CPA Now Blog Archive

The “bunching” of charitable contributions enables taxpayers to itemize and receive tax benefits for their donations in specific years, while claiming the standard deduction in others. Bunching through the use of a donor-advised fund preserves the up-front tax deduction, and also ensures the charity receives an annual contribution.

Today’s professionals have an expectation that they should be able to speak their mind and get feedback. Hear from a panel of CPA society members about their ideas for getting ideas heard.

Your firm’s website is still super important to the practice’s digital footprint. But it’s no longer enough to have a great website; now you need to have a really good social media strategy as well.

One of the last things a couple considers when planning a wedding is what their income tax returns will look like when they file the next year. Given the changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it may be more important than ever to discuss the tax results.

On June 22, Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law the fiscal year 2018-2019 state budget—more than a week before the end of the fiscal year. With little of the political acrimony that typically mars the budget negotiation process, this budget relatively breezed to completion. How the heck did that happen?

Summer season is upon us, and many are about to embark on much anticipated travel plans. Some vacationers will enter the trifecta of credit card number theft locations: airports, restaurants, and hotels. Vacations are supposed to be a joyful time, so you don’t want to be a victim of fraud.

The Pennsylvania CPA Foundation was created to address the critical pipeline issues of the profession. Julius Green, the Pennsylvania CPA Foundation's first chair, discusses some of its first-year accomplishments.

Divorce planning is a specific discipline in the personal financial planning process; it always starts out emotional, but the end result is a financial transaction for both parties.

The Department of Revenue assisted in the development of the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop, an online resource designed to help tax professionals and their clients. It is intended to take the guesswork out of many business procedures.

The PICPA Audit Committee met on Thursday, June 28, to review and approve for issuance the combined audited financial statement of the PICPA. The audited financial statements once again received an unmodified opinion.

With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the IRS revised the tax withholding tables. There is a chance of an unexpected larger tax bill next tax filing season. The IRS has a new tax withholding calculator to help.

On June 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. that out-of-state online retailers can be held responsible for collecting use tax from their customers without having a physical presence in a state.

The PICPA strives to balance current demands with the expectations of our members. This past year, our main areas of strategic focus – talent and pipeline, member engagement, professional development, and being the voice of the profession – have been consistent, but our approaches to achieving progress within them have been altered to respond to quickly evolving needs.

When it comes to benchmarking CPA firm operations, there is no better guide than the MAP Survey. AICPA PCPS has worked with practitioners to streamline the survey, and it now focuses on the most important key performance indicators.

The Pennsylvania CPA Journal Editorial Board is an extremely forward-thinking, dedicated group. They have come up with a treasure trove of feature ideas that has been sorted, scheduled, and placed on our 2018-2019 editorial calendar.

PICPA’s Day on the Hill is a unique opportunity for our members to bring their specialized training and problem-solving skills to Harrisburg. The ultimate goal is to position PICPA members as a resource to state lawmakers and regulators, to build relationships with decisionmakers, and to garner support for our legislative priorities.

Participation in PICPA events is all about the opportunity for members to support each other, build relationships, and help pass the passion for our CPA profession on to future generations.

Cynthia R. Bergvall, CPA, a speaker at the July 9-10 PICPA Government Accounting Conference, discusses how auditors can bring value to local government organizations through consulting services.

The PICPA Greater Philadelphia Chapter’s “Revolutionize Your Career: How to Land a Seat on a Board” was eye-opening experience about the changes occurring at the board level and how CPAs can be a part of it.

The IRS has announced that scammers have been reaching out to CPAs impersonating state accounting and professional associations. Please be cautious with emails purporting to be from the PICPA that don't seem quite right.