December, 2023

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How Accounting Firms Should (and Should Not) Use ChatGPT

CPA Practice

By Christopher Stark, Founder & CEO, Cetrom. ChatGPT ushered in a new era of automation in accounting (link goes to YouTube), for better or worse. While technology has made many content-based tasks much easier, questions remain about its accuracy and security. This machine learning-powered chatbot with the GPT-3 engine at its core has captivated people’s attention with its rapidly evolving ability to interpret questions and commands to produce generally coherent natural-language responses.

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Here’s How Many People Were Laid Off From the Big Accounting Firms This Year (That We Know Of)

Going Concern

Today is December 27, assuming there is no accounting firm in the entire country shitty enough to lay people off just days before the end of the year (a generous assumption), we should be able to tally up how many people were shown the door in 2023. These are U.S. numbers for Big 4 and mid-tier firms only, if we missed some get in touch. Also, these layoff numbers include only layoffs that were A) confirmed and B) counted by the firm as layoffs, meaning this year’s aggressive PIP usage and

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IRS Rejects More Than 20,000 ERC Claims

Withum

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is continuing its crack down on dubious claims for the employee retention credit (ERC), a refundable tax credit for certain businesses that paid employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 6, 2023, the IRS issued a press release announcing that it would be sending more than 20,000 letters to taxpayers notifying them of disallowed ERC claims, either because their entities did not exist during the ERC eligibility period or because they did not have employ

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How to Correct Previous Non-Compliance with Sales & Use Tax

TaxConnex

It’s the end of the year and as we all start to think about our New Year’s resolutions, it’s also a good time to start thinking about correcting any sales tax missteps your business may be facing. Maybe you’ve just figured out that you have nexus and were non-compliant without realizing it, or maybe you’ve been rolling the dice and crossing your fingers you won’t get audited but your liability is growing and you’re ready to make a change – no matter your situation, if you have established nexus,

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Building a Business Case for Finance Automation

Speaker: Danny Gassaway and Wayne Richards

Finance leaders are prioritizing efficiency and digital transformation, yet many hesitate to automate due to uncertainty. Without a clear understanding of its impact, organizations risk falling behind competitors who are leveraging automation to drive productivity and cost savings. Join Wayne Richards and Danny Gassaway from AvidXchange for a practical guide on bringing accounts payable (AP) automation to your organization.

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Embracing AI: 7 Keys for a Modern Accounting Firm

CPA Practice

In an era where AI, particularly generative AI, is reshaping industries, small accounting firms stand at a crossroads. As we approach 2024, the integration of AI into accounting practices is not just an opportunity for an advantage, but a necessity. This guide aims to demystify AI for small accounting firms, providing actionable insights into adopting this transformative technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy and value in your services.

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There May Still Be Time to Reduce your Small Business 2023 Tax Bill

RogerRossmeisl

In the midst of holiday parties and shopping for gifts, don’t forget to consider steps to cut the 2023 tax liability for your business. You still have time to take advantage of a few opportunities. Time deductions and income If your business operates on a cash basis, you can significantly affect your amount of taxable income by accelerating your deductions into 2023 and deferring income into 2024 (assuming you expect to be taxed at the same or a lower rate next year).

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2024: What’s coming up in sales tax

TaxConnex

The new year will no doubt be another active one in sales tax. Let’s look at a few of the likeliest developments. Weaker state revenue The kind of year it’s going to be for state coffers could greatly influence such future sales tax trends as new levies, tougher nexus thresholds and intensifying audits. If so, watch out for 2024. “With more fiscal data coming in, the long-term health of state budgets looks murky,” writes analyst Lucy Dadayan on the site of the Tax Policy Center.

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IRS plans foreign tax credit rules

Accounting Today

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service expect to issue proposed regulations to address the application of the foreign tax credit and related rules and the dual consolidated loss rules to certain types of taxes described in the GloBE Model Rules.

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4 Ways Finance and Accounting Pros Can Adapt Now to Working With Generative AI

CPA Practice

Accounting and finance professionals are always on the lookout for tools that can help them become more efficient, productive and accurate in their work. And for well over a third (38%) of workers in the profession recently surveyed by Robert Half, generative AI is one technology that they expect will make a positive impact on their careers. That includes creating more demand for their skills.

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Microsoft Excel vs. Power BI: Time to Make the Switch?

Acterys

From startups to multinationals, Microsoft Excel is at the core of countless organization’s reporting and financial planning and analysis (FP&A). IDC reveals that 64% of businesses still lean on spreadsheets for their financial operations. Excel’s appeal lies in its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, but it’s not without limitations.

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Fall In Love With the Month-End Close

It's the time of year to give our close process some TLC. Join us in this one hour webinar where we discuss how to adopt leading practices and infuse technology into the month-end close process to improve our experience and increase our productivity during month-end and quarter-end close. Learning Objectives: This course's objective is to understand how the month-end close can be improved with automation and adoption of leading practices.

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R&D Tax Credit and Section 174 Update for Startups

BurklandAssociates

The IRS recently provided new interim guidance around expense categories, contract research, and foreign R&D activities. The post R&D Tax Credit and Section 174 Update for Startups appeared first on Burkland.

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Don’t Forget to Empty Out Your Flexible Spending Account

RogerRossmeisl

If you have a tax-saving flexible spending account (FSA) with your employer to help pay for health or dependent care expenses, there’s an important date coming up. You may have to use the money in the account by year-end or you’ll lose it (unless your employer has a grace period). As the end of 2023 gets closer, here are some rules and reminders to keep in mind.

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Services: Taxable or not?

TaxConnex

In sales tax calculation, you deal with the “hard” and the “less-hard.” Figuring out sales tax obligations for goods (aka, tangible personal property, or TPP) is the less-hard part; you merely have to bear in mind that every state that taxes TPP does it a little differently. Services, on the other hand, are the hard calculation. Not every state taxes services not every state taxes the same ones, and those that do tax services do so in a galaxy of ways.

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Accounting in 2024: The year ahead in numbers

Accounting Today

Accounting Today's annual survey reveals firms' expectations, worries and plans for the next 12 months.

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Navigating Payroll Compliance: Future-Proofing Payroll in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape

Speaker: Jennifer Hill

Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.

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IRS: Collection Notices Are Coming Back in 2024

CPA Practice

The IRS has hit the restart button on sending out automated collection notices, ending a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said on Tuesday. Because automated collection notices were paused during that two-year span, the IRS also said today it will be providing about $1 billion in penalty relief to approximately 4.7 million individuals, businesses, and tax-exempt organizations that weren’t sent collection reminders about their overdue taxes during the pandemic.

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This Is Not a Drill: EY Is Laying Off Partners Now

Going Concern

Mere hours ago, Wall Street Journal reported that EY is laying off “dozens of partners across all U.S. business” and not only in lower-demand service lines. As with most of the cuts we’ve seen this year, consulting is most affected with their partner ranks being trimmed by ten percent, four percent in strategy and transactions. Says WSJ , there will be cuts in audit and tax as well though they didn’t share numbers.

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Listeners’ Favorites: Our Top Podcast Episodes of 2023

BurklandAssociates

Thank you to all the experts throughout the startup ecosystem who joined our Startup Success podcast in 2023 to share knowledge and insights. The post Listeners’ Favorites: Our Top Podcast Episodes of 2023 appeared first on Burkland.

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Are Vendors Cheating Your Company?

RogerRossmeisl

Every year, U.S. companies lose millions of dollars to vendor fraud. These schemes can be complex and usually involve collusion of multiple suppliers or suppliers and employees of the defrauded business. Small businesses that don’t use sophisticated vendor software or don’t have other anti-fraud resources are particularly vulnerable. But knowledge is power.

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Next-Level Fraud Prevention: Strategies for Today’s Threat Landscape

Speaker: Sierre Lindgren

Fraud is a battle that every organization must face – it’s no longer a question of “if” but “when.” Every organization is a potential target for fraud, and the finance department is often the bullseye. From cleverly disguised emails to fraudulent payment requests, the tactics of cybercriminals are advancing rapidly. Drawing insights from real-world cases and industry expertise, we’ll explore the vulnerabilities in your processes and how to fortify them effectively.

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Does sales tax apply to memberships?

TaxConnex

Clubs and dues have been around for decades, but the rise of certain memberships – and the ability to sell them over the internet – have also raised the question of whether memberships incur sales tax. Ecommerce can involve many different types of memberships, often offering access to discounts or other benefits perceived as exclusive. Gym and fitness chains and warehouse retailers, for example, use the internet to sell memberships to their franchised businesses all over the country.

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The 2023 Top 100 People: Fixing the pipeline problem

Accounting Today

Accounting's influencers offer their advice for solving the profession's most critical issue.

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New York Considers New Taxes on Guns and Ammunition

CPA Practice

By Gail Cole. Firearms and ammunition are already subject to New York sales tax. If New York State Senate Bill 7733 is enacted, it will place an additional excise tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition in the Empire State. The rate would be 11% to match the federal firearms and ammunition excise tax as well as the new California tax on guns and ammo dealers.

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Employment 941 Tax Problems and How an Enrolled Agent Can Help

MyIRSRelief

Employment taxes can be a complex area for businesses, especially when it comes to Form 941, the Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return. This form is used to report income taxes, social security tax, or Medicare tax withheld from employee’s paychecks, and to pay the employer’s portion of social security or Medicare tax. However, mistakes can happen, and when they do, they can lead to significant tax problems.

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Cash Flow Secrets Every Upskilled CPA Should Know

Speaker: Debra L. Robinson

CPAs know the drill: taxes, compliance, rinse, repeat. But what about the sneaky cash flow that’s quietly messing with your organization’s success? It’s time to step into the spotlight and expose the “dirty little secrets” of cash flow to fuel strategic growth. By upskilling your accounting practices and shifting focus from tax compliance to the strategic movement of money, you can transform your role from reactive accountant to proactive financial strategist.

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Readers’ Favorites: Our Top Blog Posts of 2023

BurklandAssociates

2023 was another interesting and challenging year for startups and investors. Our readers found these blog articles to be especially helpful. The post Readers’ Favorites: Our Top Blog Posts of 2023 appeared first on Burkland.

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Giving Gifts and Throwing Parties Can Help Show Gratitude and Provide Tax Breaks

RogerRossmeisl

During this holiday seasons, your business may want to show its gratitude to employees and customers by giving them gifts or hosting holiday parties. It’s a good time to review the tax rules associated with these expenses. Are they tax deductible by your business and is the value taxable to the recipients? Employee gifts Many businesses want to show their employees appreciation during the holiday time.

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Sales tax ‘responsible party’ laws still going strong

TaxConnex

Business truism has it that limited liability corporations and similar entities shield the personal property and assets of their owners and major shareholders from company bills and missteps. That’s true for many of the fiscal messes that can befall a company. But not for sales tax liability, where most states still maintain strong responsible party laws.

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20 big companies that need better tax advice

Accounting Today

The five S&P 100 companies with the highest overall tax rates paid an average of 43.32% in 2022.

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Profit in the Details: Rethinking Spend for Monumental Impact

Speaker: Aaron Berson

Managing spend is more than a cost cutting exercise – it's a pathway to smarter decisions that unlock efficiency and drive growth. By understanding and refining the spending process, financial leaders can empower their organizations to achieve more with less. Explore the art of balancing financial control with operational growth. From uncovering hidden inefficiencies to designing workflows that scale your business, we’ll share strategies to align your organization’s spending with its strategic g

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As Businesses Shift Focus to Efficiency, Finance Teams Must Find Ways to Do More with Less in AP

CPA Practice

By Anik Jain. Continued economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, stubborn inflationary trends and high interest rates are impacting everything from supply chains and vendor relationships to the labor force and the workplace. As a result, finance leaders find their departments squarely in the spotlight—keeping a closer eye on their balance sheets, taking fewer risks, and focusing more on efficiency and value over growth.

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What You Need to Know About Xero Data Backup With Acterys

Acterys

Businesses need data backups for all sorts of crucial information, including popular tools like Xero’s accounting software. Without the ability to back up data, your business is more vulnerable to natural disasters, human error, cyberattacks and other unplanned events. Xero backups are one way organizations can protect critical information, ensure data accuracy and preserve business continuity.

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2024 Predictions for Startups to Plan and Prepare for Now

BurklandAssociates

Startups are saturated with information on how to best budget and forecast for the year ahead. Founders are asking questions, but they’re not asking all the questions. Negative supposition about Read More The post 2024 Predictions for Startups to Plan and Prepare for Now appeared first on Burkland.

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The “Nanny Tax” Must be Paid for Nannies and Other Household Workers

RogerRossmeisl

You may have heard of the “nanny tax.” But if you don’t employ a nanny, you may think it doesn’t apply to you. Check again. Hiring a housekeeper, gardener or other household employee (who isn’t an independent contractor) may make you liable for federal income and other taxes. You may also have state tax obligations. If you employ a household worker, you aren’t required to withhold federal income taxes from pay.

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Navigating Bleisure Travel: A Guide for Mid-Sized Companies

Bleisure travel — where employees combine work and leisure — has been around since the advent of corporate travel and is here to stay. Successful bleisure policies strike a balance between employee preferences and company goals — workers report a 64% improvement in work-life balance, while companies benefit from reduced travel costs and increased workforce innovation.