software malfunction, inadequate training, or improper configuration leads to business interruptions, said Bob Gaby, CPA/CITP, CGMA, principal of
IRS and Tax Court reopen after government shutdown; PTIN renewals delayed
After President Barack Obama signed the bill reopening the federal government and raising the debt limit, the IRS posted a notice on its website Thursday morning notifying workers to report to work no later than four hours after “the start of their tour of duty that begins at 6 a.m.
Government shutdown, debt ceiling deal includes one tax provision
Wednesday’s deal to fund the federal government through Jan. 15 and to extend the federal government’s borrowing authority through Feb. 7 in the end contained only one tax provision, making a minor change to 2010’s health care legislation. The agreement, H.R. 2775, was passed by the Senate in a 81–18
UK regulator creates 10-year retendering requirement
Companies in the U.K. FTSE 350 will be required to place their audit contracts out for bid every 10 years under new rules announced Tuesday by the U.K. Competition Commission (CC). The rules represent a softening of the five-year mandatory retendering proposed earlier by the CC. Some businesses and regulators,
AICPA committee calls for different dividing line on leases
An AICPA committee has suggested that FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) create a dividing line between Type A and Type B leases that is different from the line the boards proposed. In a letter submitted to the boards Monday, the AICPA Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) supported
Survey shows mixed report on progress for women in finance careers
A new survey presents mixed views on the progress women have made in the past 10 years in their ability to advance in the finance field. More than half (53%) of CFOs say there has been no change in women’s ability to advance in careers in the finance field in
Salaries, demand on the rise for U.S. accounting professionals
Starting salaries for finance professionals in the United States continue to show signs of growth, and hiring demand for recent college graduates is on the rise. Meanwhile, the CPA designation is employers’ most sought-after credential, according to a new guide on salaries. Average starting salaries for jobs in corporate accounting
Federal courts to stay open through Oct. 17
The federal judiciary announced on Thursday that federal courts will remain open through Thursday, Oct. 17, unless the government shutdown is resolved and court funding is restored before then. When the federal government first shut down on Oct. 1, the federal judiciary estimated that between fees and federal appropriations that
PCAOB approves standards for auditors of broker-dealers
The PCAOB on Thursday approved new standards for auditors of brokers and dealers. Two new attestation standards are designed to help protect customer funds by establishing rules for examinations and reviews of compliance information that broker-dealers submit to the SEC. A new auditing standard applies to procedures performed and reporting
ARSC to propose new preparation, compilation, association standards
From Staff Reports Three new standards the AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC) voted Thursday to propose would help practitioners clearly distinguish between preparation and reporting services. ARSC voted to expose for public comment proposals titled Preparation of Financial Statements, Compilation Engagements, and Association With Financial Statements. An exposure
Five key objectives for in-demand internal auditors
The perception of internal audit as a function that can add value in addition to enforcing compliance is placing importance on several objectives for internal auditors. “I think the expectation from the executive suite has increased,” PwC’s Walter Smiechewicz, CPA, said in a telephone interview. “And they are looking for
IRS not issuing liens or levies, enforcement actions limited, during shutdown
The IRS updated its website to notify taxpayers that, during the current government shutdown, the IRS is not sending out liens or levies either generated automatically or sent by personnel. Taxpayers may still receive notices of liens or levies with October mailing dates, the IRS says, but these notices were
Federal impasse could crush investor confidence, survey shows
The federal government shutdown and the lack of congressional agreement on raising the debt ceiling have the potential to crush investor confidence, according to a new Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) survey. If the shutdown lasts another week, investor confidence in U.S. capital markets would shrink to 60% from 69%,
Big Ten tops all conferences in producing CFOs
The Big Ten is America’s power conference when it comes to producing chief financial officers, according to a recent report from Crist|Kolder Associates. The report found that 69 of the CFOs at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies received undergraduate degrees from the Big Ten, the most of any conference.
PCAOB to consider adopting broker-dealer audit standards
The PCAOB will meet at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to consider adopting attestation standards for auditors of brokers and dealers. A new standard on auditing supplemental information that accompanies financial statements audited in accordance with PCAOB standards also will be considered. If approved, the new standards for auditors of brokers and
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