With Oct. 15 looming, some practitioners face daunting challenges
Tax practitioners have expressed concerns that they will not be able to meet upcoming Oct. 15 tax filing deadline for a variety of reasons related to the global pandemic.
Practice Management & Professional Standards
Resolving IRS hardships with the Taxpayer Advocate Service
The Taxpayer Advocate Service can help practitioners when clients are suffering.
2020 tax software survey
COVID-19 upended tax season. Did CPAs’ tax software help them cope?
2020 tax software survey: Shares of respondents and product and company information
Bonus: The percentages for all 13 products, including a breakdown of their usage among firms ranked by ranges of numbers of preparers, in the 2020 tax software survey.
Tax practice issues in the age of COVID-19
CPAs are positioned to advise clients on fresh cybersecurity concerns, return filing date changes, independent contractor status updates, PPP forgiveness determinations, and tentative NOL carrybacks.
Tools to help nonfilers receive economic impact payments
The IRS provided information and tools that tax practitioners can use to inform individuals who are eligible to receive economic impact payments but did not receive one automatically.
Professional responsibilities in the virtual age
As the COVID-19 pandemic forces firms to accelerate the adoption and overall use of virtual communication tools, practitioners need to be aware that the foundational principles of ethics and best practices still apply when using these technologies.
AICPA committee updates its conflict-of-interest advice
The Tax Practice Responsibilities Committee’s updated Guidelines on dealing with conflicts of interest depend on rules found in the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and Treasury Circular 230.
Helping young professionals build a foundation for success
Build up young professionals by encouraging continuing education, mentorships, and volunteering opportunities with professional and charitable organizations.
Promoting integrity in the classroom
Academic integrity of colleges and universities depends on developing and enforcing a comprehensive policy that sets a framework for responding judiciously and transparently to academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism.
Cybersecurity: An urgent priority for CPA firms
Firms must keep up with the IRS’s written data security plans to confront ever-increasing threats from hackers.
Prepare for next tax season by looking in the rearview mirror
A well-organized post-busy season debrief meeting can help generate ideas for improving the firm’s processes through this critical period.
A road map for tax function automation
This article discusses methods and strategies for how a corporate tax department can move forward in its quest for tax function automation.
Turn to e-Services for secure access to taxpayer information, key tools
The IRS’s updated e-Services platform is intended to facilitate more efficient and cost-effective communications with practitioners.
Anticipate the rush of panicked potential clients
Last-minute requests during the rush of tax season can turn into an opportunity to court new clients.
IRS spotlights requirement to have a written information security plan
The IRS launches fresh efforts to promote awareness of data security issues.
A new year, a better firm
Practitioners should consider resolutions on security, technology, and client service to prepare for the coming year.
AICPA task force works to update Statements on Standards for Tax Services
The Tax Practice Responsibilities Committee is reviewing the AICPA’s Statements on Standards for Tax Services to make clarifications where necessary and ensure they are relevant to current practice.
2019 tax software survey
This annual survey shows how CPAs rate the tax preparation software they used during last tax season and how it handled the recent tax law changes.
Implementing tax automation and digital workflow
Firms can "wow" their clients by embracing tech tools that streamline many processes, including creating seamless onboarding, using e-signatures for engagement letters, and automating procedures for filling out annual checklists.
