News

2022 tax filing season begins Jan. 24; IRS outlines refund timing and what to expect in advance of April 18 tax deadline

The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2022 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

The Internal Revenue Service announced that, effective Nov. 15, 2021, tax professionals are able to order up to 30 Transcript Delivery System (TDS) transcripts per client through the Practitioner Priority Service® line. This is an increase from the previous 10 transcripts per client limit.

The IRS recently announced that if a taxpayer relies in good faith on frequently asked questions (FAQs) that the Service posts to its website, and if that reliance is reasonable, then the taxpayer will have a reasonable-cause defense against any negligence penalty or other accuracy-related penalty if it turns out that the FAQ does not correctly state the law as it applies to the taxpayer's situation. This new policy applies to all FAQs, including those released by the IRS before the policy was announced.

Finding qualified staff is an enduring concern that continues to challenge CPA firms this year, according to the 2021 AICPA Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) CPA Firm Top Issues Survey. Hiring staff emerged as the No. 1 issue affecting firms that employ 6–10, 11–20, or 21 or more professionals.

GASB proposed changes Tuesday to its accounting and financial reporting guidance for accounting changes and error corrections that have been in effect for more than 40 years.

PCAOB inspections in 2021 will focus on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on companies’ financial reporting while also becoming less predictable, according to resources the board published Tuesday. As reported previously in the JofA, the board is focused both on pandemic-related audit challenges and a concern that firms may be disproportionately paying attention to areas of audits that are frequently inspected. The PCAOB published resources containing a general staff outlook and guidance for audit committees explaining the 2021 inspections focus.

New Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) guidance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) incorporates changes to the program made by the American Rescue Plan Act, P.L. 117-2, and establishes that entities that receive a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) cannot subsequently receive a PPP loan.

House passes PPP deadline extension in 415-3 vote.