Sat.Sep 16, 2023 - Fri.Sep 22, 2023

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6 Ways Email is Secretly Destroying Your Accounting Firm

Going Concern

Email: The word itself sounds innocent, doesn’t it? Kind of like “snail mail,” but faster, sleeker, and without the slimy trail. But don’t be fooled—email is secretly a sinister beast, hiding in the shadows as it plots to destroy businesses—including your accounting firm. If your accounting firm still relies heavily on email for client communication and document management, you’re not in the fast lane—you’re on the road to ruin.

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Consider These Two Common Strategies to Optimize Your Taxes

CPA Practice

By Laura Schultz, J.D., IAR, Kiplinger Consumer News Service (TNS) After months of sluggish activity, the market recently turned the tide. Whether the market is up or down, it’s always a good time to keep your taxes in mind and, more specifically, how you can put yourself in an advantageous position by keeping more of your own money in your pockets.

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Four Tips to Connect Your Remote Team

Summit CPA

Just ten years ago, remote work was practically science fiction. (Actually, when I first brought up the idea to my team, they thought it was the “joke of the week.”) Today, it’s a part of the business landscape. There are lots of reasons why companies, employees and clients love remote work: flexibility, an expanded workforce, and a larger client-base, to name a few.

CPA 52
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If You’re Looking For Career Options, Give Government Auditing a Look

Going Concern

Ed. note: This post brought to you by the Big Government Auditing lobby. Just kidding, it’s a guest post from Parker Skaats, CPA, an experienced government worker who’s here to pitch the joys of government work to the unwashed overworked masses. Okay, let’s be real for a second. When you hear “government auditing,” do you picture dull offices with fluorescent lighting, stacks of paper taller than you, and people who still think fax machines are the pinnacle of technology

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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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Future Forward 2023: Transforming Advisory with Real-time AI Insights

Insightful Accountant

RLJ Financial Services' Caleb Jenkins explains the power of real-time AI insights to preempt issues, spot trends and provide invaluable, forward-looking counsel. Make sure you sign up today.

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A Cautionary Tax Planning Tale: Timing and Formalities Are Critical

CPA Practice

By John M. Goralka, Kiplinger Consumer News Service (TNS) This cautionary tale is based upon the recent tax case of Estate of Hoensheid v Commissioner , TC Memo 2023-34. When owners of a company plan to sell their business, there is very often a desire to minimize the resultant income tax. This tax is effectively taxing the increase in the value of the business often earned over many years and decades into a single year.

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Understanding the Impact of Financial Regulation on Accounting

Canopy Accounting

In the ever-changing financial landscape, regulations established by governing bodies are crucial for maintaining stability and integrity. They serve as the foundation of the financial system, ensuring fair practices, transparency, and accountability. These regulations set standards and guidelines for financial institutions and market participants, protecting consumers, preventing fraud, and promoting a level playing field.

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PCAOB proposes to toughen rule for auditor liability for negligence

Accounting Today

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board issued a proposal to amend its rule for an individual auditor's or audit firm's contributory liability for knowingly or recklessly contributing to violations.

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'Legendary' Sid Kess remembered as a tax expert and so much more

Accounting Today

Sid Kess is remembered by colleagues as both a highly proficient technical expert and a kind, caring human being who took an active interest in others' wellbeing.

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Receive More than $10,000 in Cash at your Business? Here’s What You Must Do

RogerRossmeisl

Does your business receive large amounts of cash or cash equivalents? If so, you’re generally required to report these transactions to the IRS — and not just on your tax return. The requirements Each person who, in the course of operating a trade or business, receives more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction (or two or more related transactions), must file Form 8300.

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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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Telecom tax and filing complexities

TaxConnex

Telecommunications companies face tougher problems than most other businesses when trying to comply with federal, state and local tax and regulatory obligations. Most of the taxes that telecom companies contend with are administered by the individual states’ Departments of Revenue (DOR) and local jurisdictions. These taxes go by various names: sales tax, communications services tax, utility users’ tax, local license tax and so on.

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Metrics Matter: Five KPIs for Fintech Startups

BurklandAssociates

Fintech is a diverse sector with KPIs that vary between companies, but these five metrics should matter to wide swaths of the industry. The post Metrics Matter: Five KPIs for Fintech Startups appeared first on Burkland.

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IRS to reduce audits of EITC claimants

Accounting Today

The service said Monday it plans to lower its audit rate of low-income taxpayers, even as some criticize its ability to protect taxpayer information.

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Planning Ahead for 2024: Should Your 401(k) Help Employees with Emergencies?

RogerRossmeisl

The SECURE 2.0 law, which was enacted last year, contains wide-ranging changes to retirement plans. One provision in the law is that eligible employers will soon be able to provide more help to staff members facing emergencies. This will be done through what the law calls “pension-linked emergency savings accounts.” Effective for plan years beginning January 1, 2024, SECURE 2.0 permits a plan sponsor to amend its 401(k), 403(b) or government 457(b) plan to offer emergency savings accounts that a

CPA 218
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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 Temporarily Suspends ERC Claims: What You Need to Know

Cherry Bekaert

On September 14, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced an immediate moratorium on the processing of new Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims until at least 2024. This pause in processing claims should not deter any employer from determining if it qualifies as an employer eligible to claim the ERC, documenting its eligibility, calculating the credit or filing an amended Form 940X to claim the appropriate credit.

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IRS Establishing New Unit to Crack Down on Tax Dodging by Pass-Throughs

CPA Practice

A new work group within the Large Business and International (LB&I) division will be tasked with holding large partnerships and other pass-through businesses accountable to pay the full amount of taxes they owe, the IRS said on Wednesday. The new pass-through unit will include many of the 3,700 agents the IRS is planning to hire in an effort to ramp up tax compliance efforts against high-income earners, complex partnerships, large corporations, and promoters.

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IRS moratorium on new ERC claims puts spotlight on preparers

Accounting Today

The Internal Revenue Service is encouraging employers to work with qualified tax professionals rather than shady promoters.

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Can You Deduct Student Loan Interest on your Tax Return?

RogerRossmeisl

The federal student loan “pause” came to an end on August 31 after more than three years. If you have student loan debt, you may wonder whether you can deduct the interest you pay on your tax return. The answer may be yes, subject to certain limits. The deduction is phased out if your adjusted gross income exceeds certain levels — and they aren’t as high as the income levels for many other deductions.

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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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EY Survey: Gen Z Is Broke, Anxious, and Extremely Worried About Everything. We Can’t Blame Them

Going Concern

EY put out a press release on the results of its 2023 Gen Z Segmentation study yesterday and it’s not good. Less than a third (31%) of those born between 1997 and 2007 surveyed feel financially secure, more than half (52%) said they are very or extremely worried about not having enough money. Mind you EY surveyed only 1500 of the 2.56 billion people who make up Gen Z for this particular project.

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IRS Promises Fewer Audits of EITC Claims

CPA Practice

By Kelley R. Taylor, Kiplinger Consumer News Service (TNS) IRS audits raise anxiety for many taxpayers. What can be even more frustrating is when those examinations seem unevenly targeted to taxpayers with lower incomes. That’s been the case with the earned income tax credit (EITC), which has been the subject of recent controversy. (A study released earlier this year found that the IRS audits Black taxpayers at about three to five times higher rates than the agency audits other taxpayers.

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Tax educator Sidney Kess dies at 97

Accounting Today

Kess, a renowned tax accountant, attorney and educator, died at the age of 97 on Sunday.

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Chapter 11: How Business Valuators Can Help Companies Reorganize

RogerRossmeisl

Most people equate business bankruptcy with liquidating a company’s assets and using the proceeds to repay creditors. That’s a Chapter 7 filing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, but closing shop isn’t a foregone conclusion in bankruptcy. Many companies instead file for Chapter 11 (reorganization) bankruptcy. This option allows a company to continue to operate, with the hope of turning things around.

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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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Keeping the 150 Hour Rule Is Making the Profession’s Diversity Problem More Pronounced

Going Concern

by Sharon Lassar, PhD, CPA (Florida) John J. Gilbert Professor and Director of the School of Accountancy, University of Denver The AICPA announced the formation of a National Pipeline Advisory Group , published an article about its focus on the accounting talent shortage, and scheduled a webinar titled “Special Pipeline Series: Path to 150.” All of this happened after the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) released its study titled “ Increasing Diversity in the Accounting Profession Pipeline.

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Mitigating Financial Risks: The Role of Virtual CFO Services in Safeguarding Your Business

IgniteSpot

In a world brimming with uncertainty, businesses are more vulnerable than ever to unforeseen financial risks. These risks can spell disaster if not effectively managed, leading to revenue losses, reputational damage, or even bankruptcy. But with the advent of virtual CFO services, businesses now have a formidable ally in their corner. These services act as a safety net, offering expertise and strategies to safeguard businesses from the volatile tides of financial risks.

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IRS sets up unit to focus on tax compliance at pass-throughs

Accounting Today

The service is establishing a group within its Large Business and International division to bolster tax compliance at large partnerships and S corps.

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Ed Mendlowitz Establishes the Mendlowitz Family Scholarship at Alma Mater Baruch

Withum

Ed Mendlowitz , Emeritus Partner at Withum, is a local and industry legend, having lent his voice and his talents to the accounting world for over 60 years. He is a thought leader, mentor, teacher, professor, writer and philanthropist. Furthering his worldwide impact on the industry, Ed has now established the Mendlowitz Family Scholarship at Baruch College.

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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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Now the Profession Is Losing Experienced Accountants Too

Going Concern

Here we are again talking about the accountant shortage. Don’t blame me, blame WSJ. Mark Maurer at Wall Street Journal wrote today about a young man named Omer Khokhar who realized after six years in accounting that he was done. The article title: “Job Security Isn’t Enough to Keep Many Accountants From Quitting.” Ruh-oh. The New York resident found accounting work monotonous, with little room for creativity or growth, and maximum salaries weren’t as high as he would have liked

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PCAOB Looks to Amend Rule on Auditors’ Liability for Audit Firm Violations

CPA Practice

A proposal issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) on Tuesday would hold auditors and others more accountable when they negligently, directly, and substantially cause their firm to violate auditing standards. The audit regulator is proposing changes to PCAOB Rule 3502, Responsibility Not to Knowingly or Recklessly Contribute to Violations.

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Helping clients recover from tax scams

Accounting Today

Fraudsters are ever-inventive, and accountants and tax pros need to make sure their clients keep vigilant.

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Internal Controls To Prevent and Detect Fraud at Small To Medium-Sized Not-for-Profits

Withum

The F word: Fraud. It is infamous in the accounting world and important that it is an “intentional” act. But why does it happen? How does it happen? The fraud triangle is a famous model in the fraud investigation world and states that fraud can occur when the following 3 elements are present: Pressure, opportunity, and rationalization. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners releases a report annually entitled “A Report to the Nations”, which can be accessed on their website: ACFE Report.Th

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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.