COVID-19 news and information for CPAs

TOPICS

December 21, 2020

Forecasting and impairment tips for an unprecedented time

The economic slump resulting from the pandemic has increased the risk of asset write-downs and added to the pressure on auditors to scrutinize impairment models. Company boards also are paying more attention to forecasting and impairment.

December 16, 2020

Quiz: Are you prepared to audit fraud risk during a pandemic?

With so many organizations financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and making an abrupt shift to remote working, there’s a perfect storm for increased fraud in financial statements. Take this quiz to see if you know your responsibilities for auditing fraud risks in your engagements.

December 15, 2020

Temporary e-signature authorization for IRS forms extended

The IRS announced that it was extending taxpayers’ ability to file a number of forms using electronic signatures due to the pandemic. The limited relief extends the authorization through June 30, 2021.

December 14, 2020

Attracting and keeping clients during COVID-19

CPAs offer advice on how to retain and attract clients during difficult times.

December 11, 2020

Some teleworkers could be hit with surprise tax bills

With many workers unaware of the implications when remote work crosses state lines, CPAs may face frustration and confusion in clients.

December 11, 2020

PPP loan forgiveness and taxes

The AICPA’s Eileen Sherr, CPA, CGMA, MT, discusses recent IRS guidance regarding the tax treatment of loans under the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program.

December 10, 2020

What to know about holiday travel policies during COVID-19

Firms share the approaches they are using to keep employees safe, and HR experts advise firms to stay current with their state’s guidance, know their rights as employers and communicate policies clearly to staff.

December 10, 2020

US finance leaders wary as pandemic impacts continue

Optimism is higher than in the third quarter, but plenty of obstacles remain, according to the AICPA’s quarterly economic outlook.

December 9, 2020

Tips for auditing in a COVID-19 environment

The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically disrupted the focus and procedures involved in many audits. These tips provide best practices, fraud considerations and new procedures practitioners may wish to use.

December 9, 2020

Assessing audit risks during the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the risks of material misstatement and fraud to change substantially for many audit clients. Here’s how practitioners can continue delivering high-quality audits in this environment.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Build reusable Skills in Anthropic’s Claude AI

Instead of rewriting prompts each time, CPAs can turn routine tasks into reusable AI Skills. This Technology Q&A walks through how to build Claude Skills that process files, ask setup questions, and export clean Excel outputs.