R&A CPAs blog

Foreign Earned Income: The Tax Situation

If you live overseas, you will likely find yourself in a special tax situation and may need to file Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income. You may be eligible for an…

Pros and Cons of Tax Extensions

In general, individual and trust income tax returns are due on April 15th of each year, while partnerships and corporations must file by March 15th. If your accountant thinks there is…

Filing Taxes for the Deceased

Death doesn’t cancel a final responsibility: paying income taxes. A decedent’s executor must file one last income tax return for the deceased if the deceased’s income surpassed a certain threshold.…

I got a notice from the IRS! What do I do now?

Every year, the IRS mails millions of letters and notices to taxpayers for a wide variety of reasons. In this article, we’ll explore some of the reasons IRS mails these…

Innovative Startup Paramium Technologies Wins University of Arizona Center for Innovation Sponsored Launch Fueled by R&A CPAs Competition

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is pleased to announce the winning startup of the UACI Sponsored Launch Fueled by R&A CPAs competition. Paramium Technologies will receive one…

Capital Gains and Schedule D

When you sell a capital asset—property owned and used for personal or investment purposes, let’s say—the sale will result in either a capital gain or a capital loss. You report…

Payroll Tax Holiday and Unemployment Boost Are in Flux

On August 8, the White House issued a series of memorandums and executive orders to provide relief while Congress continued to debate legislative action. There are limits, however, regarding what can be…

Special Report: How to Manage Cash Flow

No manager of a small or midsize business would argue about the wisdom of the timeworn saying, “Cash is king.” And that’s the underlying driver of any business, regardless of…

Updated Guidance – PPP loan forgiveness and review process

On Memorial Day weekend, the US Treasury and the Small Business Administration (SBA) released two new Interim Final Rules regarding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Key updates and clarifications for…

Medical and Dental Expenses: What Can You Deduct?

Can you deduct medical and dental expenses? That’s a complicated question. To start with, your deductions must exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. And they must fall into…

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…