Tax Court: No MFJ status where spouse refused to sign

The Tax Court decided in favor of the Internal Revenue Service in a case involving a tax return in which a couple filed jointly, but one of the spouses was battling mental illness and didn’t sign the return.


IRS pilots new secure messaging program for correspondence examinations

The Internal Revenue Service is pilot testing a new program for conducting correspondence examinations of taxpayers using secure messaging technology that will also include their tax practitioners who have power of attorney.


Agility and internal audit? Yes, these two can and should go hand in hand

May is Internal Audit Awareness Month. On the off chance that didn’t make it onto your calendar, I’d like to make the case that rethinking internal audit’s potential is time well spent.


Firms on the move: Anders CPA ‘Putts and Prospers’

MACPA partners with IBM to equip CPAs with tech skills; BlumShapiro volunteers teach students financial literacy; and more news from CPA offices.


People on the move: GASB appoints new vice chairman

Grant Thornton International taps CEO-elect; Mazars USA and Marks Paneth add partners; and other personnel news from firms across the country.


Congress hears from Taxpayer Advocate about reforming the IRS

The House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing Friday featuring National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson to discuss how to improve operations at the Internal Revenue Service as Congress works on overhauling the tax code.


Firms need to focus even more on their key clients

Accountants should start building programs to make the most of the 80/20 rule


MACPA partners with IBM to train accountants in AI and data science

Association members will have access to in-person classes and hands-on cognitive learning.


House committee debates tax reform prospects

The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing Thursday to examine how tax reform will grow the economy and create jobs, even as the turmoil surrounding the Trump administration threatened the prospects for the first comprehensive tax overhaul in more than three decades.


Tax pros descend on Capitol Hill

More than 100 enrolled agents from nearly 40 states are meeting with lawmakers in Congress Friday to discuss some of the main issues affecting taxpayers and practitioners in an annual event organized by the National Association of Enrolled Agents.