News
FinCEN proposes BOI reports deadline extension for certain companies
October 06, 2023
Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Wednesday that would extend the deadline for companies created or registered in 2024 to file their first beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports. The NPRM (RIN 1506-AB62) would provide 90 days for those companies to file initial reports rather than the original deadline of 30 days from the earlier of the date on which the company receives actual notice that its creation or registration has become effective or the date on which the secretary of state first provides public notice that the company has been created or registered.
AICPA backs legislation to add accounting to STEM education
October 03, 2023
Efforts to grow and diversify the pipeline of accounting talent have been buoyed by the introduction of legislation that would add accounting to grades K–12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs, better known as STEM.
AICPA releases quality management practice aid
September 29, 2023
Practitioners preparing for the new AICPA quality management (QM) standards now have access to a practice aid designed to help their cause. The free practice aid, Establishing and Maintaining a System of Quality Management for a CPA Firm's Accounting and Auditing Practice, is available in versions for sole practitioners and for small- and medium-sized firms.
ERC abuse brings renewed push for regulation of paid tax preparers
September 21, 2023
Abuse of the employee retention credit (ERC) by aggressive promoters who make questionable promises has pushed Treasury to renew the call for the regulation of paid tax return preparers, an action that has the AICPA's support.
IRS orders immediate stop to new Employee Retention Credit processing
September 15, 2023
To protect taxpayers from scams, the IRS has ordered an immediate stop to new Employee Retention Credit processing amid a surge of questionable claims, concerns from tax professionals, and aggressive marketing to ineligible applicants, posing unacceptable risk to businesses and the tax system.
Labor Department Proposes New Overtime Salary Threshold
September 08, 2023
On August 30, the Biden administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the Department of Labor to extend overtime pay eligibility to more than 3 million workers. The initiative comes following a similar attempt by the Obama administration over eight years ago to revise overtime eligibility regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under the new proposal, employers would be required to provide time-and-a-half pay for eligible workers who work beyond 40 hours per week. The previous threshold for this requirement set in 2019 by the Trump administration—$35,568—would be increased to $55,000.
Federal, state gov'ts put noncompete agreements in regulatory crosshairs
August 21, 2023
Perhaps the biggest development in employment law in 2023 is the federal government’s proposal to ban noncompete clauses. The federal government’s actions coincide with, or in some instances have prompted some states to restrict or outright ban noncompete agreements in their entirety.
AICPA and NASBA to Launch Learning Program Designed to Ease Path to CPA Licensure
August 07, 2023
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) will launch an innovative post-graduate program this fall in collaboration with the Tulane School of Professional Advancement (SoPA). The program blends rigorous online learning with on-the-job professional experience for college accounting graduates, offering a less costly and more flexible way to complete the 150-hour course credit requirement to become a licensed CPA.
Accounting talent shortage is focus of new advisory group
July 31, 2023
The AICPA has formed an advisory group of accounting stakeholders that will help to shape strategy to address the profession's talent shortage.
Pilot program set to help all stakeholders along the talent pipeline
June 21, 2023
The 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensure has become a target for some who see it as an easy way to ease the talent pipeline issues facing the profession.
Wayfair at five: No signs of age
June 16, 2023
It has been five years since the U.S. Supreme Court heard South Dakota v. Wayfair. The court decided on June 21, 2018, that states could tax purchases made from out-of-state sellers, even if the seller does not have a physical presence in the taxing state. Much of what has happened in state tax law since then has been based on that decision.
AICPA, NASBA looking for firms to pilot 'Experience, Learn and Earn' program
June 12, 2023
The AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) are working together to develop an integrated education and experience program for students who need a path to the 150 credit hours required for CPA licensure. The Experience, Learn and Earn program (ELE) will combine meaningful online study integrated with early work experience.
Connecticut Among First States to Enact 30-Month CPA Exam Testing Window
June 09, 2023
With just minutes left in the 2023 Connecticut legislative session, Connecticut officially joined the first states to adopt the 30-month CPA Exam testing window recommended by NASBA.
Coalition Including CPAs Calls Attention to New Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements
May 22, 2023
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) joined a coalition of organizations who have come together to make taxpayers and practitioners aware of the new Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement. BOI is an anti-money laundering initiative enacted through the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in 2021, which mandates that BOI information is reported to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
NASBA Extends CPA Exam Testing Window to 30 Months
April 24, 2023
In response to feedback submitted through the exposure draft, NASBA has announced that it will adopt an increased testing window of 30 months.
NASBA upholds 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensure
February 10, 2023
Across the board, stakeholders charged with promoting and protecting the accounting profession are searching for solutions to a talent acquisition issue that isn't unique to the profession.
Senate Bill Would Force Large Private Companies to Register with SEC
September 27, 2022
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island and two other Senate Democrats have filed legislation that would establish new SEC registration triggers for certain large private companies.
Certain tax services do not violate US ban on provision of accounting services in relation to Russia sanctions
June 10, 2022
A U.S. accounting firm is not prohibited by a White House executive order regarding U.S. sanctions against Russia from providing tax advisory and preparation services to the U.S. subsidiary of a Russian company in certain scenarios, according to guidance issued Thursday by Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
IRS continues work to help taxpayers; suspends mailing of additional letters
February 11, 2022
As part of ongoing efforts to provide additional help for people during this period, the IRS announced today the suspension of more than a dozen additional letters, including the mailing of automated collection notices normally issued when a taxpayer owes additional tax, and the IRS has no record of a taxpayer filing a tax return.
IRS identifies paused taxpayer notices
February 11, 2022
The IRS announced Wednesday in a news release the letters and notices it will not send taxpayers as it works through its backlog of unprocessed prior-year returns.