The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division's Annual Report for 2020 (Pub 3583: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf) emphasized coronavirus (COVID-19)-related tax fraud and cybercrimes, along with its more…
Tax Software in the COVID-19 Environment
2020 Annual Survey of New York State Practitioners
In Brief The 2020 tax season was unlike any other, with a global pandemic requiring virtually all tax preparers to work from home, often while…
CPA Firm Websites
Then and Now
Long-time readers may be aware that the Tech Talk column began as an occasional feature called Website of the Month in 2001. My involvement officially…
From the earliest accountants in Egypt and Babylonia to the father of modern accounting Luca Pacioli, the accounting profession has led efforts throughout history to…
The shift to online education in Spring 2020 had both positive and negative aspects (see, e.g., Michael Horn, “COVID-19's Ultimate Impact on Online Learning: The…
It is no secret that CPAs have faced an increasing level of cyber-security threats, even under normal conditions. Audit Analytics reports in its June 2020…
In Brief Information security and cybersecurity have been major concerns of business managers for many years. The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced new challenges…
In the early 2000s, as the business world began to return to a more normal mode of operations after the events of September 11, 2001,…
Current Tax Issues in the Cloud
Sales of Software versus Services in Citrix
Proper sales tax compliance can be daunting for any business, but the complexities increase when dealing with the software and technology industries in particular. By…
XBRL Reporting by State and Local Governments
Changes on the Horizon
The development of Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) in the corporate sector, the demand for better state and local government reporting, legislation at the national…
Opportunities and Challenges of Real-Time Financial Reporting
Adoption Models for State and Municipal Governments
In Brief This article reviews the implementation of real-time reporting by state and municipal governmental units as a model for analyzing these emerging technologies. While…
Textual Analysis for Risk Profiles from 10-K Filings
Evidence from Audit Opinions
In Brief Technology can be used by auditors to evaluate the risks presented by engagements. This article introduces a Natural Language Processing (NLP) approach to…
CPAs have spent much of “busy season” assisting individuals and business with questions about coronavirus-related economic relief, such as stimulus payments and paycheck protection loans.…
Managing the Impact of Cloud Computing
Perspectives on Vulnerabilities, ERM, and Audit Services
In Brief Cloud computing is in the vanguard of a global digital transformation. This article looks at how to identify cloud computing opportunities and operationalize…
Machine learning is an increasingly familiar technology term that encompasses a broad range of applications. Machine learning can enable businesses to sift through large amounts…
In Brief Public health measures taken to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have upended business operations and processes. Auditing is no exception;…
In the early 2000s, as the business world began to return to a more normal mode of operations after the events of September 11, 2001,…
The Best Tax Software 2019
Annual Survey of New York State Practitioners
In Brief New York tax practitioners encountered several challenges during the 2019 tax season, most notably with obtaining assistance from IRS and Department of Tax…
I read with interest the article in the June 2019 CPA Journal by Andre Sterley (“Cryptoassets: Accounting for an Emerging Asset Class,” http://bit.ly/2l7CYf9). It's an excellent article about…
A call comes in from the helpdesk: A user reports that she has a red screen on her desktop asking for a cryptocurrency payment and…
ICYMI | Data Visualization Software
An Introduction to Tableau for CPAs
In Brief New software is constantly being developed to help users work with the ever-increasing volume of data produced by businesses. CPAs should be at…
Cybersecurity and Data Breaches
Learning from CCH’s Mistakes
By this point, every CPA knows that CCH was attacked by malware in early May, causing a mass outage of its platform for several days…
Adapting to the New Business Environment
The Rise of Software Robots in the Workplace
All organizations need to leverage new technologies to stay competitive, and one such technology, business analytics (BA), has been a hot topic among CPAs for…
New York State recently adopted a “first-in-the-nation” set of cybersecurity compliance requirements that impact any businesses or organizations that report to the Department of Financial…
The Internet is an essential tool for CPAs and business professionals. Accountants use the Internet for communicating within and without an organization; retrieving, processing and…
ICYMI | The Coming Disruption of Drones, Robots, and Bots
How Will It Affect CPAs and Accounting Practice?
Drones, mechanical robots, and robotic software processes are augmenting, assisting, and, in some cases, replacing human workers in almost every industry. The common assumption that…
In Brief Technology continues to change society at a rapid pace, and accounting and auditing are by no means immune. New technologies are increasingly able…
Data Visualization Software
An Introduction to Tableau for CPAs
In Brief New software is constantly being developed to help users work with the ever-increasing volume of data produced by businesses. CPAs should be at…
All right. Well, take care yourself. I guess that’s what you’re best, presence old master? A tremor in the Force. The last time felt it…