Despite fluctuating markets over the past year, individual investors remain confident in investing in publicly traded U.S. companies and in their audited financial information, according to the fourth annual “Main Street Investor Survey,” released Thursday by the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ). For the third consecutive year, 75% of respondents
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IRS Issues Proposed Regs Requiring Disclosure of Uncertain Tax Positions
The IRS issued proposed regulations (REG-119046-10) that would require certain business taxpayers to report uncertain tax positions on their tax returns. The regulations are the latest step in an initiative the IRS launched in January with the release of Announcement 2010-9. In April, the IRS released a draft Schedule UTP,
Draft Form for Small Business Health Insurance Credit Released
The IRS on Tuesday issued a draft form for businesses to use in figuring and claiming the new small business health insurance credit, starting this year. Draft Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums, leads taxpayers through the steps of determining the number of full-time equivalent employees, average
AICPA Issues Technical Practice Aid on Subsequent Events
The AICPA’s Audit and Attest Standards staff has issued Technical Practice Aid 8700.03, “Auditor’s Responsibilities for Subsequent Events Relative to a Conduit Debt Obligor.” The TPA provides guidance on the effect of FASB Accounting Standards Update no. 2010-09 on ASC Topic 855, Subsequent Events, regarding the auditor’s responsibilities for subsequent
PCAOB to Host Round-Table Meeting, Extend Comment Period on Communications with Audit Committees
The PCAOB announced Tuesday that it will hold a public round-table meeting regarding its proposed standard on auditors’ communications with audit committees, and that it is reopening the comment period on the proposal until Oct. 21, 2010. “The Sarbanes-Oxley Act strengthens the audit committee’s oversight of the audit process, and
Treasury Announces Low-Cost Financial Account Program for Taxpayers
In a move that may cut down on the use of refund anticipation loans (RALs), the Treasury Department announced on Thursday the launch of a pilot program to provide taxpayers with access to low-cost financial accounts. This is the second action in the past month the Treasury Department has taken
Featured Online Content for September 2010
FEATURED VIDEO Tax Software Survey Analysis In this video, JofA Senior Editor Alexandra DeFelice discusses what more than 12,000 CPAs had to say about their tax preparation software and provides analysis of some tax software trends to watch. Also on journalofaccountancy.com, find more information about each tax preparation software vendor,
FASB Proposes Expanded Disclosures on Multiemployer Pensions
FASB issued an exposure draft that sets forth proposed disclosures that the board believes would help users of financial statements better assess the potential risks faced by employers participating in multiemployer plans. FASB said the Proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU), Proposed Improvements to Disclosures about an Employer’s Participation in a
Proposed Amendments Ease First-Time Adoption of IFRS
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Thursday published proposed amendments to IFRS 1, First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. The proposal would amend IFRS 1 by replacing references to a fixed transition date of “1 January 2004” with “the date of transition to IFRS.” As a result, entities
FASB Loss Disclosures Proposal Conflicts With AICPA-ABA Agreement
The AICPA’s Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) told FASB in a comment letter issued Monday that it has concerns about auditors’ ability to corroborate information on loss contingencies with the client’s legal counsel until the AICPA and the American Bar Association can update a longstanding agreement that details information attorneys
AICPA Testifies at IRS Hearing on User Fee Regulations
Edward Karl, the AICPA’s vice president of taxation, testified Tuesday at an IRS hearing on proposed regulations relating to the user fee aspect of the Service’s proposal to require all paid tax return preparers to obtain a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) and use it on all tax returns after
FASB Will Get New Leadership, Bigger Board
Bob Herz is retiring as FASB’s chairman. Fellow board member Leslie Seidman has been appointed acting chairman, effective Oct. 1, according to a press release issued by the Financial Accounting Foundation, FASB’s parent organization. Along with the leadership change, FAF announced that FASB is reverting from its current five member
IRS Finalizes Regs on Tentative Carryback Adjustments
The IRS on Monday released final regulations under IRC § 6411 providing guidance on the computation and allowance of tentative carryback adjustments (tentative refunds) (TD 9499). The final regulations finalize temporary regulations that were issued in 2007 (TD 9355) and are effective Aug. 24, 2010, the day they are scheduled
Where Do Investors Prefer to Find Nonfinancial Information?
It’s no secret to investors that annual reports filed by U.S. companies are becoming increasingly complex. Many reports in the business press over the past decade cite concern that the proliferation of required disclosures accompanying financial reports makes it difficult to decipher a company’s performance and identify factors that drive
IRS Expands Use of Electronic Payments, Discontinues Paper Coupons
The IRS has issued proposed regulations that would eliminate paper coupons for deposits of employment taxes, corporate income and estimated taxes, and many other taxes (REG-153340-09). The paper coupon payment system will be shut down at the end of this year. With this change, taxpayers will be required to use
FASB Would Drop Fair Value for Pension Plan Loans
FASB this week issued a Proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that is intended to clarify how defined contribution pension plans should classify and measure loans to participants. Under the Proposed ASU, Plan Accounting—Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), Reporting Loans to Participants by Defined Contribution Pension Plans (a consensus of
FASB Releases Draft of Insurance Contracts Proposal
FASB released a staff draft of an Accounting Standards Update regarding potential changes to accounting for costs related to acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The draft applies to insurance organizations that are within the scope of Topic 944, which includes stock life insurance entities, mutual life insurance entities, and property
IRS Moves Forward With Preparer Registration Plan
On Thursday, the IRS issued proposed regulations that would put into place many of the parts of its plan to register and regulate tax return preparers (REG-138637-07). Proposed amendments to Circular 230 would clarify the definition of tax practice, establish a new “registered tax return preparer” designation, define the eligibility
Reverse Mortgage Guidance Issued
Bank, thrifts and credit unions received a new framework for providing clear and balanced information to consumers about the risks and benefits of reverse mortgages under final guidance issued by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). The guidance is of importance to CPAs who may consider reverse mortgages as
Proposal Would Require Most Leases to Appear on the Balance Sheet
FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) today unveiled a joint proposal to revamp lease accounting. The proposal would result in a single “right-of-use” approach applied consistently to lease accounting for lessees and lessors. Among other changes, the approach would result in the liability for payments under all lease
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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.
