Practice Management & Professional Standards

Topics

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.

December 1, 2014

CPA practitioners sue to stop PTIN fees

Plaintiffs say the $64.25 first-time fee and $63 annual renewal provide no special benefit under federal law.

December 1, 2014

AICPA identifies problems with IRS’s electronic signature rules

Verification through records checks and authentication questions may risk clients’ data security and be impractical for some.

December 1, 2014

IRS sending EITC due-diligence warnings

The IRS is sending warning letters to tax preparers it believes may not be complying with due-diligence requirements for the earned income tax credit (EITC).

December 1, 2014

Can practitioners give up their email disclaimers?

In June, the IRS finalized changes to Circular 230, Regulations Governing Practice Before the Internal Revenue Service, affecting the provision of written tax advice and certain other related provisions.

October 1, 2014

AICPA sues IRS to stop return preparer program

An unenrolled preparer program is an “end run” around an adverse court decision, the Institute says. The AICPA filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in July, asking the court to halt the IRS’s recently introduced Annual Filing Season Program. The AICPA’s three-count complaint asks

September 9, 2014

IRS explains power-of-attorney requirements for corporate taxpayers

On Tuesday, the IRS’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) issued a bulletin clarifying when corporate officers or employees must have a valid power of attorney in order to represent the company before the IRS (OPR Bulletin 2014-12). The bulletin also discusses how the existence of a power of attorney may

September 8, 2014

CPA practitioners sue to stop PTIN fees

Two CPAs have filed suit in the U.S. district court for the District of Columbia, asking the court to stop the IRS from charging fees for issuing preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs), to obtain refunds of fees paid in the past, and to enjoin the IRS from asking for more

August 1, 2014

IRS introduces voluntary certification program for tax preparers

After failing to win court approval for its mandatory tax return preparer regulation program, the IRS introduced a voluntary certification program to take its place.

July 15, 2014

AICPA sues IRS to stop return preparer program

The AICPA filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday, asking the court to halt the IRS’s recently introduced Annual Filing Season Program. The AICPA’s three-count complaint asks the court to declare the rule implementing the program unlawful and stop its operation. The Annual

June 30, 2014

Complete rules for the IRS’s voluntary return preparer certification program are released

On Monday, the IRS published guidance introducing its new, voluntary Annual Filing Season Program, which permits tax preparers who are not CPAs, attorneys, or enrolled agents to complete tax education requirements and receive a certificate, called a Record of Completion (Rev. Proc. 2104-42). (For prior coverage, see “IRS Reveals Details

June 26, 2014

IRS reveals details of voluntary preparer certification program

On Thursday, the IRS announced that it will soon introduce a voluntary program for tax return preparers called the Annual Filing Season Program (IR-2014-75). This program will permit return preparers to obtain a record of completion when they voluntarily complete 18 hours of continuing education, including a six-hour refresher course