CPA Now Blog Archive

A significant number of taxpayers will leave behind far less in their estates than the federal lifetime exemption. However, regardless of how much one expects to bequeath, there are several smart measures one should take to ensure a smoother estate experience for your survivors.

Business professionals use Office 365 a lot, but few are taking full advantage of all that is available to them. This blog explores a few of the ways you can use your Office 365 subscriptions more efficiently and, in turn, increase your return on investment.

The Supreme Court’s South Dakota v. Wayfair decision is affecting how states are levying sales tax on online purchases. It is critical for CPAs – both those in firms and in corporate settings – to communicate the complexities of the new law to their clients, employers, and customers.

Act 6 of 2018 gives the commissioner of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) the authority to expunge the disciplinary records of licensees under BPOA’s jurisdiction. But what does that mean exactly for CPAs in the state?

Why does the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy mandate four hours of ethics education each biennial reporting period? The reasons are not mysterious.

CPAs working for nonprofits have a responsibility to provide useful information for often very tough decision making. Historically, CPAs focused mostly on financial metrics, but today nonprofits need financial leaders who can go beyond the numbers and provide mission performance assessments that integrate and interpret financial and nonfinancial components.

Changes to the rules and interpretations in the CPA profession’s Code of Conduct frequently originate from the AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC). PEEC recently released a three-year strategy and work plan, and it is seeking CPAs to provide comments. You can be a part of the ethics discussion.

For those who diligently saved for retirement through tax-advantaged plans such as 401(k)s or IRAs, remembering that they must take required distributions from their retirement funds can be a challenge. It is important, though, since there are negative tax consequences for not doing so.

One of the most commonly asked questions by both employees and employers is how to classify certain work: as being done by employees or by independent contractors. The distinction is important because there are key tax and reporting ramifications.

Adriana Yepes, supervising project manager at the FASB, discusses critical updates to the current expected credit loss (CECL) standard and more in this interview with the PICPA.

Recessions are an economic reality. When the next recession will happen and how long it will last are unknowable; just understand that we eventually will have one. Will you be ready?

The federal corporate tax rate is now at a flat 21%, which has attracted a lot of attention from business owners as they consider their operating entity structure. But there are a number of factors that need to be addressed when picking an operating entity, with each choice presenting its own tax opportunities and challenges.

Excel 2019 has been available for months now, and many have begun the process of upgrading to the new version. However, the upgrade will not pay dividends unless your team can take advantage of some of the new features. Learn a few new Excel functions for accountants.

The CPA-PAC – Pennsylvania’s sole CPA political action committee – ensures that CPAs have a voice in political matters that matter most to the accounting profession.

Financial advisers have seen their fair share of retirement planning/life-choice mistakes. They have an unlimited supply of life lessons to help you along your journey to retirement and to develop a holistic approach to your plan.

On Sept. 30, 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue issued Corporation Tax Bulletin 2019-4. The bulletin is an interpretation of the South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that may affect corporate net income tax.

Fraud never sleeps. Criminals are always coming up with new tricks to gain an edge. Glenn Helms, CPA, PhD, CFF, president of Glenn L. Helms Inc., discusses a few of the strategies used by forensic CPAs during fraud investigations, including surveillance and data analytics.

Implementing artificial intelligence tools for audits, particularly at a small firm, can be a challenge. Samantha A. Bowling, CPA, CGMA, of Garbelman Winslow CPAs, discusses some of her success points and trouble spots she encountered while leading the process.

Data analytics and blockchain have joined the already complex health care insurance discussions. Find out more on these topics from Joanne M. Judge, CPA, JD, a presenter at PICPA's 2019 Insurance Conference.

When reviewing your core business functions at year-end, don't forget an often overlooked piece of your operations: accounts payable and financial technology.