The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said suspicious activity reports (SARs) categorized as Terrorist Financing and BSA/Structuring/Money Laundering rose considerably in 2010 compared with 2009. Terrorist Financing SARs rose 30%; Money Laundering filings, after declining in 2009, increased 9%. The SAR Activity Review—By the Numbers, Issue 16, said
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Tax Court Rejects Taxpayer’s Argument That Denial of Accounting Method Change Was Arbitrary
The Tax Court held that the IRS’ rejection of a taxpayer’s accounting method change request was not the result of an “automatic rejection policy” and that the IRS acted within its proper discretion in denying the request (Lattice Semiconductor Corp. v. Commissioner, TC Memo 2011-100). The taxpayer produced electronic components
IRS Responds to AICPA Accounting Software Examination Letter
In a March 29 letter from Patricia Thompson, chair of the AICPA’s Tax Executive Committee, to Chris Wagner, commissioner of the IRS’ Small Business/Self-Employed Division, the AICPA communicated its concerns regarding the Service’s program to request the accounting software files of certain small business taxpayers under examination; the letter cites
FASB Amends “Effective Control” Criteria for Repo Transactions
FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that it said is intended to improve financial reporting of repurchase agreements (“repos”) and other agreements that both entitle and obligate a transferor to repurchase or redeem financial assets before their maturity. The board said the amendments in ASU no. 2011-03, Transfers and
Featured Online Content for May 2011
FEATURED VIDEO China’s Accounting Landscape With a fast-growing economy powering demand for accountants, the Chinese government has made a commitment to spurring development in the accounting profession, says Winnie C.W. Cheung, chief executive and registrar of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. That initiative is designed to build
IRS Allows Deduction for Payments for Preferred Stock Used to Settle Bank’s Lawsuits
In a private letter ruling released on Friday, the IRS’ Office of Chief Counsel allowed a private bank catering to high-wealth individuals to deduct as ordinary and necessary trade or business expenses the payments it made to settle lawsuits arising from criminally fraudulent activities by one of the bank’s fund
AICPA Recommends Ways IRS Could Reduce Schedule M-3 Burdens
In a letter to Heather Maloy, commissioner of the IRS’ Large Business and International Division, Patricia Thompson, chair of the AICPA’s Tax Executive Committee, encouraged the IRS to collaborate with external stakeholders in revising Schedule M-3, Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation, and suggested some revisions to reduce taxpayers’ compliance burdens. The
SEC Report Recommends No New SOX 404(b) Exemptions
An SEC study of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act recommends no new exemptions to the requirements. The study by the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant was mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Its scope was restricted to companies with a market capitalization between
U.K. Bribery Act Requires New Precautions for Global Companies
The U.K. Bribery Act 2010 taking effect July 1 represents one of the biggest changes in global anticorruption law since the USA Patriot Act in 2001, but awareness of its provisions remains very low, according to a Deloitte webcast poll. While 78% of respondents who participated in the poll said
FASB Issues Goodwill Impairment Proposal
FASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed Accounting Standards Update intended to simplify how businesses are required to test goodwill for impairment. “Nonpublic companies have expressed concerns to the Board about the cost and complexity of performing the goodwill impairment test,” FASB member Daryl Buck said in a press
IASB and FASB Report Progress on Convergence
FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Thursday published a progress report on their joint convergence projects. Since their previous report in November, the boards have: Completed five projects. In the next few weeks, the IASB will issue new standards on consolidated financial statements (including disclosure of interests
IRS Issues Proposed Regulations on Controlled Group Deferred Losses
On Wednesday, the IRS issued proposed regulations on the time for taking into account deferred losses on the sale or exchange of property between members of a controlled group (REG-118761-09). Generally, for any loss on the sale or exchange of property between certain related persons, no deduction is allowed, except
SEC Forum to Address Benefits, Challenges of IFRS for U.S.
The SEC on Wednesday said it is hosting a round-table meeting July 7 to discuss benefits or challenges in potentially incorporating IFRS into the financial reporting system for U.S. issuers. The SEC said in a press release that the meeting will include three panels representing investors, smaller public companies, and
FASB, IASB Want Feedback on Convergence Burden, Timeline
FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) posted a survey online to collect views from users about the time and effort that will be involved in adopting several new standards and when those standards should be effective. The boards are seeking further input on these issues because, they said
IRS Extends, Modifies Program Allowing Truncated Social Security Numbers on Information Returns
The IRS announced that it is extending and modifying a pilot program designed to deter identity theft (Notice 2011-38). Under the program, which was introduced in 2009, filers of certain paper information returns are allowed to truncate the payee’s Social Security number on the payee statement. The notice extends the
AICPA’s Call for AMT Repeal, Simplification Strikes Chord With Lawmakers
Annette Nellen, chair of the AICPA Individual Income Taxation Technical Resource Panel, pleased some members of Congress when she repeated the AICPA’s support for repeal of the alternative minimum tax (AMT) in testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee on April 13. “That’s music to my ears,” veteran congressman
Podcast Summary of the Joint IASB/FASB Board Meeting, April 12–14, 2011
Editor’s note: The heads of FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) announced they will take “a few additional months” beyond their June target date to complete priority joint convergence projects on revenue recognition, leases, financial instruments and insurance. Below is a summary of their discussion. Also read “FASB,
FASB, IASB Announce Delay on Priority Projects
The heads of FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Thursday announced they will take “a few additional months” beyond their June target date to complete priority joint convergence projects on revenue recognition, leases, financial instruments and insurance. “Our next step is to lay out the plans for
President Signs Repeal of Expanded 1099 Requirements
On Thursday, President Barack Obama signed into law the Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011 (HR 4; 1099 Act), which repeals both the expanded Form 1099 information reporting requirements mandated by last year’s health care legislation and also the 1099 reporting requirements imposed
IRS Extends Guidance on Trustee Fees
The IRS announced that it is extending interim guidance on the treatment of investment advisory fees and other costs subject to the 2% floor under IRC § 67(a) (Notice 2011-37). Under the notice, nongrantor trusts and estates will not be required to unbundle their fiduciary fees to determine what portion
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FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Tax Court allows cattle ranch deductions
The Tax Court held that a Texas rancher operated with a profit motive, despite “troublingly large” losses more than 77 times his gross receipts from farming and ranching. Learn more in this Tax Matters article.
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