R&A CPAs blog

April 2026 Newsletter

Understanding the Federal R&D Tax Credit

At its core, the federal R&D tax credit, enacted in 1981 to stimulate innovation and business investment, provides dollar-for-dollar savings tied to qualified research activities. It is now complemented by…

Scam Alert: How To Spot Phishing, Smishing and Spoofing

Phishing remains a major threat. In the second half of 2024, email-based phishing attacks surged by 202 percent. Alarmingly, most of these attacks used link-based tactics, and 80 percent of…

IRS Interim Guidance Provides Clarity on Bonus Depreciation Rules

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) brought welcome news for businesses with the permanent return of 100 percent bonus depreciation. Businesses are now eligible to deduct the full cost…

Trump Accounts – The Basics

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 established the 530A account, a new type of tax-advantaged IRA designed specifically for children. Better known as Trump accounts, these…

March 2026 Newsletter

529 Tuition Programs – What You Need to Know

Qualified tuition programs, also called 529 plans, are tax-advantaged plans designed to encourage saving for future education costs. These plans are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and…

Handling a Family Business

Fairness isn’t always about equal shares – it’s often about what makes sense based on each person’s needs and circumstances. Sometimes one child needs more financial support or hands-on help. Other times,…

Is Your Business Healthy?

Many leaders see sales and assume all is well, but hidden issues can linger under the surface. Discover the four essential financial tests. From liquidity to profitability, that determine the true health of your company.

The ABCs of RMDs and QCDs

The federal government encourages individuals to  save for retirement by providing tax incentives for those who make contributions to personal retirement accounts. The goal is to help people achieve financial…

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.

What to Consider When Selling Your Business to Employees

August 26, 2026

Selling your business to employees through an ESOP, cooperative, or management buyout preserves your company’s legacy and rewards your team, but it requires careful planning. Success hinges on choosing the right ownership structure, securing realistic financing (often involving seller notes), obtaining an independent valuation, and preparing strong leaders to handle daily operations after the transition.

The State of Construction Bonding in 2026: What Contractors Need to Know About Financial Reporting

August 26, 2026

Navigating the 2026 bonding landscape requires contractors to treat financial reporting as a strategic tool rather than a routine compliance exercise. With surety carriers tightening underwriting standards following elevated project complexities, labor costs, and recent severe claims, securing maximum bonding capacity hinges on transparency and financial discipline.

July 2026 Newsletter

July 30, 2026

Caught In Prescott – Lessons in Fraud Prevention and Monitoring

July 30, 2026

Fraud in Prescott – lessons in fraud prevention and monitoring for your business.

IRS Makes Rare Midyear Change to Mileage Rates

July 30, 2026

A break for many who have been hit by high gas prices: The IRS has quietly announced a revision to the optional standard mileage rates for computing the allowable deductible costs of operating an automobile. Click through to see what has changed—and what hasn’t.

The Purpose of Form I-9: What Employers Need to Know

July 30, 2026

Every employer needs to complete Form I-9 for their employees. It is an important compliance document. Here is what you need to know.

Meet Junna Stockwell, CPA, Supervisor – Assurance

July 30, 2026

Junna is a supervisor in our Assurance department. In her role, she solves financial problems and helps provide accurate financial reporting for our clients.