Calling the risks of not moving forward with IFRS for U.S. issuers “simply too great,” SEC Commissioner Kathleen Casey said the SEC “must decide to incorporate IFRS for U.S. issuers.” Addressing the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals’ 65th Annual Conference on Wednesday, Casey said that the SEC “can
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The Most Popular Stories of 2011 (So Far)
Use this list of the most popular articles to catch up on important news you may have missed in the past six months. Here are the Top 10 most popular articles from the JofA’s January through June print editions, based on the clicks they received on journalofaccountancy.com: “Maximizing Tax Season
AICPA Conference Tackles Hot Global Business Issues
As the world continues to grow closer together, the role that accountants play in helping companies develop and manage new global business opportunities will increase. This was a key theme of the AICPA’s International Business Conference held June 13–15 in New York City. Attended by more than 200 accounting and
National Taxpayer Advocate Warns Against IRS Budget Cuts
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson warned Congress on Wednesday that cuts in the IRS budget could hurt the federal government’s ability to collect revenue and may result in harm to taxpayers. In her Fiscal Year 2012 Objectives Report to Congress, Olson asserts that recession-related legislation such as the
IRS Addresses Tax Treatment of Tax-Free Exchanges of Annuities
The IRS, in Revenue Procedure 2011-38, has given taxpayers guidance on the tax treatment of exchanges of annuity contracts under IRC §§ 72 and 1035. Under IRC § 1035(a)(3), taxpayers generally recognize no gain or loss when they exchange one annuity contract for another annuity contract. Congress provided this tax-free
FASAB: Changes Would Fix Confusion Over “Earmarking”
The Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) issued a proposal Wednesday that would modify the definition of earmarked funds in Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS) no. 27. One key amendment in the exposure draft would change the term “earmarked funds” to “funds from dedicated collections.” The ED, Revisions
SEC Issues Rules on Investment Advisers Act Amendments, “Family Offices”
The SEC on Wednesday approved two sets of proposed rules to implement amendments to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 that were included in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The first set of rules requires advisers to hedge funds and other private funds to register with
IRS Finalizes Automatic Five-Month Extension for Partnership, Trust and Estate Returns
Final regulations set the time for automatic extensions of partnership, trust and estate income tax returns at five months (TD 9531). Under this rule, the extended returns and Schedules K-1 for partners and beneficiaries will generally be due Sept. 15. The regulations also provide for an automatic six-month extension for
IASB Proposes Several IFRS Amendments
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Wednesday published an exposure draft of proposed amendments to five IFRSs under its annual improvements project. The IASB said in a press release that the proposed amendments reflect issues discussed by the IASB in the project cycle that began in 2009. The ED
House Passes Bill With Tax Patent Provision, Sends Back to Senate
On Thursday, by a vote of 304–117, the House of Representatives passed the America Invents Act (H.R. 1249), which includes a provision intended to stop the granting of patents for tax strategies. The bill would deem any “strategy for reducing, avoiding, or deferring tax liability” to be prior art, and
IRS Raises Standard Mileage Rate for Second Half of 2011
In response to rising gasoline prices, the IRS has raised the standard mileage rate for business use of an automobile from 51 cents per mile to 55½ per mile, effective July 1 (Announcement 2011-40). The medical and moving standard mileage rate is increasing to 23½ per mile, also on July
FASB Launches XBRL Taxonomy Online Review and Comment System
FASB launched a new online system that makes it easier for stakeholders to review and provide input to its team on XBRL development taxonomy. The Taxonomy Online Review and Comment System enables organizations and individuals to submit comments directly to FASB, increasing convenience and ease of use. All comments are
IRS Publishes Interim Guidance on Stock Basis Reporting
On Wednesday, the IRS issued interim guidance on issues relating to the basis of stock subject to broker reporting (Notice 2011-56). The guidance responds to stakeholder comments received in response to final regulations on the topic issued last year (TD 9504). The IRS says it plans to issue proposed regulations
AICPA Survey Tracks IFRS Readiness
The large majority of CPAs in the United States have some knowledge of IFRS—the emerging, globally accepted set of accounting rules, according to a recent AICPA survey. The survey also indicated that many CPAs have begun to develop greater expertise, as American and world authorities work to converge U.S. standards
U.K. Government White Paper Calls for Tracking Green Losses, Gains
The U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) presented a white paper on the environment to Parliament June 7 that calls for the creation of an annual statement of green accounts showing what the British economy has withdrawn from nature versus what’s been invested in it. This approach
IRS Suspends Foreign Asset, Passive Foreign Investment Company Information Reporting Rules
The IRS announced on Tuesday that it is suspending the information reporting requirements for certain individuals with foreign assets and shareholders of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) under IRC §§ 6038D and 1298(f) (Notice 2011-55). The requirement will be suspended until the IRS releases Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign
PCAOB Considers Four Approaches to Changing Auditor’s Report
The PCAOB issued a concept release Tuesday on possible changes to the auditor’s reporting model including the addition of an auditor’s discussion and analysis (AD&A), mandatory emphasis paragraphs, assurance on non-GAAP information and clarification of standard language. A fact sheet issued with the release summarizes each of the possible changes.
FinCEN Grants Another FBAR Extension for Some Individuals
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on Friday released Notice 2011-2, which gives another small subset of individuals with only signature authority over certain foreign financial accounts who are required to file Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), with respect to those
FASB, IASB Align Presentation of Other Comprehensive Income
FASB on Thursday issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that the board said is intended to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income in financial statements and to facilitate convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS. Simultaneously, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued amendments to IAS 1, Presentation of Financial
IASB Amendments Zoom In on Post-Employment Liabilities
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued an amended version of IAS 19, Employee Benefits, that the board said completes its project to improve the accounting for pensions and other post-employment benefits and further aligns IFRS and U.S. GAAP by eliminating the so-called “corridor method.” The IASB said the amendments
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