Practice Management

With volatile economic times threatening, flexibility in all aspects of financial affairs, including charitable giving, is more desirable than ever. While there is an increased need for charitable donations, there are also fewer resources among potential donors. One charitable giving vehicle that has grown popular over the past ten years because of its efficiencies is the charitable remainder trust.A CRT can provide a new income stream for the donor and a benefit to charity — a classic win-win situation. CRTs should continue to have viability for present-day donors, especially those who maximize the flexibility that the rules allow. In pushing CRTs to their legal limit, however, taxpayers also must heed restrictions that, if not followed, can result in disastrous tax consequences.

An audit of the Internal Revenue Service's program for examining and penalizing tax return preparers by the Treasury Department's inspector general could not be completed because the IRS was unable to provide most of the documents.

The Internal Revenue Service needs to do a better job of managing its sales of seized property, recommends a report by the Treasury Department's inspector general.

Education consultancy Professional Education Services has created an affiliate program for CPAs and certified financial planners to give them access to its college-funding software.

The National Football League is asking for an exception to new Form 990 rules that require tax-exempt organizations to disclose the names and salaries of any executives who earn more than $150,000 per year.

The Internal Revenue Service has introduced a free e-mail service to provide tax information to small business owners and the self-employed.

Two senators criticized the nonpayment of federal taxes by many U.S. companies and foreign companies doing business in the U.S. after a report was issued this week.

Approximately two-thirds of U.S. companies and foreign companies doing business in the U.S. paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005, according to a new report.

A court ruling last week by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims could increase claims for tax refunds by insurance policy holders who sold stock in insurance providers that went public.

Memphis CPA firm Watkins Uiberall has teamed up with management consultancy J. William Appling & Associates to form Watkins Uiberall Strategic Consulting Group.