R&A CPAs blog

Meet Nathan Bolt – Fractional CFO Services

Nathan is a seasoned Chief Financial Officer (CFO) drawing from over two decades of experience in accounting and finance. He holds a BS in Accounting, is a licensed CPA, and…

Why 2025 Is Turning Out to Be a Great Year

In January, we wondered what the year would bring. Well, now we know what the first half of the year has brought, and it is good news for high-net-worth business…

ACC Announces New Policies Aimed at Preventing Business Filing Fraud

Most state business filing agencies like the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) are ministerial entities only and have no regulatory or enforcement authority.  In other words, these government entities can make…

Key Provisions of the New Tax Act

  On July 4, 2025, Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law. At the center of the bill is the extension of many provisions of…

OBBBA – Tax Treatment of R&D Expensing and Bonus Depreciation

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) significantly impacts the tax treatment for businesses of research and development (R&D) expense and bonus depreciation. These new provisions offer substantial benefits and …

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…

What You Need to Know About Paying Household Employees

October 22, 2026

When you hire someone to do work in your home, they may be considered a household employee, and you might have some tax withholding responsibility when you pay them. You may have heard of this tax referred to as the “nanny tax.” These taxes are actually employment taxes and include social security, Medicare, and sometimes…

Update on Trump Accounts – Automatic Enrollment

October 22, 2026

Do you have a child under the age of 18? They most likely have a Trump Account now, whether or not you signed them up for one. The US Department of Treasury recently began automatically enrolling eligible children in the program rather than waiting for parents or guardians to apply. Even though your child may…

September 2026 Newsletter

September 24, 2026

Employee or Independent Contractor?

September 24, 2026

Suppose your business hires an outside person to complete a task. What is your tax withholding responsibility when you pay this person? The answer depends on the business relationship between you and the person doing work for you. Types of workers There are two kinds of workers: employees and independent contractors. (We know this is…

Payroll Security Best Practices for Small Businesses

September 24, 2026

Payroll systems handle large volumes of sensitive personal data, making them vulnerable to breaches. To safeguard this data, organizations need integrated security measures that minimize the risks of errors, fraud, and operational disruptions. AI can support these efforts by identifying processing issues and suspicious activity, but it is not a standalone solution. Effective payroll security…

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…