Competent practitioners should already know what it takes to have a successful accounting firm or to be a part of one. Financial capital, strong client relationships, and technical know-how are all key; however, other aspects must be consistently considered. This column provides a sampling of those areas and ideas.
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Practice Management & Professional Standards
Supervisory Obligations Under Circular 230
CPAs who oversee their firm’s practice should take note of the changes to expansion of supervisory obligations under Circular 230.
Is Now the Time to Implement PFP Services?
The CPA profession has naturally evolved toward personal financial planning (PFP). This is borne out by the results of the recent AICPA PFP Division survey on the economic benefits of implementing a PFP practice in a CPA firm, among other things.
Youth Movement: Attracting and Keeping Young People in the CPA Profession
CPAs from the Baby Boomer generation are approaching retirement in great numbers, leaving a gap of both people and knowledge to fill. Employers are learning how to adapt their workplaces and processes while attempting to maintain their values and culture to retain their top talent.
AICPA’s Revised Confidentiality Rule, Sec. 7216, and the Tax Professional
Practitioners are encouraged to determine whether they comply with both Sec. 7216 and revised AICPA client confidentiality rules.
What to Do When Your Client Receives a Summons
Practitioners should carefully consider the facts and circumstances of a client’s examination or collection matter if the IRS issues a summons.
Free Tax Resources on the Internet: A Selected Bibliography
This column describes web resources that provide significant free information about federal taxes.
New Rules on Written Tax Advice and Other Revisions to Circular 230 and Their Effect on CPAs
This article discusses the technical provisions of Circular 230, Regulations Governing Practice Before the Internal Revenue Service, and how recent revisions could affect existing tax practice procedures and the management of tax practices.
Setting Proper Boundaries With a Clear, Concise Engagement Letter
This column considers the contractual nature of engagement letters and addresses some common criteria that should be considered, and terms that should be included in, most engagement letters.
Securing Client Data: A Fundamental Priority
With costly data breaches making front-page news, data security is now fundamental even for the smallest firms. This item describes accounting firms’ data asset vulnerabilities and how to secure those assets.
If You Ask, They Will Buy: Selling Additional Services to Existing Tax Clients
Why tax pracitioners should engage in cross-selling, or selling new or complementary services to a firm’s existing clients.
2014 Tax Software Survey
In our annual survey, thousands of tax practitioners assessed the software they used to prepare 2013 returns.
Practitioners’ Responsibilities in Complying With Records Requests
When responding to records requests, the tax practitioner must be cognizant of, and adhere to, the collective body of applicable professional standards and law.
Staying in Touch: A Year of Client Communications
Regular communication, via mailings, email, social media posts, blogs or token gifts, is the best way to strengthen long-term relationships with clients. This article features a timeline of events to use throughout the year to stay engaged with clients.
E-File and Digital Signatures: Where Are We Now?
The e-file process can now be completely digital and paperless. This article reviews the new IRS guidance on electronic signatures and suggests process and technology changes to implement.
Practical Approaches to Common Conflicts of Interest
This column highlights some common conflicts of interest encountered by CPA tax practitioners and offers some practical means of properly addressing the consequential ethical issues.
State Tax Tribunals: Is Taxpayer Representation by CPAs a Potential Independence Problem?
This item addresses whether a CPA representing a client in state tax tribunal has impaired his or her independence under the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.
A New Road Map for CPAs’ Professional Conduct When Providing PFP Services
The PFP Executive Committee issued a statement to provide guidance to members and help them uphold the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, objectivity, and competence.
An Overview of AICPA and IRS Rules of Practice
This column refreshes practitioners on the AICPA and IRS rules of practice, provides a list of resources for questions and answers, and details the relationship and similarities between the AICPA and IRS ethics standards related to tax practice.
Jumping Into the Cloud: Are You There Yet?
For those practitioners who have not yet made the leap to the cloud, there are many advantages to consider and some planning to do.
TAX PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
2025 tax software survey
AICPA members in tax practice assess how their return preparation software performed during tax season and offer insights into their procedures.
