WebCPA Staff

The Senate voted 56-43 on Thursday to approve a set of improvements to the sweeping health care reform bill that was passed by the House on Sunday night, but it needed to send the bill back to the House after two provisions were changed in the student lending part of the bill.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed Deloitte partner Howard A. Scheck chief accountant in the Division of Enforcement.

IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman told a congressional panel about the IRS’s newly proposed regulations for requiring paid tax preparers to have identification numbers to reduce tax preparer fraud, as well as how the IRS intends to handle enforcement of the new health insurance reform bill.

Nearly one-half of consumers plan to file their federal taxes online this year, up from 34 percent in 2005, according to a new survey.

Payroll and benefits outsourcing provider Paychex Inc. said a combination of the shaky economy and a litigation expense charge of $18.7 million contributed to a 14 percent decline in third-quarter earnings, to $112 million, versus the year-ago period.

As large businesses continue to shed workers, small businesses are feeling more encouraged to hire, especially with recently passed tax incentives.

New Equity Daily, a blog dedicated to small business financing, has introduced an online search tool to help small business owners and property investors identify financing alternatives in the public and private sectors.

The House has approved legislation to provide tax cuts to small businesses and extend the Build America Bonds program to spur job creation.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued proposed regulations requiring paid tax preparers to furnish an identification number on tax returns and claims for tax refunds that they prepare.

The Internal Revenue Service has launched a Web-based tool that allows taxpayers to check to see if they received an Economic Recovery Payment last year.

JPMorgan Chase is reportedly close to receiving $1.4 billion in tax refunds from its acquisition of Washington Mutual.

Keith S. Fimian and Pat Herrity are part of a growing trend this year: CPAs running for a seat in Congress.

A large proportion of married business partners who file individual or partnership tax returns are unaware of the potential benefits of a more recent filing option.

KPMG LLP CEO John B. Veihmeyer has been named U.S. chairman and CEO of the firm, succeeding Timothy P. Flynn, who will focus on his role as chairman of KPMG International.

Researchers have found a link between short selling and a faster time-to-discovery of when companies misreport their financial results.

Advisors Trusted Advisor has enhanced its online Roth Conversion Optimizer.

Auto-enrollment of participants in 401(k) plans is likely to be most beneficial to young and low-income workers, according to new research.

Simonton Windows is offering customers $150 off the tax preparation fee for their 2010 returns, which will be prepared in 2011, when they purchase 12 or more energy-efficient windows and have their returns prepared at H&R Block.

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The Internal Revenue Service reported that the overall number of tax return filings has declined somewhat this tax season.