R&A CPAs blog

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…

Five Reasons to File Your Taxes Early

It has begun! The Internal Revenue Service announced Monday, January 26, 2026, as the opening of the 2026 filing season. Taxpayers have until Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to file their…

Could Your Child Owe Taxes? Here’s What To Know

We generally assume that children aren’t required to pay taxes. But if your child has unearned income-such as interest and dividends from investments-the IRS may require them to file a…

Should I Get an IP PIN?

In recent years, tax-related identity theft has been a growing problem and has evolved into a major enterprise run by well-funded, technically sophisticated national and international criminal syndicates. In the…

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.