On Monday, the IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2013-34, providing the rules under which taxpayers can obtain equitable innocent spouse relief from joint liability under Sec. 66(c) or 6015(f). Married couples who file joint returns are jointly liable for their federal income tax liability, while married couples who live in community
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Repair regulations are finally issued
On Friday, the IRS issued long-awaited final (T.D. 9636) and proposed regulations regarding the treatment of expenditures incurred in acquiring, producing, or improving tangible assets, including rules on determining whether costs related to tangible property are deductible repairs or capital improvements. The IRS noted that it had received many comments
Big changes in store for FASB, Golden says
FASB Chairman Russell Golden on Thursday described plans to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the board’s operations. Golden provided wide-ranging remarks about FASB’s future as he spoke at a one-day conference in New York City celebrating the board’s 40th anniversary. He said the board needs to evaluate its agenda
FASB seeks to simplify reporting for development-stage entities
FASB voted Wednesday to propose changes designed to improve the relevance and reduce the complexity of development-stage entity financial reporting. The board expects to issue an exposure draft (ED) by the end of October that would apply to public and private entities. During a July 16 meeting, the Private Company
How finance and accounting can boost innovation
Five years ago, Jimmy Keeter, CPA, was concerned about what he saw after performing a worst-case scenario analysis on the trucking operations of Daylight Donut Flour Co. of Tulsa, Okla., which he serves as CFO. The company, which provides ingredients and equipment to licensed doughnut shop operators in 38 states
Preventive health services with no deductible qualify as high-deductible health plans
In its latest guidance on health care rules, the IRS issued a notice on Monday clarifying that preventive health services that are provided without a deductible under a health insurance plan will not disqualify a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) (Notice 2013-57). Under Sec. 223, individuals who participate in a health
IASB chair states case for leases on balance sheets
With the comment deadline on the converged lease accounting proposal just days away, International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) Chairman Hans Hoogervorst reiterated his support for the proposal that would put leases on company balance sheets. Friday is the deadline for public comment on a proposal by the IASB and FASB
Hiring optimism up among U.S. finance professionals
U.S. companies expect to make more money, and spend more of it, in the year ahead—and that could translate into more jobs. At the same time, finance executives’ outlook of the overall economy has cooled. Those are the key takeaways from the third-quarter Business & Industry Economic Outlook Survey, released
IRS explains Sec. 179 qualified real property allocations and procedures for filing amended returns
On Tuesday, the IRS released Notice 2013-59, explaining how the retroactive extension of the Sec. 179 rules under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), P.L. 112-240, operates when applied to qualified real property and how to allocate the portion of gain attributable to the qualified real property upon
Health coverage information reporting requirements guidance issued
The IRS on Friday issued two related proposed regulation projects on health care coverage reporting requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148. One set of proposed regulations gives guidance to providers of minimum essential health coverage that are subject to the information-reporting requirements of Sec. 6055
Proposed regulations change definition of R&D expenditures
In proposed regulations issued on Thursday, the IRS provided guidance on the treatment under Sec. 174 of research and development (R&D) expenditures incurred in connection with the development of tangible property, including pilot models (REG-124148-05). The proposed changes would, among other things, settle the question of whether the sale of
Final rules remove “credit ratings” from regulations
The IRS on Thursday issued final regulations that remove all references to and all requirements of reliance on “credit ratings” from Treasury regulations (T.D. 9637). The regulations provide substitute standards of creditworthiness. They finalize rules that were issued in temporary form in 2011 to meet requirements mandated by the Dodd-Frank
Regulations clarify treatment of a debt instrument under straddle rules
On Wednesday, the IRS issued identical temporary (T.D. 9635) and proposed regulations (REG-111753-12) to clarify the treatment of debt instruments that are part of a straddle. The regulations provide guidance for when an issuer’s obligation under a debt instrument may be a position in actively traded personal property, in which
FASB’s Investor Advisory Committee opposes leases proposal
The converged proposal on financial reporting for leases continues to face resistance with the deadline for comment letters little more than one week away. FASB’s Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) last week declined to support the proposal, stating that the proposal is not an improvement to current accounting. And the Equipment
Final regulations attack artificially generated foreign tax credits
The IRS issued final regulations on determining the amount of taxes paid for purposes of the foreign tax credit (T.D. 9634). The regulations are designed to curb certain transactions that the IRS says “produce inappropriate foreign tax credit results.” They finalize proposed regulations issued in 2011 with no substantive change
FASB releases proposed 2014 U.S. GAAP taxonomy
FASB released its proposed 2014 U.S. GAAP Financial Reporting Taxonomy on Friday. The taxonomy consists of a list of computer-readable financial reporting labels coded in XBRL. The proposal contains updates for accounting standards and other recommended improvements to the official taxonomy, which is used by public issuers registered with the
Which accounting framework should a private company use?
Multiple options for private company financial reporting have emerged this year as standard setters, the AICPA, and other organizations have sought to reduce complexity and costs for small business owners. A new tool developed by the AICPA provides guidelines to help privately held businesses determine which accounting framework best meets
IRS proposes increased user fees for installment agreements, offers in compromise
On Thursday, the IRS issued proposed regulations to raise user fees for installment agreements from $105 to $120 and for offers in compromise from $150 to $186. The new fees are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2014 (REG-144990-12). The user fees have not been raised since 2007 for installment
All legal same-sex marriages to be recognized for tax purposes, IRS says
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision invalidating a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the Treasury Department and IRS announced on Thursday that “same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.” The IRS also
Many U.S. adults don’t understand basic health insurance terms
Many U.S. adults lack a basic understanding of common financial terms found in health insurance plans as they face critical decisions about their future coverage, according to an AICPA survey. More than half of respondents (51%) could not accurately identify at least one of the following terms: premium, deductible, and
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