CPA Now Blog Archive

A major piece of any cyber defense is understanding that success is dependent on the interest and participation of the end users. Information security professionals understand this, and stress a balanced program of three guiding principles: availability, integrity, and confidentiality.

One effective way for not-for-profits to control nonprogram costs and minimize allocations is through Total Project Accounting. The concept is to record all costs in a way that more accurately shows their nature and source.

It’s no secret that the professional needs of PICPA members are changing. The PICPA is looking to the future and working to identify what members will need to ensure their future success, but this process involves every member.

The work of the audit committee is shifting from operational overseer to strategic partner, so audit committee chairs and members must reevaluate the best practices for committee structure and function.

Retirement savings planning must consider the short term and long term when it comes to its relation to tax planning. The use of Roth IRAs may be able to help you take advantage of currently lower tax rates and minimize the impact of taxes in the future.

As the calendar winds down, now is a good time to share some tricks for streamlining the year-end close. PICPA members who serve in corporate finance roles, such as controllers and CFOs, are well aware of the challenges, and they share some time-tested tips to help.

Business owners may not realize that when sales taxes is collected, but not remitted to the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue may impute those tax liabilities to the owners personally if considered “responsible parties.” This is the case even if the owners have limited liability by virtue of the company’s choice of legal entity.

Data visualization software is sort of like a PivotTable on steroids. One of PICPA’s strategic priorities this year is to use data visualization software to better “see” the story our data can tell.

Elder fraud is a growing crisis across the country. And we all can play a part in greatly reducing these scams.

One way or another, a corporate budget has to be done; it is not an optional exercise in today’s business environment. Bringing all of the varying pieces together for an organization can be both challenging and rewarding.

The PICPA has received inquiries from several firms regarding the interpretation of Pennsylvania’s new CPE requirements, which were effective Jan. 1, 2018. Specifically, firms are asking for clarification on who exactly is required to obtain 24 CPE hours of accounting and auditing.

Gifting to charities is not the same as it was before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This is the second post of a two-part blog in which Marsha Rubin explains how smart financial planning can help with your charitable giving plans.

Pennsylvania voters may have gone to the polls on Nov. 6, but there was another recent election that went mostly unnoticed outside of Harrisburg. Last week, state lawmakers elected who will lead their respective caucuses for the next legislative session.

Gifting to charities is not the same as it was before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. In this two-part blog, Marsha Rubin explains how smart financial planning can help with your charitable giving plans.

In 2019, there will no longer be a shared responsibility penalty for being uninsured or for having health insurance that doesn't meet the minimum essential coverage as required under the Affordable Care Act. For 2018, the mandate still exists. This blog details some of the thresholds for taxpayers.

For the PICPA to effectively be the voice of the CPA profession, we need to have a multidimensional presence in the marketplace and a digital strategy that helps consumers and small-business owners find our great information. Most of all, we need our members to help us get there.

College is expensive, so weighing its cost against the benefits of your future occupation should be considered. This blog looks at four big questions to ponder prior to selecting a college.

A new provision was added to the tax code that can benefit many families with children in private school. With the passage of tax reform, 529 education savings plan funds can now be used for the payment of K-12 tuition.

As private companies gear up to implement the new revenue guidance in ASC Topic 606, many can benefit from the experiences of public companies that implemented the standard last year. Here are some of the top lessons.

Audits and forensic investigations are different services. They are planned and performed to accomplish unique objectives. This blog is the third part of a three-part blog that compares the roles of the auditor and the forensic accountant. It is focused on gathering evidence and reporting.