Accounting Info

Unlike Generally Accepted Accounting Principles(GAAP), tax accounting is an extensive set of laws and regulations required of businesses to submit income tax information. Just like federal income tax, this set of comprehensive accounting principles is regulated at the national level.

As of the 2008 fiscal year, there are only a few different ways to compile tax accounting information, but 2 main methods. The acceptable ways of submitting information are the cash method, accrual method, or a combination of both.

Depending on qualification, these different methods can be chosen by a company according to timing of transactions such as credits and debits. If qualified for either method, the company will look at the advantages and disadvantages of each method and choose the most beneficial method. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants(AICPA) submitted a request to change the accounting method, but nothing has been overturned as of yet.

There are two parameters that a business must not qualify for to have the ability to choose their tax accounting method . A business must use the accrual method if the sales are over $5 million or there is inventory stockpiled that will either be sold to the public or used to make products sold to the public.

The accrual method, or accrual basis, of tax accounting records sales and purchases as the order is processed. In this method, physically receiving or paying money is not the time of recording. When a sale is made or a job is completed the credits or debits are recorded, regardless of the money actually changing hands or not. This method is simpler when large contracts are signed, but the payment plan may last several years. One disadvantage would be that even though the books show a large capital, the actual funds are not in the account.

The cash method, or cash basis, of tax accounting is simply recording transactions as the money is exchanged. This method is more accurate and gives a better feel for how much spendable capital a business has to use. Depending on the set-up of the business procedure, the cash method takes a little more discipline in book keeping. Unlike the accrual method that records the transaction as the order is processed in the office, in cash accounting the payment must be recorded directly after payment is taken. The cash method can also leave a window for fraud or theft, whereas accrual accounting has checks and balances to make sure the correct amount of payment is applied for each order.

So, after determining if your business is required to use the accrual method or not, it has a choice. The choice depends on the structure of the business and the preferences of advantages and disadvantages of each method.

It is important to note that a business is not allowed to change tax accounting methods back and forth. If a change is desired, the current method must have been used for the last two consecutive years. At that time, a formal request must be submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury. To make sure this process is done correctly and all the bases are covered, the owner/officer of the business should consult with a certified public accountant. The Secretary of the Treasury also has the right to require a business to re-compute the taxable income to more accurately show a business’s tax accounting.

In summary, tax accounting requires careful analysis and application of the tax code, regulation provisions, administrative pronouncements, and case law. It is possible and sometimes more advantageous to complete this process in-house or with the aid of online accounting , but it is recommended for some businesses to seek professional guidance.

When confronted with solving a tax problem, taxpayers have a number of choices including dealing with the issue themselves, hiring a CPA or retaining a tax attorney versed in the tax problem being addressed. Due to the intricacies and far reaching impact of income tax law, engaging a CPA or tax attorney may be advantageous to the taxpayer.

A CPA (certified public accountant) has completed the requisite university courses, passed examinations and met all other licensing and experience requirements to be certified by the state. CPAs are experts in accounting, auditing financial statements and the preparation of income tax returns for corporations, non profits and individuals. CPAs are also employed in industry, non profits or government as accountants, auditors, treasurers, chief financial officers (CFO) and other accounting, financial or executive positions. For example, the IRS hires an army of professional accountants and auditors.

The individual state boards grant the CPA designation and license. CPAs may also belong to the national association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). A CPA can also be a member of the state association. CPAs are mandated to fulfill continuing education requirements and follow the associations code of conduct.

An attorney is a professional licensed to provide legal advice, practice law or conduct lawsuits on behalf of clients. A tax attorney is a specialist attorney in assisting taxpayers to solve tax problems with the IRS or the state Franchise Tax Board. An attorney can also be called a lawyer or counselor. To be licensed as an attorney, one must have obtained a degree in professional law from an accredited law school and successfully completed a state bar examination.

While the Statement of Principles (National Conference of Lawyers and CPAs 1951) recognizes that nonlawyers may be admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, it states that a CPA should advise a client who has received a notice of deficiency to consult an attorney, because the client should be advised of the possibility of litigating the matter through a refund suit in the district court of the Claims Court rather than before the Tax Court. When a CPA learns that a client is being investigated for possible criminal violations of the tax laws, he or she should promptly advise the client to seek the advice of a lawyer as to the clients legal, constitutional rights and the related privileges. An attorney can plead a taxpayers case in a court of law. In limited cases a CPA can make a presentation to the Court, however this is not a good idea especially if the accountant prepared the tax return in question.

The Attorney-client privilege is a legal concept that protects communications between an attorney and the client. The attorney is bound to keep these communications confidential. Any communication between a CPA and a client is not held confidential.

When a taxpayer is trying to solve a tax problem it is not a matter of either or. Taxpayers can consider their CPA as vital as their tax attorney and quite so. A taxpayer could utilize the services of both a tax attorney and a CPA to resolve a pressing IRS tax situation. The main difference is that a CPA cannot litigate in district court and a CPA does not have privileged communication with the client.

Accounts payable audit (APA) departments nowadays are confronted by problems such as price variances, duplicate payments and overpaid taxes, a procedure that may cost a lot of cash and time. Some companies may find it hard to purchase contracts, which have been previously closed and review already paid invoices to check on if few payments were overpaid. One of the complexities that come with company functions they need for efficiency in accounting and recovering lost finances has risen.

Accounts payable audit makes it possible to recover lost duplicate payments, find accrual errors and under deductions. The development of this accounts payable audit went quite a distance in improving the businesses and companies perform their own work. Profit margins are what to anticipate with the APA. The reliability of this has led to the knowledge of how to improve business practices.

An audit involves a complete analysis of the payments made, questions such as why were there are errors when you are performing the calculations are asked. A lot of companies today cope with huge amounts of money meaning that because of small accounting errors thousands and millions are lost while transacting. An APA can be done with a professional; the rise in audit firms makes it evident that clearly companies need these types of services. Audit professionals not just offer you methods to the financial status of the firm but in addition help you recover a huge amount of money. The advantages of accounts payable audit are numerous.

Apart from offering efficiency, the process improves the visibility and instant accessing of documents, with this it’s rare to misplace or loose papers or duplicating invoices.