The lease of tangible personal property with an operator, or a “fractional ownership” arrangement where the use of a tangible asset is collectively shared by…
As noted by the PCAOB in its Release 2017-001: “there are situations in which an auditor may be required by law or regulation, or voluntarily…
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) provides general standards of conduct for plan fiduciaries. A breach of fiduciary duty can result in personal liability…
Written Supervisory Approval of IRS Penalties
When Must It Be Given, and Who May Give It?
The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) imposes penalties on understatements of tax as a way to encourage voluntary compliance and deter noncompliant behavior. Generally, the revenue…
“Investment” can mean cultivating capital of many kinds—money, time, effort, energy—with the expectation of a positive result. As we approach the third annual Moynihan Scholarship…
The June 2017 installment of this column covered “Reporting on Restatement Adjustments after an Auditor Change” (http://bit.ly/2pQMClB). This installment expands on that theme, providing guidance…
Every CPA has probably dealt with this scenario: an initial meeting with a potential client who, while explaining their business or tax situation, asks a…
The birth or adoption of a child brings joy to parents, grandparents, and other family members and friends. It also means financial challenges for families.…
Changes to the New York City Commercial Rent Tax
A Victory for Small Business Owners
A new law, passed by the New York City Council on November 30, 2017, made significant changes to the New York City Commercial Rent Tax…
The idea that CPA firms would allow non-CPAs to own a minority stake in a CPA firm and then refer to these non-licensees as “partners”…
Although still in the proposal stage, there has been substantial movement by both FASB and the SEC on major issues discussed by this author in…
Collectibles, such as art, wine, jewelry, and coins and stamps, have long been important assets to individuals, particularly high-net-worth individuals. Art collectors say that the…
Connecticut Legislative Update
Personal, Corporate, and Estate and Gift Tax Changes
CPAs need to be aware of recent legislative developments at the state level in order to properly advise taxpayers doing business in multiple jurisdictions. After…
The Audit Report Returns to Its Roots
An Historical Perspective on Critical Audit Matters
The evolution of the standard audit report has been slow and cautious over the past century. Most recently, in 2011, the AICPA's Auditing Standards Board…
The role of retirement plan governance has become extremely important as employers face increased scrutiny of the way in which they operate their plans in…
Taxpayers and their advisors alike are focused on the potentially massive tax changes being discussed in Congress. As of this writing, it is uncertain what…
Life insurance is one of the most important tools in modern financial planning, but it is not always the most appreciated. It has a role…
IRS Form 3520, Penalties, and Whether to Make a Protective Filing
Information Reporting on Foreign Trusts and Gifts
Whether a taxpayer is required to file IRS Form 3520, Annual Return To Report Transactions With Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts, is…
The world is changing. The CPA profession is not, or at least it's changing far slower than the accounting profession as a whole. Sometimes it…
Individuals who own businesses frequently need to have the business valued. Sometimes it is for a specific purpose, such as for postsale retirement planning; other…
(http://bit.ly/2yMsBi1), individuals gave $281.86 billion in 2016, nearly 4% more than the prior year. How do high-income taxpayers—defined here as income of $200,000 or more—fit…
Sourcing receipts for apportioning business income continues to be a challenge to CPAs, especially for providers of services. Financial service companies in particular have seen…
Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 6672(a), an individual can be held personally liable for a penalty for the willful failure to collect, account for,…
A search for unrecorded liabilities is a fundamental, almost universally applied procedure in all audits. The scope of such a search frequently includes a sampling…
Windfalls can come from good fortune, such as winning the lottery—or bad fortune, such as a legal settlement for medical malpractice. Whatever the cause, the…
Planning and Tax Considerations for Collectibles
Assisting Hobbyists, Dealers, and Investors
Many individuals have substantial investments in collectibles, such as art, stamps, coins, autographs, books, maps, baseball cards, glassware, antiques, gems, jewelry, or wine. The category…
Washington State recently passed legislation extending its Business & Occupation (B&O) tax economic nexus provisions to retailers, expanding its sales/use tax nexus provisions to remote…
Tax advisors of estates are generally aware that the executor or personal representative of the estate is personally liable for the payment of federal estate…
Auditors are required to communicate to audit committees or others charged with governance “significant control deficiencies,” including “material weaknesses” [as these terms are defined in…
Sustainable Leadership
Doing What’s Right for the Profession
On May 17, 2017, this author had the honor of speaking on a panel at the second annual NYSSCPA/Hedge Fund Roundtable Sustainability Investment Leadership Conference…