AICPA 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: What CPAs Need to Know
The AICPA welcomes national cybersecurity awareness month (NCSAM) as an opportunity for CPAs and their firms to educate and remind their clients about the dangers and need to protect their firms.
September 26, 2018

CBO

Cost Estimate
H.R. 302, FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
October 1, 2018

Report
Answers to Questions for the Record Following a Hearing About Transparency at CBO Conducted by the Senate Committee on the Budget
September 28, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6130, Helping Startups Continue to Grow Act
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
S. 1857, a bill to establish a compliance deadline of May 15, 2023, for Step 2 emissions standards for new residential wood heaters, new residential hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
S. 2961, Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
S. 3354, Missing Children’s Assistance Act of 2018
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6729, Empowering Financial Institutions to Fight Human Trafficking Act of 2018
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
S. 3277, Space Frontier Act of 2018
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
S. 3041, Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6751, Banking Transparency for Sanctioned Persons Act of 2018
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6740, Border Tunnel Task Force Act
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6735, Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6620, Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6, Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act
September 27, 2018

Report
Additional Follow-Up About the Budgetary Treatment of Cost-Sharing Reductions
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6760, Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6, Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act
September 27, 2018

Cost Estimate
H.R. 6678, Claude Moore Farm Land Conveyance Act
September 26, 2018

Cost Estimate
S. 593, Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act
September 26, 2018

Blog Post
CBO Launches a Podcast, In Our Estimation
September 26, 2018

Podcast
CBO’s Cost Estimates
September 26, 2018

GAO

Advanced Fossil Energy:
Information on DOE-Provided Funding for Research and Development Projects Started from Fiscal Years 2010 through 2017
GAO-18-619:Published: Sep 21, 2018. Publicly Released: Oct 1, 2018.

Postal Retiree Health Benefits:
Unsustainable Finances Need to Be Addressed
GAO-18-602:Published: Aug 31, 2018. Publicly Released: Oct 1, 2018.

Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services:
Selected States' Program Structures and Challenges Providing Services
GAO-18-628:Published: Aug 30, 2018. Publicly Released: Oct 1, 2018.

Tribal Broadband:
Few Partnerships Exist and the Rural Utilities Service Needs to Identify and Address Any Funding Barriers Tribes Face
GAO-18-682:Published: Sep 28, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2018.

U.S. Postal Service:
Enhancing Procedures Could Improve Product Scanning
GAO-18-638:Published: Sep 28, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2018.

Veterans Choice Program:
Further Improvements Needed to Help Ensure Timely Payments to Community Providers
GAO-18-671:Published: Sep 28, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2018.

Rural Hospital Closures:
Number and Characteristics of Affected Hospitals and Contributing Factors
GAO-18-634:Published: Aug 29, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2018.

Information Technology:
SSA Has Improved Acquisitions and Operations, but Needs to Fully Address the Role of Its Chief Information Officer
GAO-18-703T:Published: Sep 27, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 27, 2018.

Overseas Conflicts:
U.S. Agencies Have Coordinated Stabilization Efforts but Need to Document Their Agreement
GAO-18-654:Published: Sep 27, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 27, 2018.

Small Business Administration:
Actions Needed to Improve Confidence in Small Business Procurement Scorecard
GAO-18-672:Published: Sep 27, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 27, 2018.

VA Health Care:
Pharmacy Inventory Management Could Benefit from System-Wide Oversight
GAO-18-658:Published: Sep 27, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 27, 2018.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
Education Needs to Provide Better Information for the Loan Servicer and Borrowers
GAO-18-547:Published: Sep 5, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 27, 2018.

Drinking Water:
Status of DOD Efforts to Address Drinking Water Contaminants Used in Firefighting Foam
GAO-18-700T:Published: Sep 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 26, 2018.

Identity Theft:
Strengthening Taxpayer Authentication Efforts Could Help Protect IRS Against Fraudsters
GAO-18-702T:Published: Sep 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 26, 2018.

Native American Youth:
Information on Involvement in Justice Systems and Grant Programs to Help Address Juvenile Delinquency
GAO-18-697T:Published: Sep 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 26, 2018.

Science and Technology:
Considerations for Maintaining U.S. Competitiveness in Quantum Computing, Synthetic Biology, and Other Potentially Transformational Research Areas
GAO-18-656:Published: Sep 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 26, 2018.

GASB

GASB Issues Proposals Designed to Improve Government Financial Reports and Establish Recognition Concepts  [09/28/18]
News Release 
Preliminary Views

IASB

01 October 2018
IFRS Foundation supports IOSCO World Investor Week 2018

01 October 2018
World Standard-setters Conference 2018

28 September 2018
IFRS Foundation September news summary published

28 September 2018
Call for members—IFRS Taxonomy Consultative Group

28 September 2018
September IASB podcast now available

28 September 2018
September 2018 IFRS for SMEs Update published

IRS 

Oct. 15 tax-filing extension deadline approaches for millions of taxpayers
IR-2018-194, Oct. 2, 2018 — The IRS today urged taxpayers who requested the six-month filing extension to double check their tax returns and file on or before the mid-October deadline.

IRS alerts taxpayers: Scammers scheming around Oct. 15 deadline; Here’s what to do
IR-2018-193, Sept. 27, 2018 — The IRS is reminding taxpayers to beware of criminals who continue using devious tactics to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting victims, especially as the fall season approaches.

NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance

Multi-State Untaxed Cigarette Smuggling Ring Dismantled Following Long-Term Joint Investigation
Sept. 26, 2018

Six Tips for Those Who Received Extensions to File Personal Income Tax Returns
Sept. 26, 2018​

SEC

SEC to Focus on Empowering Main Street Investors for 2018 World Investor Week
Washington D.C., Oct. 1, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that empowering Main Street investors will be the SEC’s focus during World Investor Week, which takes place Oct. 1-7, 2018.  SEC staff will emphasize both the basics of investing and savings as well as important emerging issues like the rise of initial coin offerings and digital assets, distributed ledger technology, and other innovations.

Statement Regarding Agreed Settlements With Elon Musk and Tesla
Chairman Jay Clayton, Sept. 29, 2018—Today, the Commission announced agreed settlements with Elon Musk and Tesla.  Mr. Musk is the Chairman and CEO of Tesla and is the company’s largest stockholder, owning approximately 22% of its outstanding shares.  The details of the agreed settlements, which remain subject to court approval, are available here

Elon Musk Settles SEC Fraud Charges; Tesla Charged With and Resolves Securities Law Charge
Washington D.C., Sept. 29, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that Elon Musk, CEO and Chairman of Silicon Valley-based Tesla Inc., has agreed to settle the securities fraud charge brought by the SEC against him last week.  The SEC also today charged Tesla with failing to have required disclosure controls and procedures relating to Musk’s tweets, a charge that Tesla has agreed to settle.  The settlements, which are subject to court approval, will result in comprehensive corporate governance and other reforms at Tesla—including Musk’s removal as Chairman of the Tesla board—and the payment by Musk and Tesla of financial penalties.

Credit Suisse Agrees to Pay $10 Million to Settle Charges Related to Handling of Retail Customer Orders
Washington D.C., Sept. 28, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC has agreed to settle charges brought by the SEC and the Office of the New York Attorney General regarding material misrepresentations and omissions made in connection with its now-closed Retail Execution Services (RES) business’ handling of certain customer orders.  The settlements require Credit Suisse to pay $5 million to the SEC and $5 million to the NYAG for a total of $10 million.

SEC Charges Walgreens and Two Former Executives With Misleading Investors About Forecasted Earnings Goal
Washington D.C., Sept. 28, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., former CEO Gregory Wasson, and former CFO Wade Miquelon with misleading investors about increased risk that the company would miss a key financial goal announced when Walgreen Co. entered into a merger with Alliance Boots GmbH in 2012.

Brokerage Firm to Exit Penny Stock Deposit Business and Pay Penalty for Repeatedly Failing to Report Suspicious Trading
Washington D.C., Sept. 28, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against clearing firm COR Clearing LLC for failing to report suspicious sales of penny stock shares totaling millions of dollars.  As part of the settlement, COR has agreed to exit a key penny stock clearing business by significantly limiting the sale of penny stocks deposited at COR.

SEC Charges LendingClub Asset Management and Former Executives With Misleading Investors and Breaching Fiduciary Duty
Washington D.C., Sept. 28, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged San Francisco-based LendingClub Asset Management LLC (formerly known as LendingClub Advisors LLC) and its former president Renaud Laplanche with fraud for improperly using fund money to benefit LendingClub Corporation, LCA’s parent company that Laplanche founded and for which he served as CEO.  LCA and Laplanche along with Carrie Dolan, LCA’s former CFO, also were charged with improperly adjusting fund returns.

SEC Charges Stryker A Second Time for FCPA Violations
Washington D.C., Sept. 28, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Stryker Corp. with violating the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the second time the SEC has brought an FCPA action against the Michigan-based medical device company.

SEC Charges Salix Pharmaceuticals and Former CFO With Lying About Distribution Channel
Washington D.C., Sept. 28, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and its former CFO with repeatedly misleading analysts and investors about the company’s future prospects. The former CFO, Adam Derbyshire, will pay more than $1 million to settle the charges.

Elon Musk Charged With Securities Fraud for Misleading Tweets
Washington D.C., Sept. 27, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Elon Musk, CEO and Chairman of Silicon Valley-based Tesla Inc., with securities fraud for a series of false and misleading tweets about a potential transaction to take Tesla private. 

SEC Charges Bitcoin-Funded Securities Dealer and CEO
Washington D.C., Sept. 27, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed charges against an international securities dealer and its Austria-based CEO for allegedly violating the federal securities laws in connection with security-based swaps funded with bitcoins. 

Lacey Dingman, Chief Human Capital Officer and Director of Human Resources, to Leave SEC
Washington D.C., Sept. 27, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Lacey Dingman, the Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) and Director of the Office of Human Resources (OHR), will leave the agency at the end of September.

Online Marketers Charged With Conning Main Street Investors Through Rags-to-Riches Infomercials
Washington D.C., Sept. 27, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a group of internet marketers who allegedly created and disseminated elaborate rags-to-riches videos to trick retirees and other retail investors into opening brokerage accounts and trading high-risk securities known as binary options.

Petrobras Reaches Settlement With SEC for Misleading Investors
Washington D.C., Sept. 27, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Brazilian oil-and-gas company Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. with misleading U.S. investors by filing false financial statements that concealed a massive bribery and bid-rigging scheme at the company.  The U.S. Department of Justice also announced today a non-prosecution agreement with Petrobras.

SEC Proposes Amendments to Codify Exemption to Credit Rating Agency Rule
Washington D.C., Sept. 26, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has voted to propose rule amendments to codify an existing temporary exemption for credit rating agencies registered with the Commission as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs).

SEC Charges Firm With Deficient Cybersecurity Procedures
Washington D.C., Sept. 26, 2018 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a Des Moines-based broker-dealer and investment adviser has agreed to pay $1 million to settle charges related to its failures in cybersecurity policies and procedures surrounding a cyber intrusion that compromised personal information of thousands of customers.

 TIGTA

 Billions in Tip-Related Tax Noncompliance Are Not Fully Addressed and Tip Agreements Are Generally Not Enforced
Report Date: 09/28/2018
Audit Highlights: HTML
Audit Reports: PDF