Roger Russell

Six years ago this week, investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, observed Attorney General Eric Holder at New York University Law School during a speech Wednesday. This marked “the culmination of a period of deregulation, excessive risk-taking, questionable lending practices, and defective underwriting that heralded the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression,” he said.

Sometimes a grandfather knows best, even when the disagreement involves the Internal Revenue Service.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a Tax Court decision disallowing deductions related to a farmhouse.

As we approach the November elections, the end of the year and the beginning of a new tax season, we’re not much clearer on the fate of the provisions that expired at the end of 2013, aka the extenders, that haven’t yet been renewed.

The profession speaks out in favor of cash accounting

The Tax Court has held that the value of an airline ticket received in the redemption of “thank you” award points from a bank must be included in gross income.

While both houses of Congress have addressed the passage of tax extender legislation, it is unlikely that anything will come of their efforts until after the midterm elections. One of the expired provisions that haven’t yet been extended is the R&D, or research, credit. If any provisions do get extended, this is one that will be in whatever package makes it to the President’s desk for his signature.

New guidance for employees in the Appeals division of the IRS goes into effect in the first week of September.

A growing number of management consultancies are being acquired by Big four accounting firms, according to mergers and acquisitions lawyer Stuart Cable.

U.S. businesses paid $671 billion in total state and local taxes in fiscal year 2013, according to an annual study.

The Internal Revenue Service needs to improve its strategy to ensure accurate reporting and payment of the Medical Device Excise Tax, according to a new report released by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

This year's tax planning is going to be heavily focused on accelerating deductions and maximizing tax credits, according to Evan Stephens, a tax manager at the business consulting and accounting firm Sensiba San Filippo.

One of the things separating national franchise tax systems from independent offices is the fact that they have a system, which provides a proven, reliable way to run the business.

A number of groups testified or submitted statements recently at a hearing of the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access titled “Cash Accounting: a Simpler Method for Small Firms?”

For tax preparers who aren’t interested in extending their tax business beyond the end of April, but who would like to keep themselves and their staff employed in some meaningful activity, accountant Craig Comer has a suggestion: go into another seasonal business.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ruled that the Internal Revenue Service doesn’t have the authority to regulate CPA tax return preparers’ contingent fee arrangements in the preparation of ordinary refund claims.

The tax reform proposal put forward by House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp earlier this year attempts, like other proposals before it, to broaden the base and lower the rates.

The trend is up in the business-for-sale marketplace, according to the latest BizBuySell survey of business brokers.

A federal appeals court has upheld a penalty assessed against the estate of a deceased man because the executor filed the return late, even though estimated taxes had been paid.

The Supreme Court clarified a portion of the ACA applying to closely held businesses, by deciding, in a 5-4 ruling, that the Department of Health and Human Services regulations under the Affordable Care Act, which impose a contraceptive mandate, violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.