AICPA

AICPA Survey: Business Executives’ Optimism About U.S. Economy Is Highest Since 2004
NEW YORK (March 9, 2017) – Business executives are reporting their highest level of optimism about prospects for the U.S. economy in more than a dozen years, according to the first-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey, which polls chief executive officers, chief financial officers, controllers and other certified public accountants in U.S. companies who hold executive and senior management accounting roles.

AICPA Hails Reintroduction of Mobile Workforce Legislation in U.S. House and Senate
Washington, D.C. (March 8, 2017) – The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) endorsed the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2017 introduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.  The companion bills, H.R. 1393 and S. 540, were introduced by Representatives Mike Bishop (R-Mich.) and Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).  H.R. 1393 was introduced with 22 original co-sponsors and S. 540 had 18 original co-sponsors.

CBO

Cost Estimate
H.R. 1259, VA Accountability First Act of 2017
March 10, 2017

Cost Estimate
H.R. 1181, Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act
March 10, 2017

Cost Estimate
H.R. 1367, a bill to improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes
March 10, 2017

Blog Post
Deficit Reduction and Choices for the Future
March 9, 2017

Cost Estimate
H.R. 654, Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017
March 8, 2017

Report
International Comparisons of Corporate Income Tax Rates
March 8, 2017

Blog Post
Options for Social Security
March 8, 2017

FASB

Please be advised that the March 14 FASAC meeting and the March 15 Insurance roundtable have been postponed due to the blizzard. Rescheduled meeting dates will be announced on the FASB website in the coming days.  [03/13/17]

SEC Accepts 2017 GAAP Financial Reporting Taxonomy  [03/09/17]
Norwalk, CT, March 9, 2017—The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) today announced that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accepted the 2017 GAAP Financial Reporting Taxonomy.

FASB Issues Accounting Standards Update 2017-07—Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost  [03/10/17]
ASU 2017-07

GAO

Government Procurement:
United States Reported Opening More Opportunities to Foreign Firms Than Other Countries, but Better Data Are Needed
GAO-17-168:Published: Feb 9, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 13, 2017.

Department of Defense:
Medical Conditions and Care for End-of-Service Military Working Dogs
GAO-17-358:Published: Mar 10, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 10, 2017.

Contracting Data Analysis:
Assessment of Government-wide Trends
GAO-17-244SP:Published: Mar 9, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 9, 2017.

Radioactive Sources:
Opportunities Exist for Federal Agencies to Strengthen Transportation Security
GAO-17-58:Published: Feb 7, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 9, 2017.

Workplace Safety and Health:
Information on OSHA Training for Workers on Workplace Hazards
GAO-17-178:Published: Feb 7, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 9, 2017.

Department of Energy:
Excess Uranium Transfers
GAO-17-472T:Published: Mar 8, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 8, 2017.

2016 Filing Season:
IRS Improved Telephone Service but Needs to Better Assist Identity Theft Victims and Prevent Release of Fraudulent Refunds
GAO-17-492T:Published: Mar 8, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 8, 2017.

Immigrant Investor Program:
Proposed Project Investments in Targeted Employment Areas
GAO-17-487T:Published: Mar 8, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 8, 2017.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
Changes Planned to Budget Structure and Justification
GAO-17-294:Published: Mar 8, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 8, 2017.

GASB

2017 Request for Research  [03/10/17]
Gil Crain Memorial Research Grant

IASB

March 2017 IASB meeting—agenda papers available
13 March 2017 - The agenda papers and the agenda for the next IASB meeting, to be held on 21 to 22 March 2017, have been published.

The IFRS Foundation publishes the IFRS Taxonomy 2017
09 March 2017 - The IFRS Foundation today published the IFRS Taxonomy 2017, which reflects the IFRS Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board at 1 January 2017, including Standards published but not yet effective at that date.

IRS 

IRS Seeks Applications for Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee
IR-2017-57, March 10, 2017 — The Internal Revenue Service is seeking qualified applicants for nomination to the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC).

Program Report and 2017 Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List
IR-2017-56, March 9, 2017 — The IRS's LITC Program Office has issued its annual program report, which details how LITCs have provided representation, education, and advocacy for taxpayers who are low income or speak English as a second language.

Tax Time Guide: Protect Personal, Financial, Tax Information and Computers
IR-2017-55, March 9, 2017— The IRS today reminded taxpayers to be cautious and protect personal, financial and tax information, particularly at tax time.

Tax Time Guide: Save Time, Make an Appointment before Visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center
IR-2017-54, March 8, 2017 — The IRS today reminded taxpayers that service at all of its Taxpayer Assistance Centers is now by appointment.

NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance 

Governor Cuomo Announces Additional Free Tax Filing Assistance Across New York State
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced additional free tax filing assistance events across New York State. At these events, Tax Department volunteers will be available to help low and middle-income taxpayers file their taxes online for free ahead of the April 18 deadline. Since the tax filing season began in January, the Tax Department has partnered with various organizations to provide free tax filing assistance to thousands of taxpayers at 54 locations throughout New York State.

Use Your Smartphone or Tablet: A Convenient Tax Filing Option
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded taxpayers of the array of convenient features and services available to them through www.tax.ny.gov, including the ability for eligible New York State taxpayers to electronically file their income taxes for free directly from their smartphone or tablet.

Governor Cuomo Announces Nearly $15 Million in Savings Due to Craft Beverage Reforms
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the craft beverage industry has saved nearly $15 million since 2012 through regulatory changes and reforms to help encourage further growth in this burgeoning sector. These actions have allowed breweries, wineries, distilleries and cideries to save money and reinvest in their businesses to further grow the craft beverage industry throughout the Empire State.

SEC

Executives Charged With Manipulating Company's Accounting Systems to Steal Money March 10, 2017
Washington D.C., March 10, 2017— The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged two former executives at a credit card processing company with masterminding a fraudulent scheme to steal millions of dollars through phony expense reimbursements, inflated invoices, and other improper accounting tactics.

SEC Charges Firms Involved in Layering, Manipulation Schemes March 10, 2017
Washington D.C., March 10, 2017— The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges against a Ukraine-based trading firm accused of manipulating the U.S. markets hundreds of thousands of times and the New York-based brokerage firm and CEO who allegedly helped make it possible.

SEC Charges Marijuana-Related Company and Executives With Touting Bogus Revenues March 9, 2017
Washington D.C., March 9, 2017— The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a California-based company and its founder with falsely touting “record” revenue numbers to investors and claiming to be a leader in the marijuana industry while some of its earnings came from sham transactions with a secret affiliate.