From fitting a home with energy-efficient windows to harnessing the power of waves and tides, activities that conserve energy or produce it from clean and renewable sources enjoy new or expanded tax credits in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The next generation of electric vehicles gets
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Taxpayers Receiving Bigger Refunds This Season
With five and a half weeks to go in tax season, the IRS reports that more taxpayers have filed returns this year than last and that those taxpayers are receiving larger refunds. As of Feb. 27, individual taxpayers had filed 56 million returns with the IRS, a slight increase over
Concerns About CPA Letters to Third Parties
A CPA receives a request from a client to provide a letter to the client’s mortgage broker, lender, adoption agency, or other third party. The request seems simple enough and harmless. All the client asks is that the CPA verify that this is her client, that she has been preparing
Banking Regulator Urges Change in Accounting for Loan Losses
U.S. Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan said the “incurred loss” model banks use to account for loan losses may need to be changed to a more counter-cyclical approach that would allow provisions to be made earlier in the credit cycle when times are good. Dugan, who is the
TIGTA: Some Tax Shelter Promoters Not Disciplined
The IRS’ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was unaware of a significant number of licensed tax practitioners who had been assessed penalties, enjoined by federal courts or criminally sentenced for promoting abusive tax shelters, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) found in an audit. As a result, the
Effort to Simplify International Audit Standards Completed
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has completed its clarity project, an initiative to update and reposition auditing standards in a form that is easier to understand, implement and translate. The clarified standards are effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after Dec. 15,
IRS Announces Revisions to Form 941
The IRS announced that in mid-March it will start sending employers new Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return. Employers will use the revised form to claim the new COBRA premium assistance payments credit, which was introduced by the recent stimulus act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
Clarified Risk Standard Proposals Available
The AICPA released for exposure certain risk assessment standards rewritten as part of its clarity project. The proposed risk assessment standards have been redrafted into a format that clearly identifies objectives, relevant definitions, requirements, and application and other explanatory material. Comments on the exposure drafts are due April 30.
Sixth Circuit Upholds Use of Life Tables for Lottery Lump Sum
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Carol J. Negron v. U.S., docket no. 07-4460, that the IRS annuity tables of IRC § 7520 provide a realistic and reasonable estate valuation of a state lottery prize paid as a lump sum. In so doing, it reversed a district court’s
Securities Covered by EITF 99-20
Accountants often struggle when attempting to determine whether an investment is covered by Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue no. 99-20, because its scope provisions contain a “double negative” that may make interpretation difficult. In summary, the scope of EITF 99-20, Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased
IFRS Requirements for Recognizing Impairment on Securities
Given the movement toward acceptance of IFRS in the U.S., a discussion about other-than-temporary impairment on securities would not be complete without a discussion of the IFRS requirements. IFRS requirements for recognizing impairment on securities are specified in International Accounting Standard no. 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IAS
Tools and Tips: Be an “Energy Star”
Editor’s Note: Also see “Be an ‘Energy Star’,” March 09 ENERGY AUDIT TOOLS Home Energy Saver (free residential online tool provided by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Portfolio Manager (free online tool developed by EPA for commercial buildings Home Analyzer and Business Analyzer (free auditing tools developed by Aclara Software) PRODUCT INFORMATION
Pursuing a Ph.D. in Accounting: Walking in With Your Eyes Open
After teaching mathematics for a number of years, I was contemplating a change in careers. After researching possible career choices, I took an accounting night class at a local university. I enjoyed the logic and structure of the class and quickly decided this was my niche. Next, I set my
Erroneous LIFO Methodology
A mistake made in a taxpayer’s last-in, first-out (LIFO) computation may repeat in later-year returns if staff preparing the computation take a “same as last year” approach. When the mistake ultimately is detected, there is a question of whether the mistake represents a method of accounting or an error. Huffman
Treatment of Gift Card/Certificate Sales: No Answers, More Questions
Gift card sales are becoming more and more a part of our retail shopping experience. The IRS is aware that the popularity of gift cards has increased “at a remarkable rate in recent years” (LMSB-04-0507-039). Gift card sales raise a variety of interesting federal income tax questions. The answers to
Financial Crisis Task Force Will Take Up Fair Value, Off-Balance-Sheet Transactions
The Financial Crisis Advisory Group, a joint task force assembled by FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to respond to the economic crisis, will take up issues including aspects of fair value accounting and off-balance-sheet transactions at its upcoming meeting. The group, which meets March 5 at
IRS Issues Final Regs on Automatic Contribution Arrangements
The Service on Tuesday issued final regulations on automatic contribution arrangements for 401(k) and other eligible plans. The regulations (TD 9447) adopt with modifications the 2007 proposed regulations (REG-133300-07) providing guidance on implementing provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of
Barry Melancon Reappointed President and CEO of the AICPA
The AICPA announced that Barry Melancon’s term as president and CEO has been extended for an additional five years by the Institute’s Board of Directors. Ernie Almonte, chairman of the AICPA, said the decision was the right one for the board to make. “Barry has made an enormous contribution to
IRS Releases New Withholding Tables
The IRS on Monday released withholding tables that reflect a new tax credit, dubbed the making work pay credit, created by the stimulus package. The making work pay credit was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, PL 111-5, which President Obama signed on Feb. 17. The credit equals
ASB Issues Audit Documentation Guidance, Internal Control Standards
The Auditing Standards Board (ASB) issued the second clarified auditing standard resulting from its clarity project, which aims to make U.S. GAAP easier to understand and apply and gives each standard a principles-based objective. Statement on Auditing Standards Audit Documentation (Redrafted) supersedes AU section 339, Audit Documentation. The standard
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FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Start in high school to strengthen the accounting profession
A practitioner-led outreach program, born of a university, accounting professionals, and local community collaboration, shows how to successfully engage high school students with the modern accounting profession.
