News

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) president and CEO, Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, released the following statement highlighting the need for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to have the ability to meet the needs of taxpayers and tax preparers during this filing season: “For many years, one of the top priorities at the AICPA has been to promote efforts that ensure the IRS has the appropriate resources to meet the needs of taxpayers and preparers. Our goal is to support taxpayers and our members during times of uncertainty and to provide guidance to help navigate any changes that may affect critical, time-sensitive interactions with the IRS. “Many are concerned with potential challenges that could arise from recent changes throughout government. While there is a lot of speculation and many unknowns, the AICPA is actively monitoring the situation and engaging with IRS leadership and other key stakeholders to understand and mitigate the impact of these changes on IRS services. “IRS service levels and modernization efforts have seen progress since the COVID-19 pandemic and we are committed to seeing those efforts continue. Americans deserve a fully functioning agency that can be respected by taxpayers and their preparers, thereby allowing them to comply with their tax obligations.”

The AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) are proposing changes to the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) that would help pave the way for states to uniformly adopt an additional pathway for CPA licensure in conjunction with a shift to a different form of practice mobility. The changes to model legislative language that NASBA and the AICPA have asked their joint UAA committee to draft aim to maintain the integrity of the CPA license while allowing individuals to earn their license by obtaining a bachelor's degree (with requisite accounting and business courses); completing two years of professional experience; and passing the CPA Exam.

The United States Senate Committee on Finance has released a bipartisan discussion draft that will help to improve Internal Revenue Service administration - the AICPA has endorsed numerous provisions in this draft. Many of the provisions that the AICPA and state societies have long advocated for have been included in this discussion draft.

Reporting companies covered by the Corporate Transparency Act's (CTA's) beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirement do not have to file the reports while an injunction remains in place, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said Friday morning. Companies that do not file BOI reports also are not subject to liability while the injunction remains in place, FinCEN said. However, the estimated 32 million small businesses covered by the reporting requirements may submit their BOI reports voluntarily, FinCEN said. Although the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay Thursday of a nationwide injunction issued by a district court in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland, No. 4:24-CV-478 (E.D. Texas 12/3/24), a separate nationwide injunction issued by a different Texas court remains in place, FinCEN said.

The deadline for most reporting companies to file beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports was extended to Jan. 13, 2025, by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), hours after a Monday court ruling reinstated the reporting requirement.

IRS quarterly update to the Strategic Operating Plan news release IR-2024-310: IRS recovers billions in tax, financial criminal cases focused on drug trafficking, terrorist financing; launches new business online account features

Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, has been named as the incoming CEO of AICPA & CIMA, which operate together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. The appointment comes after a comprehensive global search for a successor to Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the longest-serving CEO in AICPA history, who announced in May that he would retire at the end of the year.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) have proposed amendments to the Uniform Accountancy Act to include the CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway. The changes are designed to define a new licensure pathway while ensuring mobility for certified public accountants (CPAs) licensed under the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) framework.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed an executive order to extending tax relief granted due to severe storms in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Randolph, Sevier, and Sharp counties.