R&A CPAs blog

How Trusted Employees Commit Fraud

Many small businesses are family-owned and operated with employees that have been with the company for years. Manager oversight can become lax. Staff and co-workers are like “family,” or they…

Estate Planning – What to Know

Thinking about one’s own mortality is no one’s favorite way to pass the time. Yet if you own any stuff or love anyone, it is something you will eventually have…

Access Retirement Funds in a Disaster

The SECURE 2.0 Act that went into effect in March 2022, makes it easier for qualified individuals impacted by a federally declared major disaster to access their retirement savings. This…

Arizona Minimum Wage to Rise for 2025

Effective January 1, 2025, Arizona’s minimum wage will be increased by 35 cents from $14.35 to $14.70 per hour. Arizona law requires the minimum wage to increase yearly based on…

What Business Owners Need to Know About Business Travel Deductions

When it comes to deducting business travel expenses, business owners and employers face a maze of rules that can be both complicated and prone to change. However, understanding these regulations…

January 2025 Newsletter 2

January 2025 Newsletter

News Alert: Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting – Business Clients

This is to alert you to recent developments regarding Beneficial Ownership Information reporting, commonly referred to as BOI or BOIR. BOI filing is a requirement to everyone that owns an…

Residential Rental Property Owners – Transaction Privilege Tax Update

Effective January 1, 2025, residential rental property owners should no longer collect and remit any city transaction privilege tax (sales tax) on residential rentals. Not all Arizona cities assess this…

Time to Renew Transaction Privilege Tax License

You have likely received notices from Arizona Department of Revenue and the City of Tucson that it is time to renew your TPT license. License renewals apply and are valid…

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.