R&A CPAs blog

July 2025 Newsletter

What is The Difference Between a Public Charity and a Private Foundation?

If you listen to public radio, you have probably heard an announcement that programming is supported by an organization such as the Jane Doe Private Foundation or the Smith Family…

Meet Lisset Anderson – Supervisor, Client Services

Lisset Anderson is a Supervisor in Client Services and has been a member of the R&A team since 2018. Lisset supports R&A’s clients, responding to questions, and ensuring client satisfaction.…

The Fraud Diamond

First, there was the Fraud Triangle. Then came the Fraud Diamond. David Wolfe and Dana Hermanson, the authors of “The Fraud Diamond: Considering the Four Elements of Fraud” (2004), created…

Employee Gift Matching Programs: Benefits and How-Tos

Employee gift matching is a powerful philanthropic strategy that involves companies pledging to match the charitable contributions their employees make to non-profit organizations.  General Electric created the first known gift…

Understanding the Rising Threat of Deepfake Fraud

Fake or doctored images appear all over the internet and on our phone and computer apps these days. Some are harmless and entertaining. See how you will look as you…

Strengthening the Foundation: A CFO’s Perspective on the Importance of Internal Controls

In our article last month, “Why More Businesses are Turning to Fractional CFO Services,” we shared that many growing businesses lack the sophisticated financial controls and systems that are needed…

Navigating Financial Complexity in Construction: Strategies for Cash Flow, Cost Control, and Long-Term Profitability

Construction professionals operate in one of the most financially complex industries, where managing cash flow and cost control from job to job creates fluctuating liquidity patterns unlike any other sector.…

June 2025 Newsletter

How to Read a Not-For-Profit Tax Return (Even if you are not a tax professional) Part II

In a way, IRS Form 990 consists of two separate tax returns. The first is the “numbers” section (discussed in part I of this article) where organizations report their income…

Checking Your Federal Tax Withholding – Why, When, and How

September 24, 2026

If you are an employee, you know that various taxes are withheld from your paychecks. While you generally can’t change the amount of social security and Medicare taxes withheld, you can change the withholding amounts of federal and state income tax. In fact, the IRS encourages taxpayers to review their income tax withholding at least…

R&A Named a 2026 Top 500 US Accounting Firm

September 24, 2026

R&A is very pleased to share that we have been recognized as a Top 500 Firm in the US for 2026 by INSIDE Public Accounting based on US net revenue. INSIDE Public Accounting is a leader in practice management and CPA firm resources for the public accounting profession. Of this recognition, Phillip C. Dalrymple, CPA, CFE, and R&A Managing Partner said, “We are proud…

Trusts Can be Powerful Estate Planning Tools

September 24, 2026

You’ve probably had a check-up with your doctor or dentist in the last year as part of your routine practice of self-care. Preventive visits like this can detect and address potential health issues in their earliest and most treatable stages. We think of estate planning as preventive care for your life and loved ones. No…

Promises of Tax Settlements for “Pennies on the Dollar” are Often Too Good to be True

September 24, 2026

At R&A CPAs, we often find ourselves counselling individuals or businesses that are overwhelmed by large tax liabilities or mired in IRS bureaucracy. Like you, we see ads promising amazing “pennies on the dollar” settlement deals with the IRS touted by “professionals,” backed up by dramatic testimonials of success. These settlements refer to the IRS’s…

August 2026 Newsletter

August 26, 2026

Meet Jorge Fuentes Quihui, Associate – Assurance

August 26, 2026

Meet Jorge Fuentes Quihui, Associate – Assurance

The IRS’ ‘Dirty Dozen’

August 26, 2026

The IRS’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list exposes the top 12 tax scams, fraud schemes, and aggressive avoidance tactics threatening taxpayers. Ranging from phishing scams and identity theft to abusive tax shelters and misleading social media advice, the list alerts both individuals and businesses to emerging threats, helping them safeguard their financial assets and maintain tax compliance.

IRS Announces New Automatic Exemption from Penalty Program

August 26, 2026

The IRS’s Automatic Exemption from Penalty (AEP) program simplifies tax relief by automatically waiving failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, and failure-to-deposit penalties for compliant taxpayers. Replacing the manual First Time Abate process, the automated system evaluates eligibility during return processing—waiving penalties for individuals and businesses with three years of clean compliance history—without requiring formal requests or phone calls.

Estate Planning is Changing: What Families Should Revisit Now

August 26, 2026

Shifting tax exemption thresholds, evolving retirement account rules, and changing family dynamics make static estate plans a risk. Families should revisit their plans now to update beneficiary designations, review trusts, refresh health care and financial powers of attorney, and adjust wealth transfer strategies to ensure their assets remain protected and align with their current intentions.