R&A CPAs blog

I’ll Get Back to You

When I started my career as a CPA, I was surprised to discover how fluid the tax law is. I had always thought that tax laws were black and white…

Employer Responsibilities Regarding 401(k) Plans

Offering a variety of competitive benefit plans (EBPs) has become a necessity for employers to attract and retain talent. Because of the cost and complexities of traditional pension plans, the…

IRS Offers More Time to Make Portability Election

Portability is often an effective, go-to estate planning strategy that could make a considerable difference for taxes owed on larger estates, especially with today’s generous exemption amounts. In a recent…

July 2022 Newsletter

Current Bear Market Creates Opportunities for Roth Conversions, IRS Makes Rare Midyear Mileage Rate Adjustment, All About Quarterly Tax Returns, 529 Plans: Good for Parents and Grandparents

529 Plans: Good for Parents and Grandparents

For families trying to save for their children’s college education, 529 college savings plans, named for a section of the tax code, have always been hailed as a great option—perhaps…

IRS Makes Rare Midyear Mileage Rate Adjustment

The IRS has announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rate for the final six months of 2022. Taxpayers may use the optional standard mileage rates to calculate the…

June 2022 Newsletter

There are new reporting rules for 2022 for nonprofits that receive contributions of nonfinancial assets.

What Is FATCA?

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FACTA), US taxpayers holding financial assets outside the US must report those assets to the IRS using Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign…

IRS Notices CP2100 and 2100A Help Payers Correct Backup Withholding Errors

You might get a special error notice if your tax filings include one or more of the forms below: Form 1099-B, Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions Form 1099-DIV,…

Is It a Hobby or a Business?

In general, a hobby is an activity that a person pursues because they enjoy it and with no intention of making a profit. People operate a business with the intention…

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.