We’ve heard quite a lot recently about the coming inclusion of critical audit matters (CAMs) in the audit report for audits following PCAOB auditing standards. CAMs are those items that have been reported to a client’s Audit Committee and relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and involve especially challenging, […]
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Alimony and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Tax Implications of the New Law
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act implemented in December 2017 will cause dramatic changes to the tax treatment of alimony payments as of January 1st, 2019, effectively reversing the tax treatment of payments by payers and recipients. Here, we’ll provide an overview of how the new law will affect divorce or separation instruments, and how […]
The IRS Mailbox Rule for Tax Returns
No doormat rule akin to mailbox rule Undoubtedly, the grand majority of people reading this are aware the mailbox rule deems a return filed as it is placed in the mailbox and correspondingly postmarked the same day. An enterprising taxpayer unsuccessfully attempted to extend the rationale of the mailbox rule in Plato v. Commissioner, USTC […]
Deductions for Meals and Entertainment after Tax Reform
Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a meal incurred during, directly before or after a sporting event or associated with entertainment was complimentary and inseparable. Both the meal and the entertainment qualified for a 50% deduction. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the question yet to be determined is – does the […]
Preparing for the Implementation of ASU No. 2016-14
Not-for-profit entities with 12/31/18 year-ends will be implementing ASU No. 2016-14, Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities in their financial statements. With limited exceptions (related to comparative financial statements in the areas of the new functional and natural expense analysis and the new liquidity and availability disclosures) ASU No. 2016-14 is required to be […]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Amends Changing the Inflationary Adjustment Calculation from Utilizing“CPI index” to a “Chained-CPI index”
Hidden beneath the towering waves of the tax transformation tsunami commonly referred to as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017; lies a somewhat over-shadowed verse which may presently fail to excite many appetites. The seemingly shallow amendment applies to the very first code section. Code §1 refers to the imposition of tax. It […]
Coming This Summer, a Revised Yellow Book
If you are a movie fan, you are likely looking forward to this summer’s releases of Solo, A Star Wars Story, Incredibles 2, or perhaps Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Well, if you audit governments and/or not-for-profits, another summer blockbuster to watch for is the 2018 Yellow Book revision. It is estimated that the new Yellow […]
Proposed Changes to Lease Accounting – Topic 842
As both public and private companies scramble to complete the new revenue standard, Topic 606, they should not lose track of the fast approaching effective date for the FASB’s new lease accounting guidance, Topic 842. In addition to requiring the capitalization of all leases by companies, along with the related lease liability, the new lease […]
Concerned about Accounting Fraud? Watch for Fraud Risk Factors
Under AU-C section 240, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit, the auditor is required to evaluate whether information obtained from risk assessment procedures and related activities performed indicates that one or more fraud risk factors are present. Management should also be looking for and responding to the presence of accounting fraud risk factors. […]
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Provides Miscellaneous Tax Related Provisions
On February 9, 2018, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. The main purpose of the legislation was to fund the government through March 23, 2018, but it also provided a few relevant retroactive tax changes we should note and be aware of for tax year 2017. The […]