A recent case that ostensibly dealt with a bank’s deductions for interest and other expenses associated with tax-exempt income could affect how advisers approach interpretation of the Code and revenue rulings generally. PSB Holdings is the parent of an affiliated group that includes Peoples State Bank, which is based in
Practice Management & Professional Standards
AICPA Urges Congress to Reconsider Preparer Standards
When Congress passed the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007, it contained one major tax policy change not reflected in the title. The law, which was enacted May 25, included a provision that raises the standards applicable to tax return
Crackdown on Fraudulent Tax Return Preparers
Recent criminal and civil enforcement against fraudulent tax preparers has been highlighted in stepped-up activity by the Treasury and Justice departments. Total investigations initiated by the IRS’s Criminal Investigations division rose in fiscal year 2006 from the previous year, as did the division’s time spent on tax-related
Korb Reassures on FIN 48
The IRS recently released an internal memo written in March 2007 by Chief Counsel Donald Korb stating that documents prepared pursuant to FASB Interpretation no. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, are considered tax-accrual workpapers and thus are subject to the IRS’s “policy of restraint.” The IRS has a
Transitional Relief for Changes to Preparer Penalty
Transitional relief has been granted through the end of the year for changes to the tax return preparer penalty under IRC § 6694(a) that were enacted as part of the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007. The changes originally were to take effect May 26. The act
Securities Basis Reporting Aired
Requiring securities brokers to report basis on their customers’ transactions has received renewed attention in Congress as a way to help bridge the “tax gap.” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and ranking minority member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, presented draft legislation in late May. Bills also have been introduced
IRS Issues Guidance on Monetary Penalties
The IRS published guidance in Notice 2007-39 to outline how it will wield its new statutory authority to impose monetary penalties on taxpayer representatives for violations of Circular 230. The amendment to 31 USC §330 empowers the Service to levy monetary penalties for violations occurring after Oct. 22, 2004. The
AICPA Tax Division to Teach Quality Control
The AICPA Tax Division’s proposed Statement on Standards for Tax Services no. 9, Quality Control, will provide a basis of an educational effort by the Tax Division. The proposed standard was exposed for public comment in December 2005. After reviewing the comments, the AICPA Tax Executive Committee decided early this
Tax Patents Considered
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 1998 has granted patents to business methods. In recent years, these patents have come to include strategies to minimize tax, a development many observers find troubling. Tax strategy patents complicate tax advising, return preparation and compliance, since
35% Flat Tax Hits Non-CPAs
A C corporation that provides accounting services doesn’t have to be owned by or employ CPAs to be taxed at the flat 35% personal-services corporation rate of section 11(b)(2), according to a recent Tax Court ruling. In Rainbow Tax Service, Inc. v. Commissioner, 128 T.C. No. 5, the taxpayer was
Features
SPONSORED REPORT
Agentic accounting has arrived: What’s hype and what’s real?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond chatbots and into accounting workflows. A new generation of agentic AI tools can plan, execute, and adapt as they complete tasks, raising expectations for what automation can do inside firms and finance departments. What can agentic AI realistically do today and what challenges are there in its implementation? Find out in this Journal of Accountancy sponsored report.
