James Kroeker, the SEC’s chief accountant since January 2009, will step down in July to enter the private sector. Kroeker, who joined the SEC in 2007 as deputy chief accountant, served as staff director of the agency’s study of fair value accounting standards, which was mandated by Congress in 2008.
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Deadline approaching for Private Company Council nominations
Less than two weeks remain to nominate candidates to serve on the new Private Company Council (PCC) that will identify and vote on differences in U.S. GAAP for private companies. The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) board of trustees, which will oversee the PCC, is forming the new council and has
PTPs can use safe harbor to determine COD income that is “qualifying income”
In Rev. Proc. 2012-28, the IRS issued a safe harbor for publicly traded partnerships (PTPs) that want to avoid corporate taxation by qualifying under Sec. 7704(c) as partnerships with 90% or more of their income from qualifying sources. Under the safe harbor, the IRS will not challenge a PTP’s determination
IRS issues rules on portability election
The IRS has issued temporary regulations on how to elect to use a deceased spouse’s unused exclusion from estate taxes, also known as the portability election (T.D. 9593). The rules apply to married spouses where the death of the first spouse to die occurs on or after Jan. 1, 2011,
TPAs provide guidance on issues in auditor’s reports, compilation reports
The AICPA has issued technical guidance on emphasis paragraphs in the auditor’s reports and on independence impairment in compilation reports. Technical Inquiry and Reply (TPA) 9160.28 regards combining going-concern emphasis with another emphasis-of-matter paragraph. This TPA explains that although AU Section 508, Reports on Audited Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards),
Decision on lessee model clears way for lease accounting project’s final act
Accounting standard setters agreed Wednesday on a lessee accounting approach, setting the stage for a lease accounting exposure draft in the fourth quarter this year. FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board previously agreed that leases should be recorded on the balance sheet, but have been debating the classification and
Proposed regs. on basis for S corporation shareholders from bona fide indebtedness
On Monday, the IRS issued proposed regulations on the contentious subject of when an S corporation shareholder can increase his or her basis in the S corporation’s stock, based on loans to the corporation, and thereby increase the amount of the corporation’s losses and deductions the shareholder can recognize (REG-134042-07).
Eleventh Circuit says PTIN user fees are valid
The Eleventh Circuit held that the fee the IRS charges to issue preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) to tax return preparers, who are required to use the PTINs on returns they prepare, is valid because the PTIN confers a special benefit on the preparers: the privilege to prepare tax returns
IRS issues regulations on “expatriated entities” under Sec. 7874
On Thursday, the IRS issued temporary regulations governing whether a foreign corporation has “substantial business activities” in the foreign country in which, or under the law of which, the corporation is created or organized, compared to the total business activities of the expanded affiliated group (T.D. 9592). At the same
FASB nears vote on impairment testing of certain intangible assets
After reviewing a staff analysis of comment letters on its exposure draft on intangibles, FASB decided Wednesday to move forward with several of the concepts in the document and prepare the standard for a vote. The board also made progress on public company subsidiaries and employee benefit plans in its
Execs less optimistic about hiring, U.S. economy, AICPA survey shows
Lower hiring expectations and a steep drop in optimism about the U.S. economy summed up the uncertain mood of CPA financial executives who took part in the AICPA’s Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey for the second quarter of 2012. Optimism about the U.S. economy dropped significantly after rising for
AICPA reporting framework for SMEs expected early in 2013
The reporting framework the AICPA is developing for small and medium-size private companies, which will blend accrual income tax methods with other traditional methods of accounting, will be exposed for public comment this fall and is expected to be ready for use in 2013. In May, the AICPA announced plans
Refusal to refund sewer assessments is not Equal Protection violation, Supreme Court holds
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Indianapolis’s refusal to refund sewer assessments paid in a lump sum by residents to fund a sewer project did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution because the city had a rational basis for distinguishing between those who had
Health Care Expert Panel hosting webinar
Members of the AICPA Health Care Expert Panel will hold a live webinar June 7 at 11 a.m. EDT on the first comprehensive revision of the Health Care Entities Guide since 1996. Although the scope remains unchanged, the guide has been organized into 15 chapters, and the content has been
CFOs report difficulty finding accounting and finance talent
Staffing levels in corporate accounting and finance are expected to remain stable in the third quarter, according to a recent survey of CFOs. But the same executives increasingly are reporting difficulty finding qualified professionals. Sixty-nine percent of U.S. CFOs surveyed for the staffing services firm Robert Half’s Professional Employment Report
Appeals court invalidates associated property rule in capitalization regulations
In a case of first impression, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (reversing the Court of Federal Claims) held that the “associated property” rule requiring capitalization of interest expense under Sec. 263A was invalid insofar as it applies to property temporarily withdrawn from service (Dominion Resources, Inc., No.
Technology and CPAs: The full survey
Editor’s note: Also read, “Technology and CPAs: Visions of the future” in the June 2012 JofA. JofA: What do you foresee being the most important technologies CPAs will use in their jobs over the next decade? Bezugly: Whether they are client portals, mobile apps, or cloud computing, technologies that continue
Data breaches emerge as tech sector’s fastest-rising risk factor
Concerns over technology breaches and data security are soaring among the largest U.S. tech companies, according to a new report from accounting and consulting firm BDO. An examination of the most recent SEC 10-K filings for the 100 biggest publicly traded technology companies found that 71% listed data-security breaches as
First Circuit strikes down Defense of Marriage Act but stays tax remedies
The First Circuit Court of Appeals declared part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional on Thursday, upholding a Massachusetts federal district court decision (Massachusetts v. United States Dep’t of Health and Human Servs., No. 10-2204 (1st Cir. 5/31/12), aff’g Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, 699 F. Supp.
Guidance issued on new $2,500 FSA limit
The IRS on Wednesday released Notice 2012-40 providing guidance on implementation by employers of the $2,500 annual limit on employee salary reduction contributions to health flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs). The notice also requests comments on possible changes to the current “use-or-lose” rules for health FSAs. The $2,500 limit, enacted
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