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New for 2010: IRS Requires Reporting on ISO Exercises & ESPP Stock Transfers
December 8, 2010
Rosanna DiFilippo
As we near the end of 2010, I wanted to offer an important reminder regarding a new IRS reporting requirement in [...]
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Checklist for Newly Formed Entities
December 1, 2010
Travis Drouin
As a sizable but growing CPA firm, I like to think that we’ve cut out a unique place for ourselves in the market.
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Retirement Plan Sponsors – Do You Know the Extent of Your Fiduciary Responsibilities?
November 16, 2010
Jeff Arsenault
For those who could not make MFA’s webinar last week — Retirement Plans: Understanding Your Fiduciary Responsibilities — I wanted to share with you a few of the highlights from what was a very enlightening seminar on the fiduciary responsibilities of plan sponsors.
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SSAE 16 to Supersede SAS 70 Standard – What's the Big Deal?
November 9, 2010
Rob Busch
The effort surrounding the transition to SSAE 16 and the impact it will have on service organizations are not earth shattering. As a member of MFA’s SAS 70 team and one who has had extensive experience [..]
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Is Private Company GAAP Inching Closer to Reality?
November 2, 2010
Pam Sintros
In late 2009, the AICPA/FAF/NASBA Blue-Ribbon Panel on Standard Setting for Private Companies was established and since then has been comprehensively reviewing the current system of standard setting for private companies in the U.S.
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The SEC Will Be Busy This Fall Thanks to Dodd-Frank
October 26, 2010
Tracy Curley
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) has ushered in a new era of regulation focused on promoting transparency and accountability.
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Sorry Taxpayers, You’ll Have to Wait Until After the Election
October 19, 2010
James Guarino
The White House and Democratic leaders have announced that Congress will delay its efforts to extend soon-to-expire Bush tax cuts for low and middle income Americans until after the November 2nd elections.
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Proposed Lease Accounting Rules Prompt the Rethinking of Real Estate Strategies
October 5, 2010
Mike Piessens
As noted in my earlier blog post on the proposed new standard on lease accounting, the primary objective of the proposed lease rules by the FASB and IASB is to create a new accounting model that ensures assets and liabilities [...]
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The SEC Asks, “Is Proxy Plumbing in Need of a Fix?”
September 28, 2010
Tracy Curley
Back in mid- July, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a concept release to solicit comment on the United States (U.S.) proxy voting system (Release), which over the last 30 years has not changed much.
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Enforcement Inspires Preparation When it Comes to Tax Reform
September 21, 2010
Craig Eaton
There are a great many changes headed our way over the next couple of years, beginning with the Healthcare Reform Act and extending out in all directions.
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Part 2: GAAP is GAAP - An Argument Against Separate Private Company GAAP
September 7, 2010
Travis Drouin
GAAP for private companies is a hot topic that can be looked at from varying perspectives. With that in mind, we offer this second entry of a two part blog series presenting both sides of the issue.
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Part 1: Separate Private Company GAAP - An Argument in Favor
August 31, 2010
Mike Piessens
GAAP for private companies is a hot issue that can be looked at from varying perspectives. With that in mind, we offer this first entry of a two part blog series presenting both sides of the issue; be sure to check back next month for “the argument against!”
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Clawbacks Get Tough: Enhanced Requirements Equate to Compensation with Strings Attached
August 24, 2010
Tracy Curley
Buried within the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 is the requirement for public companies to develop and implement a mandatory policy to recoup excess incentive-based compensation from current and former executive officers after a material financial restatement.
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Revenue Recognition Gets a New Look
August 10, 2010
Pam Sintros
Accountants, auditors, and corporate entities alike, take notice: the exposure draft recently issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) promises that big changes are in store.
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FAS 157 is Dead. Long Live Topic 820!
August 3, 2010
Bill Duratti
Like the month of March, FAS 157 came in like a lion but appears to be going out like a lamb.
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When You Say Health Care Reform, I Say Tax Strategy
July 27, 2010
James Guarino
President Obama ushered in a new era for American health care this past March when he signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
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Small Businesses Make for New Faces in the Acquisitions Game
July 13, 2010
Will Andronico
Barrels of ink have been spilled over the past two years chronicling the precipitous decline in the M&A marketplace.
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Get Your Paper Trail Ready; Expansion of 1099 Use Coming in 2012
June 29, 2010
Julie Viola
Interesting to note with all the attention that has been focused on the healthcare reform law, a minor change with a major impact is dodging the spotlight.
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Deferring the Roth IRA Conversion Tax — A No-Brainer? Not So Fast!
June 22, 2010
Jeff Arsenault
In past MFA blogs on the subject of Roth IRA conversions, we’ve discussed how to determine if a Roth conversion makes sense for you; [...]
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Don’t Ignore the HIRE Act: Tangible Tax Benefits Await Employers
June 15, 2010
Julie Viola
Through many of my conversations with CFOs, controllers and owners of mid-market and smaller companies, I’ve noticed a running theme that more emphasis should be placed on the tremendous opportunities afforded by the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act [...]
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Financial Reform: Panacea or Paper Tiger?
June 8, 2010
Mike Piessens
On May 20, 2010, the Senate approved an extensive financial regulatory bill, while a similar bill had passed the House back in December.
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Estate Planning Perks: Everyone in the “Speakeasy” Before it Closes
June 1, 2010
James Guarino
When tax revenues plummeted during the Great Depression, Congress needed a new source of revenue to avoid huge deficits.
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More SOX Relief in the Works?
May 18, 2010
Michelle Mackey
The SOX debate continues…. As noted in a recent Compliance Week post, the Senate is gearing up to take on financial reform, and the SOX 404 regulation discussion is emerging again; this time though it’s being debated by Congress and not by the SEC.
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CFOs Seeing Steps to Recovery… Are You?
May 4, 2010
Travis Drouin
One of the best things about my role as a certified public accountant in a vibrant economy such as Massachusetts is how I get to meet and work with companies of all sizes, across a broad range of industries.
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IRS Provides Guidelines for Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
April 27, 2010
Julie Viola
An Accounting Today post pointed us to a link worth sharing: the IRS’ new informational pages on the small business health care tax credit.
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Fair Share Contribution Audits - Did the Changes Impact Your Business?
April 13, 2010
Joyce Ripianzi
Employee Benefit Plans have become a greater area of concern for the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance, especially with regard to the “fair share contribution” (FSC) requirement of the Massachusetts Healthcare Reform Act.
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Estate Planning Benefits of a Roth IRA
April 6, 2010
James Guarino
2010 certainly offers some new and interesting financial planning opportunities for high net-worth individuals.
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Who’s Ready for IFRS? Anyone…Anyone…Hello?
March 23, 2010
Travis Drouin
If procrastination is an art, the Museum of Fine Arts should set aside a wing for IFRS.
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Loss Carrybacks Extended to Five Years
March 16, 2010
Craig Eaton
Although there is some evidence that the credit market is loosening, it is clear that the harsh lending environment of the past two years has taken a toll on a wide range of businesses.
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Arbitrage Strategy and Roth IRA Conversions
March 9, 2010
Carl Famiglietti
I would like to highlight an interesting perspective for those who hold within their IRA accounts unregistered securities or investments in limited partnerships such as private equity, venture capital and mezzanine: using an arbitrage strategy.
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IRS to Consider Closer Look at FIN 48
February 23, 2010
Craig Eaton
More changes may be on the way for the now infamous FIN 48, the guidelines for reporting uncertain tax positions.
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Roth IRAs: Divide and Conquer
February 16, 2010
Jeff Arsenault
As my MFA Partner Jim Guarino mentioned in a November 2009 blog post on Roth IRA conversions, starting this year all taxpayers — regardless of income levels — can now convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
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IRS Changes Fees for Some Nonprofit Requests
February 9, 2010
Joyce Ripianzi
I wanted to bring to our readers’ attention changes to some fees for nonprofits, as the IRS updated amounts for various exempt organizations’ user fees.
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Important Tax Information for Haiti Relief Donations
February 2, 2010
Joyce Ripianzi
We applaud any and all efforts to assist the recovery in Haiti, and the IRS is also doing its part to ease the burden on taxpayers and organizations that want to help.
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Planning Around the Estate Tax Repeal in 2010
January 26, 2010
James Guarino
Here we are in late January, and we find ourselves between year-end tax planning and the actual filing period for most individuals.
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Minimizing Risk With Internal Controls Audits
January 13, 2010
Will Andronico
A recent fraud case caught my attention as it brought to life the concern I expressed in a November post (Small companies may get SOX audit relief).
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March Deadline for Massachusetts Privacy Law
January 5, 2010
Matt Pettine
One of the most significant tasks introduced in 2009 was presented by new guidelines under the Massachusetts Privacy Law, which requires a slew of changes to administrative and security processes.
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