Q: I have a large Excel worksheet, and I find it difficult to compare data in different parts of the worksheet. Is there a good option for achieving this goal? A: Excel 2007 and 2010 contain two Split tools, which allow you to quickly split the Excel worksheet horizontally, vertically,
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Information management and technology assurance
How to Prevent Selected Paragraphs From Getting Separated in a Document
Q: Certain paragraphs in documents I prepare need to be next to each other. But when I edit the document, sometimes it repaginates, and those sections slip apart. How do I guarantee that they will remain together? A: In Word 2007, be sure you’re in the document and in the
Shortcuts
Outlook: For a fast way to enter future dates and times in Outlook forms, tab to the New Appointment date and time fields, and, if the date is three weeks in the future, go to Start time and type 3 w (with or without a space between 3 and w)
Technology Is a Cornerstone of Successful CPA Firms
High-performing firms include technology in their strategic plans and leverage those tools to help them succeed in areas such as client service, practice management and staffing, according to a survey by Opinion Research Center commissioned by CCH. The survey included quantitative interviews with 100 partners at firms ranging in size
Guidelines Aimed at Thwarting ID Theft, Security Breaches Unveiled
Responding to concerns about identity theft and security breaches linked to portable devices, the AICPA and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants have expanded Generally Accepted Privacy Principles to include protocols for securing personal information. The AICPA/CICA Generally Accepted Privacy Principles are recognized by the IRS and other organizations. The
Format Excel to Color Negative Percentages in Red
Q How do you format negative numbers, including percentages, to show as red in Excel? A There are a couple of possibilities, but your best option is to use Conditional Formatting. In Excel 2003, begin by selecting the cells you want to format. Then select Conditional Formatting from the Format
2009 Tax Software Survey
The JofA and The Tax Adviser conducted a survey of their readers to determine what aspects of their tax preparation software they like and what they dislike. The survey, which received 9,776 responses, was carried out in late June and early July 2009. Of the 13 products identified for the
Don’t Skimp on Scanners
Another tax season is coming and with it come renewed vows of “going paperless”—or at least going in that direction. The CPAs who have gone completely paperless—scanning in the beginning of the process, using triple monitors so the third screen replaces the physical source docs and essentially never touching a
IRS Expands Electronic Payment Options
With tax season about to start, practitioners should be aware of the various electronic payment options the IRS has introduced in recent years. EFTPS The IRS’ free Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) allows businesses and individuals to pay federal taxes via the Internet or over the phone. Tax payments
Create Keyboard Shortcuts to Insert Symbols in Word and Excel
Q I’m beginning to handle international business, which means I need to be able to use foreign currency symbols in both Word and Excel. How do I create a shortcut for various symbols? A Let’s start with Word, which is the easiest. In Word 2003, press Insert, Symbol, which
Hide Excel’s Sheet Tabs in Order to Expand Worksheet Display
Q I want my screen to display as much as possible of an Excel worksheet. I’ve gotten rid of my Ruler, Message Bar and Formula Bar. Now if I can only hide the tabs on the bottom of the page. Any ideas? A Excel displays the tabs by default, but
Protect Your E-Mailing and Internet Surfing When You Travel
Q My tech-savvy friends warn me about computer-privacy risks when I travel. They say that checking my e-mail while in a Wi-Fi-equipped coffeehouse or an airport is practically an invitation for an unscrupulous person to monitor my messages and even steal my data. Are there any practical ways to protect
Several Ways to Fix a Corrupt Word Document
Q I’ve got a Word document that appears to be corrupt. I suspect there’s a problem because, although I can open the file, it will not respond to several commands, such as Ctrl+F (Find and Replace). Is there some way I can repair it? A This is a tricky
Tax Court Amends Rules to Allow Electronic Filing
The Tax Court has amended its procedural rules, effective Jan. 1, 2010, to allow electronic filing of documents submitted to the court (Tax Court Rule 26). The court set up a pilot electronic filing program in 2005. In 2008, the court added an electronic document access system to its Web
Panelists Advise Companies to Take Responsibility for XBRL Tagging—Even When Outsourcing
When reporting financials in XBRL, companies need to take responsibility by documenting the reasons items are tagged the way they are and allocating ample time for management review—even if they outsource the data tagging to a third party, according to panelists at the 2009 XBRL US National Conference that took
IRS Pilot Program Will Allow Truncated Social Security Numbers on Information Returns
The IRS on Thursday announced a pilot program aimed at deterring identity theft (Notice 2009-93). Under the program, filers of certain paper information returns will be allowed to truncate the payee’s Social Security number on the payee statement. The change affects statements for 2009 and 2010. Only paper payee statements
CPAs on the Go Embrace Mobile Technology
CPAs who find themselves on the go are turning to some of the latest phones and mobile applications to do much more than just stay connected to their clients. A CPA Trendlines survey by Bay Street Group LLC conducted for the AICPA during the summer and still open to respondents,
AICPA Files Suit Challenging Identity Theft Rule
The AICPA filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to bar the Federal Trade Commission from applying its so-called Red Flags Rule to CPAs. The Institute says the rule, which is designed to help prevent identity theft, would “impose onerous and unnecessary requirements on AICPA members.” The lawsuit, filed in U.S.
Stop the Letter Designation of a Remote Drive From Arbitrarily Migrating to a Different Letter
Q: I use memory sticks frequently because they’re so handy for quick backups and copying or moving files to another computer. Also, I have a remote hard drive for regular backups that is designated my F drive. The memory sticks and the remote drive connect to the computer via USB
Uncover Strategic Value
Strategic value is not the same as fair market value, where a “hypothetical” buyer and seller have access to all relevant data. Strategic value includes synergies and special features, usually hidden, that give the buyer a quicker, less costly and lower risk way to achieve goals. Look for the following
Features
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