CPA Now Blog

CPAs need updates on the timing of tax legislation and the legislative process, how we got to where we are, and what is expected to happen in the following months. At PICPA's June Not-for-Profit & Government Accounting & Auditing Conference, AICPA's Eileen Sherr will share a Washington tax legislation update and outlook.

CPAs build their reputation on trust. Because of that trust, clients hand over their most sensitive information without hesitation. In today’s connected world, however, trust is earned by how well you protect the information given to you.

David W. Stonesifer, CEO of Herbein + Company, Inc., has been appointed President of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), effective May 6 during the organization's 128th annual meeting. In this role, he will lead efforts to address key industry challenges, including workforce development, technology integration, and CPA advocacy.

A 179D energy-efficiency tax deduction may be allocated to architects, engineers, and designers working on tax-exempt-owned properties, and there can be more than one qualifying design professional on a project. However, those who try to navigate the complexities of a claim without guidance could end up with costly errors.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently made a decision that could have broad, and unintended, consequences. In essence, the court reasoned that the Department of Revenue (DOR) can use nonbinding guidance to advise taxpayers, but taxpayers seemingly cannot rely on that guidance. The portion of the decision that permits the DOR to retroactively change its own position could create a great deal of uncertainty among taxpayers.

Young accountants must not only stay informed about regulatory and legislative changes in taxation but also understand the impact on each client and situation. This blog offers tips to on how to stay ahead of the curve of ever-changing tax laws.

For CPA firms, staying ahead of online advertising advancements is crucial to their marketing strategies and tactics. Google Ads is a prime player that continues to evolve. This blog briefly explores its most significant updates, key trends shaping the future, and actionable strategies to help CPA firms maximize their impact.

The PICPA is proud to announce its 128th Annual Meeting & Conference on May 5-6, 2025. This year the festivities will take place in historic Center City Philadelphia.

An updated Form 6765 for R&D credit now requests an extremely high level of detail and documentation. Taxpayers will need to be able to split qualified research expense wages into categories and assign them to specific business components. Now is the time to start preparing for its tax year 2025 rollout.

Declining student enrollment in accounting programs is a concern within the profession, which is working to reverse the trend. Educational institutions, though, must also adapt to address the challenges by making accounting learning relatable and fun.

In the not-so-distant past, working from home was a perk; a reward for loyal and often higher-paid employees. In 2025, we have more people working from home than ever before. To be productive working from home, however, employees must build a functional home office space.

Part of the job for many CPAs in public practice is business development. But in such a role, sometimes we are told “no.” True rainmakers never really take a “no” to mean anything other than “not now.” Other times, hearing “no” can sometimes be a welcome sound.

When the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General conducted an audit of five cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania, it found that from 2020 to 2023 they increased revenues by $425 million and reserves by 144%, due in part to an outdated funding formula. In this blog Auditor General Timothy DeFoor discusses these findings and outlines corrective actions that are needed.

The IRS is proposing alterations to Circular 230, the rules that govern those who practice before the IRS, including CPAs, attorneys, and enrolled agents. PICPA and AICPA member Ed Jenkins presented testimony before the IRS recently to share some concerns.

There are different paths to building a successful accounting practice. But all successful practices share one attribute: they have mastered the 3 P's of people, processes, and profits.

The Pennsylvania Board of Appeals is launching a new Online Petition Center for those taxpayers wishing to appeal state taxes or submitting a request for refund.

Artificial intelligence (AI) – particularly generative AI – has the potential to transform traditional business and accounting processes. In this blog, get a sneak peek into Eric E. Cohen's presentation on the topic at PICPA's CFOs & Controllers Conference.

The PICPA State Taxation Steering Committee brings PICPA members together to discuss key developments in Pennsylvania tax policy, recent court rulings, and legislative updates. As technical experts and strategic thought leaders, State Taxation Steering Committee members play a critical role in shaping state tax policy and providing guidance on complex tax matters.

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that state income taxes paid to other states cannot be used to offset local income tax due. The key issue was whether state and local can be aggregated for the purpose of applying credits. There is a lack of consistency among states in this regard, which will continue until the Supreme Court settles the issue.

An R&D tax credit project is anything but common, routine, and nontechnical. Hardly an area one should trust still-unproven artificial intelligence to provide an accurate and comprehensive report.