Business Strategies

Networking is vital to any profession and is no different for us Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Attending conferences and seminars can be a game-changer, offering opportunities to learn, connect, and grow your professional network. These events are not just about business but also about personal and professional growth. However, to truly benefit from these events, it's essential to have a strategy in place.

Cross-border ventures can unlock exciting destinations for growth and investment, but they also come with some heavy-duty baggage -- think IRS paperwork, withholding headaches, and estate tax landmines. If you're a tax planner gearing up for this global expedition (especially if it's your first trip), this guide is your passport to smoother travels.

When you own business properties, they will occasionally require repairs; that’s just a fact of business ownership. So, whether you need to make repairs on your place of business or your rental buildings, keep these simple truths in mind: You can either increase your net worth with tax-favored repairs, or you can decrease your net worth with tax-impaired improvements. Which would you prefer?

In the transformative landscape of 2027, the role of the accountant has transcended traditional boundaries. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) shouldering the burden of routine calculations and compliance checks, the Post-Cognitive Accountant emerges as a strategic visionary. No longer confined to the mechanics of number crunching, these professionals reimagine business tax forms—such as the Form 1120 for corporations—into dynamic portals that unlock untapped enterprise potential. Let's embark on an exploratory journey through a corporate tax return, revealing how each line item becomes a gateway to innovation, growth, and holistic success.

Even savvy freelancers often miss deductions that could significantly reduce tax liability. The IRS offers legitimate ways for freelancers to deduct business-related costs, but it’s not always obvious which expenses qualify and which ones cross the line into nondeductible territory. This confusion is made worse when we see some of the terrible advice from so-called “experts” on social media. In this article, we’ll explore the most commonly missed deductions for freelancers, highlight real-world examples, and review what tax professionals need to keep in mind when advising these clients.

The year is 2027, and the landscape of tax accounting has undergone a dramatic transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has automated many traditional tasks once considered the bedrock of the profession. Yet, contrary to fears of widespread job losses among tax preparers, this technological revolution has ushered in a new era – Post-Cognitive Tax Accounting. This paradigm shift is redefining the role of tax professionals, opening opportunities to explore uncharted territories that leverage human intuition, creativity, and strategic insight.

Tax rules are generally designed with a purpose in mind. Most rules serve to define the tax base and tax rates. Many others serve a behavioral purpose to encourage or discourage certain activities. The focus of this article stems from tax rules that are a combination of favoring certain activity such as generation of capital gains, and a limitation on such gains for certain taxpayers, such as the so-called “hot assets” rule for partners under IRC Section 751, Unrealized Receivables and Inventory Items. While Section 751 has been in the tax law for decades, a new application of it was raised by both the IRS and California FTB. This article summarizes Rawat, TC Memo 2023-14, rev’d, No. 23-1142 (DC Cir., 2024), and FTB Legal Ruling 2022-02, and offers observations on their relevance to tax research and practice.

As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you possess the technical knowledge and expertise to assist businesses and individuals with their financial needs. However, in today's competitive marketplace, more than possessing technical skills is needed to grow your client base. To succeed, CPAs must also master effective sales strategies to convert prospects into paying clients. In this article, I will explore critical techniques I had to learn to enhance my sales efforts and achieve my business goals, and I hope they help you reach yours!