Practice Management & Professional Standards

Topics

February 8, 2016

Tried-and-true ways to reduce the stress of busy season

Bosses can do many things to reduce pressure on valued staff members.

December 1, 2015

Businesses and tax ID theft

Businesses may need CPAs’ help in protecting against and remedying tax-related identity theft.

September 28, 2015

Get a head start on preparing for tax season

The AICPA Private Companies Practice Section team shares best practices on preparing for busy season.

September 1, 2015

2015 tax software survey

Thousands of CPAs assess the features and performance of their income tax preparation software as well as, for the first time, their software for estate and gift taxes.

September 1, 2015

Resolving the theft of tax clients’ identity

CPAs in tax practice have seen an increase in identity theft. Here are some tips for dealing
with this vexing problem.

July 1, 2015

Documentation is your ally for tax and other services

Practitioners can benefit from documenting their advice in accordance with Circular 230 and the SSTSs.

July 1, 2015

Managing IRS authorizations

These tools are essential to interact with the IRS on clients’ behalf.

June 1, 2015

Tax engagement letters

Use of this important practice tool can minimize professional liability risk, reduce confusion, improve collections, and ensure clients have a good understanding of the practitioner’s role.

June 1, 2015

Exercising due diligence

By providing documented due diligence, practitioners can explain why they took the position and show they used reasonable care when determining the position was appropriate.

May 7, 2015

List of designated private delivery services is updated, postmark rules revised

For the first time since 2004, the IRS has updated the list of private delivery services (PDSs) that qualify under the mailbox rule of Sec. 7502.

April 13, 2015

Tax practice responsibilities involved in Schedule UTP

The need to file Schedule UTP, Uncertain Tax Position Statement, may have taken many corporate taxpayers by surprise in 2014, since the asset threshold for compliance was lowered from $50 million to $10 million.

April 13, 2015

10 situations when a CPA should call “timeout”

This article highlights situations when a tax accountant needs to recognize that it’s time to call in legal counsel.

April 13, 2015

The importance of tax quality control

Quality control (QC) is of utmost importance when delivering professional services, including tax planning and compliance services.

March 16, 2015

Treasury will not have to tell PTIN holders that they are under investigation

The new rules aim to prevent PTIN holders who are under investigation from learning that they have been identified as suspects or are the subject of an investigation.

March 1, 2015

AICPA’s revised confidentiality rule and Sec. 7216

The recently revised AICPA Code of Professional Conduct includes a new Confidential Client Information Rule under Section 1.700.001, which expands the guidance on maintaining the confidentiality of client information.

February 1, 2015

What to do when your client receives a summons

This column addresses summonses when issued in taxpayer examinations and is not designed or intended to be a full articulation of the significant legal implications of a summons or its enforcement.

January 12, 2015

AICPA provides feedback on tax reform proposals

The AICPA urged Rep. Paul Ryan, the new chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, to follow the AICPA’s principles of good tax policy to guide tax reform.

January 5, 2015

IRS: Tax season to start on time

The IRS announced that it will begin accepting e-filed and paper tax returns on time this filing season. The late passage of tax extender legislation had threatened to delay the start of tax season.

January 1, 2015

TIGTA: Process for complaints against preparers is too slow

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said in Rep’t No. 2014-40-056 that its audit indicated the IRS does not timely process complaints it receives against tax return preparers.

January 1, 2015

Drawing the line: Providing tax advice related to the Affordable Care Act

CPAs who provide tax planning services may be well-positioned to provide clients with PPACA-related advice regarding the tax and cost issues associated with selecting health insurance plans. But other matters go beyond the scope of the CPA’s expertise.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Flip out with the latest Tech Q&A

The September Technology Q&A column shows how to create dynamic to-do lists with Excel's checkboxes and also how to set up multifactor authentication texts that don't rely on phones. Flip through both items and view a video walkthrough in our digital format.