XBRL: A Structure for Business Data This month the JofA begins a series of articles exploring how XBRL can help CPAs, their clients and employers, financial institutions, regulators, rating agencies and individual and institutional investors issue or obtain business information in a standardized format for sharing and viewing in any
Advertisement
TOPICS
Information management and technology assurance
Smart Stops On The Web
Keep Abreast of New Rules www.sarbanes-oxley.com CPAs and compliance officers can find a link at this PCAOB Web site to a free Sarbanes-Oxley section 202 audit fee disclosure calculator, as well to the latest SEC rules and regulations cross-referenced to other specific sections of Sarbanes-Oxley, such as section 208 for
Tax Season Defanged
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WHATEVER CPAs CAN DO TO SYSTEMATIZE the repetitive aspects of individual tax work and spread the workload over the year makes their lives easier and allows their firms to make more money. THE ESSENCE OF A SUCCESSFUL TAX SEASON is effective communication in the office; adherence to procedures
The Best of Technology Q&A
Key to Instructions To help readers follow the instructions in this article, we used two different typefaces: Boldface type is used to identify the names of icons, agendas and URLs. Sans serif type shows the names of files and the names of commands and instructions users should type into the
Accounting
For news from the AICPA and state societies, visit www.cpa2biz.com , which also offers online CPE, AICPA professional literature, practice management aids and links to state society Web sites. The AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee issued a revised illustrative representation letter for review engagements ( www.aicpa.org/members/div/auditstd/revision_of_appendix_f.htm ). The revisions
Privacy
The AICPA introduced educational resources designed to improve CPAs’ ability to help their clients and employers manage privacy-related risks. Understanding and Implementing Privacy Services: A CPA’s Resource (paperback with CD-ROM, product no. 056509JA) and “Privacy Issues for Business: Whose Information Is It Anyway?” (CD-ROM, no. 780005HSJA) are available at www.cpa2biz.com
Transfer an Excel formula from one worksheet to another
Q. I know how to link data from a cell in one worksheet to another worksheet, but how can I transfer a formula? A. To transfer data, enter them in sheet 1, go to sheet 2 and the cell in which you want the linked number to appear and enter
Tax
President George W. Bush last month signed the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004. The legislation extends a number of tax provisions affecting individuals and businesses, such as marriage penalty relief and the research and development credit that expired June 30, 2004. Additional information is available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Links.asp?section=343 .
Pro Bono
The AICPA launched an online database ( http://volunteers.aicpa.org/financialliteracy ) where CPAs now can register as volunteers in 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy, the Institute’s program to improve Americans’ ability to manage their personal finances (see JofA , Aug.04, page 14, and www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/aug2004/special.htm ). Both member and nonmember CPAs are eligible
Professional Issues
The AICPA Peer Review Board issued revised standards for performing and reporting on peer reviews, as well as revised and new interpretations that will help CPAs understand how to apply the standards. Both are effective for reviews beginning after December 31, 2004; early implementation is not permitted ( www.aicpa.org/members/ ).
Enforcement
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) introduced communications links that make it easier to contact the board when a registered public accounting firm—or anyone associated with it—may have violated provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, PCAOB rules or other applicable laws ( www.pcaobus.org/tips ). Concerned parties now
Auditing
The AICPA launched an improved version of its Audit Committee Matching System (ACMS). The upgrade responds to suggestions from members, who now can add their resumes to the system so that companies can search among them for potential candidates. The ACMS and related resources are available at the Institute’s Audit
Managing Change
Robert L. Bunting, chairman and CEO of Moss Adams LLP in Seattle, assumed the AICPA chairmanship at the Institute’s annual meeting. His acceptance speech will appear verbatim in a future issue of the JofA . oss Adams is in the vanguard of midsize firms skilled at serving an international clientele.
Technology
The Accounting Hall of Fame announced three inductees for 2004. The honorees are Dennis R. Beresford, E&Y Executive Professor at the University of Georgia, former chairman (1987–1997) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and writer of professional articles; Gerald A. Feltham, a professor of accounting at the University of British
International
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) issued a staff-prepared series of questions and answers relating to international financial reporting standards (IFRSs), First Time Adoption of IFRSs—Guidance for Auditors on Reporting Issues. The document is available online ( www.ifac.org/store ) at no
Users Size Up Tax Software
lthough AICPA tax practitioners rated this year’s crop of tax-preparation software superior to the products they used last year, they gave lower grades to vendors’ technical support. But for many tax practitioners, the bigger story was that the number of tax-software products continued to decline, forcing newly orphaned customers to
Are You Spamming Your Clients?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WITH THE ADVENT OF FEDERAL LAWS controlling spam e-mail, CPAs must exercise caution in their communications with clients and prospects. In so doing they can improve the look and effectiveness of their e-mail marketing programs. THE CAN-SPAM ACT OF 2003 INCLUDES civil and criminal penalties for predatory and
E-Mail and the Law
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SPAM IS A BUSINESS PROBLEM companies now must address because of domestic and international laws. Companies need to adopt Internet marketing privacy policies to comply with various privacy and spam regulations. CPAs can use the AICPA/CICA Privacy Framework to help organizations accomplish these goals. THE AICPA/CICA PRIVACY FRAMEWORK
Who Will Take the Reins?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MORE THAN 50% OF PARTNERS AT CPA FIRMS are over 50 years old, and a significant number of firms now are run by baby boomers who will seek retirement during the next five to 10 years. There is a shortage of partnership candidates to take the reins. GROWING
It’s a Matter of Privacy.
MONTHLY CHECKLIST SERIES Consumers have grown increasingly concerned about the misuse of their personal information, and regulatory bodies have been cracking down on offenders. You can see the many complaints filed against corporations on the FTC Web site at www.ftc.gov/privacy/privacyinitiatives/promises_enf.html . CPAs should advise clients or employers to familiarize themselves
Features
SPONSORED REPORT
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
April 30, 2026
Current developments in taxation of individuals: Part 2
April 30, 2026
Hedge funds: Tax structuring, planning, and compliance
March 31, 2026
Current developments in taxation of individuals: Part 1
March 31, 2026
