By Nick Spoltore What image comes to your mind when you think about Robin Hood? Is it the incredibly charismatic Errol Flynn in The Adventures of Robin Hood from 1938? Perhaps you envision the 12th century English folk tale adventurer as depicted by Kevin Costner or Russell Crowe. My favorite would undoubtedly be Robin Hood […]
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The 2019 Elimination of the Federal Individual Mandate: What You Need to Know for Tax Season
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act brought about quite a few changes that went into effect in 2018, but several tax law updates weren’t slated to go into effect until the 2019 tax year. One of the biggest changes in 2019 is the federal level elimination of the individual mandate penalty, also called the Shared […]
Improving the Internal Audit Function through Enhanced Data Analytics
Data analytics and “big data” have become a game changer for internal auditing, as firms search for opportunities to provide more value to clients and respond to new regulations and increased pressure from stakeholders. Integrating data analytics into the internal audit approach isn’t easy, but the investment of time and money will help firms and […]
Auditor Risk Assessment
In recent years, a constant mantra of the AICPA’s peer review and technical staff has been that auditors are struggling with the risk assessment standards (primarily AU-C sections 315 and 330). Common deficiencies cited by the AICPA include: [1] auditors failing to gain an understanding of internal control when identifying the client’s risks; [2] incomplete […]
Getting Ready for the New World of Peer Review
From those whose firms have recently gone through a peer review as part of the AICPA’s Peer Review Program (PRP), the feedback is consistent. Things have changed. While the underlying requirements of the PRP are the same, a review of a sample of an accounting firm’s engagement workpapers in order to assure compliance with applicable […]
A Timely Reminder to Take Grants Seriously
Sometimes, not-for-profits and governments can be tempted to not take their grant applications and reporting seriously. However, entities which choose this path do so at their own peril. For example, in March 2019, Duke University agreed to pay the federal government $112,500,000 to resolve claims that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting applications […]
Filing Relief for 2018 Partnership Returns
On July 25, 2019, the announcement of Rev. Proc. 2019-32 provided welcomed relief for Form 1065 filers. Under Section 6031(b), partnerships under the centralized audit regime are prohibited from amending, after the return’s due date, K-1 information required to be provided to partners. For 2018 returns, the K-1s show for the first time Line 20 […]
Now is the Time to Become Familiar with the New Yellow Book
The 2018 Yellow Book is effective for financial audits for periods ending on or after June 30, 2020. However, that does not mean that auditors can wait until 2020 to become familiar with the new standards. A prime example of why early familiarity is necessary lies in the area of independence. Under the Yellow Book, […]
Choices Not-for-Profits are Making in Implementing ASU No. 2016-14
Throughout 2019, not-for-profit entities (NFPs) are implementing ASU No. 2016-14, Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities. ASU No. 2016-14 allows flexibility in how and where certain information is presented. Recently, I reviewed the audited financial statements for 20 NFPs which have implemented ASU No. 2016-14 to see the choices they are making. NFPs are […]