This column describes web resources that provide significant free information about federal taxes.
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Practice Management & Professional Standards
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.
Integrating Tax Ethics Into the First Tax Course
Because students generally are in the early stages of their professional development, they easily can be exposed to professional ethics issues and preferred professional behaviors in common ethical situations as they learn more about tax technical content and the practical implementation of those rules.
Taxpayer Representation in the Shadow of Preparer Discipline
Tax practitioners at times must balance client interests and their own professional interests. This issue takes on even greater import when the CPA is representing a client before the IRS.
CPAs and Privileged Communications
Even though the privilege has been traditionally reserved for attorneys, as the world has became more complex, the courts have expanded privilege beyond attorneys to include accountants in certain situations.
Thinking Outside the Typical Client Profile in Tax Engagements
Tax practice leaders should consider whether their firms have appropriate processes and procedures in place to handle engagements that fall outside their usually relatively narrow profile for busy-season individual tax return engagements.
Mobile Information Security Concerns
CPAs must understand the security issues involved in and the steps they can take to control and minimize the risks of using mobile devices.
Current Tax Return Disclosure Issues Involving Sec. 7216
Practitioners face some difficult scenarios in properly disclosing or using client tax return information. Multiple professional ethics pronouncements and federal and state legislative and administrative pronouncements all must be considered before acting.
INDIVIDUALS
Current Developments in Taxation of Individuals: Part 1
This update surveys recent federal tax developments involving individuals, including court cases, rulings, and guidance issued during the six months ending October 2025.
