Accounting and financial reporting standards issued by FASB and GASB will be subject to a post-implementation review under a process announced Thursday. The Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF), the oversight body for the two standard setters, announced a review process it described as independent of the
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AICPA Comments on SEC Proposed Rule for Family Offices
The definition of a family office’s “family clients” must be inclusive enough to encompass all of the clients and arrangements that are typically present in a single-family office, the AICPA said. The suggestion was among comments submitted by the Institute on Tuesday on a proposed SEC rule defining family offices, part of
Multiemployer Gap Drives Up Pension Insurer’s Deficit
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) said its deficit increased to $23 billion at the end of fiscal 2010, a 5% increase over the $22 billion deficit recorded in 2009, and more than half of that increase was attributed to a growing gap in multiemployer plans, according to the 2010
ASB Issues Interpretation Regarding Insured Depository Institutions
The Auditing Standards Board has issued Interpretation no. 1, “Reporting Under Section 112 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act,” of AT section 501, An Examination of an Entity’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting That Is Integrated With an Audit of Its Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1).
FAF, FASB’s Parent Organization, Names Its First CEO
The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF), FASB’s parent organization on Tuesday approved the election of its first CEO, Teresa S. (Terri) Polley, who will also continue in her role as president of the organization. FAF is the independent, private-sector organization responsible for the oversight, administration, and finances of FASB, the Governmental
AICPA Urges Repeal of Expanded 1099 Reporting Requirements
In letters to members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the AICPA on Nov. 16 expressed its concerns about the compliance burdens being placed on businesses (including rental property owners) by recently expanded Form 1099 information-reporting requirements. The letters, signed by Patricia Thompson, CPA, chair of the AICPA’s
SEC Proposes Whistleblower Rule Pursuant to Dodd-Frank Reform
The SEC proposed a rule under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to create a whistleblower program that would reward individuals who provide the agency with high-quality tips that lead to successful enforcement actions. The SEC said in a press release that the proposal explains how would-be
New Rules Require Rental Property Owners to Issue 1099s
The recently enacted Small Business Jobs Act contained one provision that may have escaped the notice of taxpayers who own rental property, but will affect them starting in January. Under the provision, owners of property who receive rental income will be required to issue Forms 1099 to service providers for
Court Rules on Question of Wrongdoing Companies Seeking Damages From Auditors
Editor’s note: This is a report from AICPA General Counsel and Secretary Richard I. Miller, Esq. The New York Court of Appeals held recently that the in pari delicto (literally, “in equal fault”) defense is a complete bar to recovery of damages by a wrongdoing corporation against its outside auditors,
IFRS Foundation’s Future Strategy Open for Discussion
The trustees of the IFRS Foundation, the oversight body of the International Accounting Standards Board, on Friday published a first-stage consultation document to seek input on the foundation’s strategy as it enters its second decade. The trustees’ document, Status of Trustees’ Strategy Review, says the foundation has succeeded in establishing
CPA Profession Wins With New Members; Important Changes to Committees
Editor’s note: This report was compiled by the AICPA Congressional and Political Affairs Team All five CPAs won their re-election bids and three additional CPAs were added to the House in Tuesday’s congressional elections. Republican Reps. John Campbell of California, Michael Conaway of Texas and Lynn Jenkins of Kansas and Democratic
FASB Proposes Changes to Accounting for Repos
FASB issued an exposure draft Wednesday that seeks to improve the accounting for repurchase agreements (“repos”) and other agreements that both entitle and obligate a transferor to repurchase or redeem financial assets before their maturity. The amendments address concerns raised during the global economic crisis regarding the necessity and usefulness
Featured Online Content for November 2010
FEATURED VIDEO Performance-Based Compensation Accounting firms are increasingly using pay-for-performance to compensate their high performers. Compensation experts August Aquila and Coral Rice discuss key aspects of a pay-for-performance system, how it can benefit your firm and mistakes to avoid when implementing it. Also on journalofaccountancy.com, read ideas from the
SEC Releases Update on IFRS Plan
In a progress report released Friday, the SEC staff details its progress thus far and remaining research and analysis to be done as the commission considers whether, when and how to allow domestic issuers in the U.S. to use IFRS. The SEC staff’s first update draws no major conclusions. It
IASB’s Additions to IFRS 9 Address “Own Credit” Problem
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Thursday issued requirements on the accounting for financial liabilities that address the problem of volatility in profit and loss (P&L) arising when an issuer measures its own debt at fair value—often referred to as the “own credit” problem. According to a news release,
IRS Releases Some Annual Inflation Adjustments, Many Unchanged for 2011
The IRS released on Thursday its annual revenue procedure making inflation adjustments for various credits and other tax items (Revenue Procedure 2010-40). However, unlike in past years, the guidance does not include updated tax rate tables or updated amounts for the child tax credit, Hope scholarship and lifetime learning credits,
IRS Commissioner Predicts Relief From Testing and Continuing Education for CPA-Supervised Nonsigning Preparers
The IRS will likely provide relief from testing and continuing education requirements for nonsigning tax preparers working under the supervision of a CPA or other federally authorized tax practitioner, such as an attorney or enrolled agent, in a CPA or other professional firm, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said Tuesday. In
IRS Provides PTIN Guidance for Preparers Without a Social Security Number
In Revenue Procedure 2010-41, released on Tuesday, the IRS has provided a process for individuals without a Social Security number to obtain a preparer tax identification number (PTIN). Paid tax return preparers are required to register with the IRS and obtain a PTIN, and part of the PTIN registration process
FASB Seeking Input on the Costs of Convergence
FASB issued a discussion paper to gather input from stakeholders about the time and effort that will be involved in adapting to several anticipated new accounting and reporting standards and when those standards, which are part of the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) convergence projects, should be effective.
Paul Stahlin Begins Term as AICPA Chair
The economic turmoil of the past 24 months has driven demand for new business practices, new regulations, new oversight and new solutions, newly elected AICPA Chairman Paul Stahlin said Tuesday in his inaugural address to the Institute’s governing Council. “We have been finding solutions for more than 100 years,” he
Features
FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Accountancy in America: Meeting the moment for 250 years
As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, explore the history of the accountancy profession’s essential role in the U.S. economy.
