CBO 

Report
Answers to Questions for the Record Following a Hearing on CBO’s Appropriation Request for Fiscal Year 2021 Conducted by the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations
February 28, 2020
The House Appropriations Committee convened a hearing at which Director Phillip Swagel testified about CBO’s appropriation request for fiscal year 2021. This document provides CBO’s answers to questions submitted for the record.

Report
Answers to Questions for the Record Following a Hearing Conducted by the House Committee on the Budget on The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2020 to 2030
February 27, 2020
The House Budget Committee convened a hearing at which Director Phillip Swagel testified about The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2020 to 2030. This document provides CBO’s answers to questions submitted for the record by three Members of the Committee.

Report
CBO's Cost Estimates Explained
February 27, 2020
This document explains the updated format of CBO’s formal cost estimates, which highlights a bill’s effects on major components of the federal budget for the current year and subsequent years in the budget window.

Cost Estimate
H.R. 2242, a bill to amend the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to include certain services in the definition of critical services for purposes of repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities
February 26, 2020
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 19, 2019

Cost Estimate
H.R. 630, Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2019
February 26, 2020
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on December 18, 2019

Cost Estimate
Rules Committee Print 116-51, Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2020
February 26, 2020
As amended by amendment number 17 (Pallone)

Cost Estimate
S. 482, Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act of 2019
February 26, 2020
As reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on December 18, 2019

FAF

John W. Auchincloss Named Executive Director, Financial Accounting Foundation 
[02/27/20]
News Release

GAO

Medicare:
Information on Medicare-Dependent Hospitals
GAO-20-300: Published: Feb 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 28, 2020.

Military Equipment:
Observations on the Transfer of Excess Humvees to Foreign Governments
GAO-20-189: Published: Feb 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 28, 2020.

Ready Aircrew Program:
Air Force Actions to Address Congressionally Mandated Study on Combat Aircrew Proficiency
GAO-20-91: Published: Feb 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 28, 2020.

Defense Health Care:
DOD Surveys Indicate Beneficiary Experience Generally Unchanged in First Year of TRICARE Select
GAO-20-318: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020.

Equal Employment Opportunity:
DHS Could Better Address Challenges to Ensuring EEO in Its Workforce
GAO-20-450T: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020.

Financial Audit:
FY 2019 and FY 2018 Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government
GAO-20-315R: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020.

Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request:
U.S. Government Accountability Office
GAO-20-429T: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020.

International Mail:
Stakeholders' Views on Possible Changes to Inbound Mail Regarding Customs Fees
and Opioid Detection Efforts
GAO-20-340R: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020.

Nuclear Nonproliferation:
Past U.S. Involvement Improved Russian Nuclear Material Security, but Little Is Known about Current Conditions
GAO-20-392: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020.

Private Pensions:
IRS and DOL Should Strengthen Oversight of Executive Retirement Plans
GAO-20-70: Published: Jan 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020

Black Lung Benefits Program:
Oversight Is Needed to Address Trust Fund Solvency Strained by Bankruptcies
GAO-20-438T: Published: Feb 26, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2020.

Coast Guard:
Actions Needed to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Organizational Changes and Determine Workforce Needs
GAO-20-223: Published: Feb 26, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2020.

Native American Issues:
Examples of Certain Federal Requirements That Apply to Cultural Resources and Factors That Impact Tribal Consultation
GAO-20-466T: Published: Feb 26, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2020.

Navy Ship Maintenance:
Actions Needed to Address Maintenance Delays for Surface Ships Based Overseas
GAO-20-86: Published: Feb 26, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2020.

Science & Tech Spotlight:
Nuclear Microreactors
GAO-20-380SP: Published: Feb 26, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2020.

Black Lung Benefits Program:
Improved Oversight of Coal Mine Operator Insurance Is Needed
GAO-20-21: Published: Feb 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2020.

Individual Retirement Accounts:
IRS Could Better Inform Taxpayers about and Detect Noncompliance Related to Unconventional Assets
GAO-20-210: Published: Jan 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2020.

Critical Infrastructure Protection:
Additional Actions Needed to Identify Framework Adoption and Resulting Improvements
GAO-20-299: Published: Feb 25, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 25, 2020.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:
Considerable Progress Made Implementing Business Provisions, but IRS Faces Administrative and Compliance Challenges
GAO-20-103: Published: Feb 25, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 25, 2020.

State Department:
Additional Steps Are Needed to Identify Potential Barriers to Diversity
GAO-20-237: Published: Jan 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 25, 2020.

IASB

02 March 2020
IFRS 17 podcast on February 2020 IASB meeting now available

28 February 2020
Coronavirus update

28 February 2020
February 2020 IASB Update available and work plan updated

27 February 2020
Forthcoming webinar in Portuguese on the Exposure Draft General Presentation and Disclosures

26 February 2020
January 2020 ITCG meeting summary available

26 February 2020
Join the IFRS Foundation—Chief Financial Officer

IRS 

Interest rates remain the same for the second quarter of 2020
IR-2020-46, February 28, 2020 – The IRS today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2020.

Tax Time Guide: IRS.gov’s "Where’s My Refund?" tool is fastest, easiest way to check on tax refunds
IR-2020-45, February 28, 2020 — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers today that the best way to check on their tax refund is by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool at IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go Mobile App.

Some popular tax benefits renewed for 2019; IRS Publication 17 Helps with 2019 Taxes
IR-2020-44, February 26, 2020 ― The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that it is processing tax returns claiming benefits extended or changed by recent legislation.

Low income taxpayer clinics represented 19,513 taxpayers dealing with an IRS tax controversy; see the latest program report and the 2020 LITC grant recipient list
IR-2020-43, February 26, 2020 — The Internal Revenue Service’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) Program Office has issued its annual program report.

Tax Time Guide: Millions make IRS.gov their first stop for tax help
IR-2020-42, February 25, 2020 — Whether on home computers or mobile devices, the number of taxpayer visits to IRS.gov continues to grow year after year. Millions of taxpayers take advantage of the easy-to-use tools available 24 hours a day on the official website − IRS.gov.

​O’Dell to serve as IRS Promoter Investigations Coordinator
IR-2020-41, February 24, 2020 — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that Brendan O’Dell will serve as the agency’s new promoter investigations coordinator.

NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance

Nassau County Accounting Firm Accused Of Submitting False NYS Tax Returns 
February 27, 2020

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft During the Tax Season
February 25, 2020​

SEC

Fee Rate Advisory #3 For Fiscal Year 2020
2020-49, Feb. 28, 2020 —Pursuant to Section 31(j)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Commission has determined that a mid-year adjustment to the Section 31 fee rate for fiscal year 2020 is not required. These adjustments do not directly affect the amount of funding available to the SEC.

SEC Charges Cardinal Health With FCPA Violations
2020-48., Feb. 28, 2020 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Ohio-based pharmaceutical company Cardinal Health, Inc. has agreed to pay more than $8 million to resolve charges that it violated the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Antonia Chion, Associate Director of SEC's Enforcement Division, to Retire After 32 Years of Service
2020-47, Washington D.C., Feb. 28, 2020 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Antonia Chion, an Associate Director of the Division of Enforcement in the Home Office, is retiring after 32 years at the agency. During her three-decade tenure, Ms. Chion has overseen hundreds of enforcement investigations and actions arising from all aspects of the SEC's regulatory and enforcement programs, including numerous matters of first impression.

SEC Awards More Than $7 Million to Whistleblower
2020-46, Feb. 28, 2020 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an award of more than $7 million to a whistleblower whose information and assistance were critically important to the success of an enforcement action.  The whistleblower provided extensive and sustained assistance, such as identifying witnesses.

Kelly L. Gibson Named Director of SEC's Philadelphia Office
2020-45, Feb. 27, 2020 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Kelly L. Gibson has been named Director of the Philadelphia Regional Office.

SEC Charges South Carolina Energy Companies, Former Executives With Defrauding Investors: Charges Spring From Failed $9 Billion Nuclear Power Plant Expansion
2020-44, Feb. 27, 2020 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged SCANA Corp., two of its former top executives, and South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. (SCE&G), now known as Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., with defrauding investors by making false and misleading statements about a nuclear power plant expansion that was ultimately abandoned.

SEC Charges Wells Fargo In Connection With Investment Recommendation Practices
2020-43, Feb. 27, 2020 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network for failing reasonably to supervise investment advisers and registered representatives who recommended single-inverse ETF investments to retail investors, and for lacking adequate compliance policies and procedures with respect to the suitability of those recommendations. The SEC ordered Wells Fargo to pay a $35 million penalty, which will be distributed to harmed investors.

Actor Steven Seagal Charged With Unlawfully Touting Digital Asset Offering
2020-42., Feb. 27, 2020 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against actor Steven Seagal for failing to disclose payments he received for promoting an investment in an initial coin offering (ICO) conducted by Bitcoiin2Gen (B2G)

G. Jeffrey Boujoukos, Director of the Philadelphia Regional Office to Leave the SEC
2020-41., Feb. 26, 2020 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that G. Jeffrey Boujoukos, the Director of its Philadelphia Regional Office, will leave the agency at the end of the month after nearly 11 years of service.

SEC to Hold National Compliance Outreach Seminar for Investment Companies and Investment Advisers
2020-40, Feb. 25, 2020 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the opening of registration for its compliance outreach program’s national seminar for investment companies and investment advisers.  The event is intended to help Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs) and other senior personnel at investment companies and investment advisory firms enhance their compliance programs for the protection of investors.

SEC Updates List of Firms Using Inaccurate Information to Solicit Investors: Enhanced Website Improves Main Street Investor Experience
2020-39., Feb. 24, 2020 —The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it updated its Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) list by adding 25 soliciting entities and four fictitious regulators.  Additionally, the SEC is announcing enhancements to the PAUSE website, where the SEC provides the list of entities that falsely claim to be registered, licensed, and/or located in the United States, as well as entities that impersonate genuine U.S. registered securities firms and fictitious regulators, governmental agencies, or international organizations.  This will allow Main Street investors to better inform themselves and avoid being victims of fraud.

TIGTA 

February 26, 2020
Authorities Provided by the Internal Revenue Code Are Not Effectively Used to Address Erroneous Refundable Credit and Withholding Credit Claims [PDF]
»Highlights