Investors’ confidence in investing in U.S. public companies—and in audited financial information released by those companies—has risen to a seven-year high in 2014. According to the Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ’s) Main Street Investor Survey, 80% of 1,049 investors surveyed said they have some, quite a bit, or a great
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Personal financial planning
Asset protection of retirement funds after Clark
Protection for inherited IRAs and Roth IRAs is still possible after a Supreme Court decision denied their exemption from bankruptcy estates.
Supreme Court: Inherited IRAs are not retirement funds
The decision resolving a circuit split allows an inherited IRA to be included in a bankruptcy estate. The U.S. Supreme Court in Clark v. Rameker held that funds in an inherited individual retirement account (IRA) were not retirement funds that were exempt from a husband-and-wife debtors’ bankruptcy estate. Facts: The
QDROs demand the attention of CPAs
Expertise in qualified domestic relations orders and dividing retirement benefits in divorce can be a valuable accounting and tax specialty.
Electing to aggregate rental activities: Better late than never
Taxpayers that own several rental properties have to make many decisions when it comes to reporting income or loss from those properties. Among them is whether it would be more beneficial for the income or loss to be characterized as active rather than passive. If the taxpayer wants active characterization
One-IRA-rollover-a-year rule will be effective in 2015, IRS says
Following up on its promise earlier in the year to follow the Tax Court’s holding that the limit of one rollover per year applies on an aggregate basis and not on an IRA-by-IRA basis, the IRS withdrew a proposed regulation from 1981, Prop. Regs. Sec. 1.408-4(b)(4)(ii), which had provided otherwise
Risky business of serving the rich and famous
CPAs providing a menu of services to high-profile individuals are at risk of being blamed for a decline in the celebrity’s net worth.
The lure of a Sec. 475 election
A mark-to-market election can be very beneficial for securities or commodities traders. Here’s how to determine who qualifies for the election and who should make it.
IRA participants can purchase longevity annuities
Final regulations issued on Wednesday (T.D. 9673) permit individual retirement account (IRA) participants to enter into contracts for annuities that begin at an advanced age (often called longevity annuities), using a certain amount of their account balances, without having these amounts count for calculating required minimum distributions from the IRAs
Guidance issued on application of Windsor to retirement plans
Qualified plans must recognize same-sex marriages after the Windsor decision and must be amended, if need be, to make them conform to the results of that decision. Under guidance issued by the IRS, administrators of qualified retirement plans must recognize the same-sex spouses of legally married participants as of June
Supreme Court holds inherited IRAs are not retirement funds
In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday held that funds from an inherited IRA were not retirement funds that were exempt from the debtor’s bankruptcy estate (Clark v. Rameker, No. 13-299 (U.S. 6/12/14), aff’g 714 F.3d 559 (7th Cir. 2013)). The Supreme
Considerations when working with an aging client base
CPAs should be cognizant of the professional liability risks that may exist when working with aging clients.
Notice clarifies midyear amendment of certain retirement plans post-Windsor
The IRS clarified that a qualified retirement plan will continue to be a qualified 401(k) or 401(m) safe-harbor plan if it adopts a midyear amendment to its plan to comply with the rules in Notice 2014-19 requiring qualified plans to conform to the Windsor decision (Notice 2014-37). A safe-harbor 401(k)
Final rules govern tax treatment of distributions to pay accident or health insurance premiums
On Friday, the IRS finalized regulations that provide that distributions from qualified retirement plans to pay accident or health insurance premiums are taxable unless a statutory exclusion applies (T.D. 9665). However, arrangements where amounts are used to pay premiums for disability insurance to replace retirement plan contributions in the event
Rollover contribution to second IRA disallowed
The Tax Court held that a taxpayer who received distributions from two individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and later transferred the amounts back into his IRAs had taxable income equal to the amount of the second transfer. According to the court, the plain language of Sec. 408(d)(3)(B) allows a taxpayer to
IRS issues 2015 inflation adjustments for HSAs
The IRS issued the calendar year 2015 inflation-adjusted figures for the annual contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and the minimum deductible amounts and maximum out-of-pocket expense amounts for high-deductible health plans (Rev. Proc. 2014-30). Individuals who participate in a health plan with a high deductible are permitted a
Avoiding the squeeze: Trusts, estates, and the new ATRA tax regime
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 raised the top income tax rate to 39.6%, and a new 3.8% tax on net investment income also applies beginning in 2013. Both taxes apply to trusts and estates with income in excess of $11,950 in 2013, in contrast to much higher thresholds for individuals. This new tax regime necessitates drafting wills and trusts to give executors and trustees maximum discretion so they can reduce these taxes.
The accidental investment adviser
CPAs often are solicited for advice regarding potential investments. A CPA should refrain from providing specific investment advice unless he or she has been adequately trained and licensed to serve as an investment adviser.
The new PFP standards
Understand that the statement applies to the individual, not the firm. The statement applies to employees in the firm who provide PFP services. Recognize that the foundation of the statement begins with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct (the code). The hallmark of the code is to perform services with
Trader or investor?
In two decisions in 2013, Endicott, T.C. Memo. 2013-199, and Nelson, T.C. Memo. 2013-259, the Tax Court maintained a high hurdle that taxpayers must clear to show they are in the trade or business of trading in marketable securities rather than acting as investors. Aside from dealers in securities (those
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How to find the right CAS clients
The key to success with CAS is selecting the best clients. Tools like ideal client profiles (ICPs), buyer personas, and even artificial intelligence can help identify the businesses that best fit each CAS practice.
From The Tax Adviser
March 31, 2026
Current developments in taxation of individuals: Part 1
March 31, 2026
Current Developments in Taxation of Individuals: Part 1
March 6, 2026
