News

The AICPA Peer Review Board voted in November to approve Peer Review Standards Update (PRSU) No. 2, which aligns peer review standards with new quality management standards that go into effect late next year. The update also clarifies and improves existing technical guidance.

The Jan. 1, 2025, deadline for reporting companies to file beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports could be extended by one year, based on a draft continuing resolution proposed in the House of Representatives. The 1,500-page short-term funding bill, which would keep the government funded until March 14, 2025, could be voted on today by the House and shortly thereafter by the Senate.

In Texas Top Cop Shop v Garland et al. ( case 4:24-cv-00478 December 3, 2024) , the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), questioning its constitutionality and its impact on small businesses. The CTA, enacted as part of broader anti-money laundering efforts, mandates companies to disclose their beneficial ownership information to a federal database maintained by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has suspended the implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act’s (CTA) Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements.

The transformative leader, who is retiring on Dec. 31, guided the organization and the profession for nearly three decades.

The Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) today announced the appointment of Robert W. Scott to a five-year term on the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Mr. Scott currently serves as the director of finance and administration for the city of Brookfield, Wisconsin. His term begins July 1, 2025, and extends through June 30, 2030.

Another large accounting firm has struck a deal with private-equity investors.

Paul N. Iannone, CPA, J.D., MST and Danny A. Pannese, CPA/ABV/CFF, CSEP, MST, associate professors, and Benoit N. Boyer, Ph.D., retired professor, all in the Jack Welch College of Business and Technology at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, wrote “Cleaning up intercompany debt” for the November 2024 issue of The Tax Advisor.

The AICPA Assurance Services Executive Committee recently provided an update and held a meeting to discuss the evolution of assurance services and the exciting advancements on the horizon. The critical need for CPAs to adapt to emerging non-financial assurance opportunities, including cybersecurity, blockchain, digital assets, and sustainability, was emphasized. The CPA profession is uniquely positioned to provide assurance inthese new areas, thanks to established frameworks, ethical guidelines, and a legacy of trust.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) today published an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that improves financial reporting and responds to investor input by requiring public companies to disclose, in interim and annual reporting periods, additional information about certain expenses in the notes to financial statements.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed how we live and work, offering immense potential for innovation and progress. However, as with any technology, AI also has its drawbacks. Emerging technologies like deepfakes – AI-generated synthetic media that can convincingly manipulate or fabricate audio, video, and images – have rapidly gained popularity among cybercriminals as a potent tool for cyberattacks. By leveraging deepfakes, they can easily manipulate information, deceive individuals, and exploit vulnerabilities within organizations. The consequences of these attacks can be severe, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage. 

GASB issued guidance that establishes requirements for certain types of capital assets to be disclosed separately for purposes of note disclosures.

More than half of finance leaders believe technology will improve audit quality, but the human element is irreplaceable.

Sustainability is rapidly becoming a business requirement – yet so many companies are still dragging their feet. Immediate Past CTCPA Chair Timothy Hedley, PhD, CPA, CFF, CFE, a Fordham University adjunct professor responsible for the college’s ESG literacy programs and initiatives, joins us to share why companies need to care about ESG.

At the beginning of the legislative session, CTCPA's Governmental Accounting and Auditing (GAA) Committee proposed a change to state law to assist many municipalities and governmental auditors. The committee requested extending the deadline for filing certified reports required by the State Department of Education (SDE) from December 31 to January 31. This extension would provide much-needed relief for municipalities and auditors, recognizing the challenges school districts face in meeting the December 31 deadline and allowing for a more systematic and less stressful process.

In a recent letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and CTCPA, together with 54 state CPA societies, expressed serious concerns with the rollout and push to implement FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirement without regard for the impact to the small business community.

In a recent letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and CTCPA, together with 54 state CPA societies, expressed serious concerns with the rollout and push to implement FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirement without regard for the impact to the small business community.

The Department of Labor has announced a six-factor test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This new rule takes effect on March 11, 2024.

Despite the known value of engagement letters, CPAs may not use them for small services or when responding to client questions. Is there an alternative?

Starting January 1, 2024, a significant number of businesses are required to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA” or “the Act”). The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) estimates that in the first year approximately 32.6 million[3] businesses will need to comply with the Act and report information related to the business’ owners, officers, and controlling persons.