Everybody worries or gets the odd case of butterflies in the stomach. But are you missing out on opportunities and happiness because of fears and worries? Is anxiety interfering with your life? While moderate anxiety can be limiting, severe anxiety can be crippling. Anxiety currently afflicts more than 20 million Americans, making it the most common mental illness in the US. Find out if you're too anxious with this anxiety test. It will determine whether you should consider seeking help, and to what degree. For each statement in the questionnaire, please indicate how often you feel that way.
After finishing this test you will receive a FREE snapshot report with a summary evaluation and graph. You will then have the option to purchase the full results for $6.95
This test is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or for the treatment of any health condition. If you would like to seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional you can search Psychology Today's directory here.
Do you believe in yourself? Do you provide yourself the credit you deserve? Self-esteem is an integral part of personal happiness, fulfilling relationships and achievement. This test is designed to evaluate your general level of self-esteem and determine whether you need to work on your self-image. Take this self-esteem test to find out your true sense of self.
Examine the following statements and indicate how often or to what degree you agree with them. In order to receive the most accurate results, please answer each question as honestly as possible.
After finishing this test you will receive a FREE snapshot report with a summary evaluation and graph. You will then have the option to purchase the full results for $6.95
This test is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or for the treatment of any health condition. If you would like to seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional you can search Psychology Today's directory here.
The 2023 AICPA Compendium of Tax Legislative Proposals — Simplification and Technical Proposals, which includes 61 proposals covering a wide variety of subjects, opens with a proposal to standardize definitions in the Internal Revenue Code so that terms have the same meaning throughout the Code.
Anoop Natwar Mehta is traveling the country, meeting with the next generation of accounting professionals. Along the way, he’s gained some valuable perspective that can fuel company leaders’ efforts to hire the best and brightest.
It’s worth pausing to reflect on the AICPA’s successes in advocating for the profession with Congress and the IRS this year.
Those on the front line of the sustainability reporting landscape share what’s to come in 2023 and what accounting professionals need to know to prepare.
AICPA and the U.S. Department of Labor sign the first three companies to a program aimed at addressing talent shortage in accounting and finance.
Two former IRS commissioners addressed the agency’s issues at an AICPA panel and sounded a note of optimism for the future, based on new funding and pending technology improvements.
This quick-hitting episode covers exact news of interest, including IRS and Social Security Administration annual announcements, why the AICPA is requesting guidance from the IRS and Treasury, and advice for negotiating after you’ve received a job offer.
Three CPAs discuss the particulars of proposed revisions issued by the AICPA for the Statements on Standards for Tax Services.
The organization’s letter to the IRS and Treasury makes recommendations in five areas to help companies deal with the new tax.
In a second letter, the AICPA takes issue with broad new documentation requirements for refund claims involving the Sec. 41 credit, outlined in an IRS memo in fall 2021.
The AICPA released the Q4 CPA test pass rates for 2022, showing a decrease in pass rates for all sections except for Auditing and Attestation as well as Regulation, whose rates remained stagnant.
According to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy's latest report, 191,000 test sections were taken in 2022, which represents a 25% drop since 2018. Reported on a scale ranging from 0 to 99, scores in the AUD, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and REG sections are a weighted combination of scaled scores from multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations. As for the Business Environment and Concepts section, it also includes written communication tasks.
| SECTION |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
CUMULATIVE |
2021 |
| AUD |
46.35% |
49.13% |
48.67% |
47.21% |
47.90% |
47.98% |
| BEC |
57.33% |
61.53% |
59.91% |
60.30% |
59.85% |
61.94% |
| FAR |
44.95% |
45.66% |
44.30% |
40.67% |
43.76% |
44.54% |
| REG |
60.03% |
61.25% |
61.78% |
56.41% |
59.85% |
59.88% |
While the pass rate for BEC has dropped by almost 3% since 2021, it has been steadily improving the last few years, starting at 52.99% in 2017. However, as part of the CPA Evolution Initiative, the BEC section will soon be removed from the test and candidates will instead choose between Business Analysis and Reporting, Tax Compliance and Planning, or Information Systems and Controls.
The AICPA had no immediate comment.
The American Institute of CPAs has released a guide to help auditors deal with a new standard on assessing the risks of a material misstatement.
The new audit guide, Risk Assessment in a Financial Statement Audit, assists auditors with implementing Statement on Auditing Standards No. 145, "Understanding the Entity and Its Environment and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement," which takes effect for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after Dec. 15, 2023, although early application is allowed. The guide is available in ebook format.
SAS No. 145 makes several changes in the requirements for the risk assessment process for auditors, including:
SAS No. 145 aims to Boost the requirements and guidance related to the auditor's risk assessment, especially when it comes to gaining a better understanding of the entity's system of internal control and assessing control risk. The guidance deals with the economic, technological and regulatory aspects of the markets and environment in which entities and audit firms operate.
There are revised requirements to evaluate the design of certain controls, including general IT controls, and to decide whether they've been implemented. The standard also includes new guidance on maintaining professional skepticism, as well as a new "stand-back" requirement intended to drive an evaluation of the completeness of the auditor's identification of significant classes of transactions, account balances and disclosures.
In addition, there are revised requirements relating to audit documentation. Also new is a conforming amendment to perform substantive procedures for each relevant assertion of each significant class of transactions, account balance and disclosure, no matter what level of control risk has been assessed.
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Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:A hair strand drug test, also known as a hair drug test, screens for illicit drug use and the misuse of prescription medication.
Though it’s common to refer to this as a “hair follicle test,” a hair strand drug test only tests clipped strands of hair, not the follicle located under the scalp.
During this test, a small amount of hair is removed from your head using scissors. The demo is then analyzed for signs of drug use during the 90 days preceding the test. It’s typically used to test for:
While a urine drug screen can detect if you’ve used drugs in the last few days, a hair drug test can detect drug use in the past 90 days.
Your workplace may request a hair test to screen for illicit drug use before hire or randomly during employment. Some research also indicates that hair drug testing can be useful for monitoring drug use in at-risk individuals when used alongside self-reporting.
Your hair strand test might take place in a lab or within a hospital setting. Or your workplace may perform the test using a kit that’s then mailed to a laboratory. You can also order at-home hair tests online.
If your workplace has mandated that you take the test, they’ll likely require you to be supervised during the testing process.
You can wash your hair, dye your hair, and use styling products without affecting the accuracy of the test.
After confirming identifying information, the collector will cut between 100 and 120 hairs from the crown of your head. They can collect the hairs from different spots on your crown to avoid creating a bald spot.
If you have very little or no hair on your head, the collector might use body hair for the test instead. The collector will place the hair in foil and then in a secure envelope to be mailed for overnight testing.
A negative result can be determined within 24 hours of hair removal. A test called ELISA is used as a screening test. This test determines if the hair demo is negative for drug use.
A negative result indicates that you haven’t engaged in illicit drug use over the past 90 days. Additional testing is required to confirm a positive result.
A positive drug test is confirmed after 72 hours. All nonnegative tests undergo a second test, called gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). It confirms a positive test result. This test also identifies the specific drugs used.
An inconclusive result isn’t common when testing procedures are followed. In some cases, improper collection of the hair specimen may result in the test being rejected completely. In this case, the test may be repeated.
The laboratory responsible for testing will deliver the results to the individual or organization requesting the test. They’ll use confidential means, like a secure fax, a phone call, or an online interface to share test results.
Because lab results are confidential health information, you’ll need to sign a release before the results are passed on to your workplace.
A hair drug test detects a pattern of repeated drug use over the last 90 days. Because hair growth rates vary from person to person, this test can’t accurately determine when in the 90 days drugs were used.
The collection and testing of hair for this test follows a very specific set of standards to increase accuracy. During testing, the collected hair is washed and tested for environmental contamination that could change the results of the test.
Your results won’t be affected if you wash your hair, dye your hair, or use styling products.
To guard against a false positive, laboratories conduct two tests. The first, called ELISA, is able to deliver a negative or positive result within 24 hours.
The second, called GC/MS, is a widely accepted method for confirming a positive result. This second test can also test for specific drugs and can detect as many as 17 different drugs. The GC/MS also guards against false-positive results caused by foods like poppy seeds or hemp seeds.
One 2017 study did find inconsistency between self-reporting of cannabis use and the results of hair drug tests. This may indicate the potential of a false positive.
Certain medications may influence the results of the test. If a doctor has prescribed an opioid painkiller and you use them as directed, these drugs will show up on your test. In this case, your employer will likely request you provide documentation of prescriptions.
If you believe your hair drug test results are inaccurate, you may immediately request a retest from your employer.
A hair drug test is more expensive than a urine drug test. An at-home kits costs between $64.95 and $85. Drug tests performed in a hospital or laboratory may cost between $100 and $125.
If you’re a current employee and your workplace requires you to take a hair strand drug test, they’re required by law to pay you for the time spent taking the test. They’ll also pay for the test itself.
If a drug test is part of pre-employment screening, the employer isn’t required to compensate you for your time.
Many insurance carriers cover drug tests if it’s performed within a hospital for medical purposes, like an inpatient stay or an emergency room visit.
The main difference between a hair drug test and a urine drug test is the window of detection.
A urine drug test is used to test for drug use over the three days preceding the test. A hair drug test is the only drug test that can detect repeated drug use up to 90 days prior to the test.
This is possible because drugs present in the bloodstream actually become a part of hair cells as the hair grows. The sweat and sebum present on your scalp may also play a role in drug presence in existing strands of hair.
Because of the rate of hair growth, drugs can’t be detected in the hair until five to seven days after use. In the case of a workplace accident, a hair drug test wouldn’t be an appropriate test for detecting exact drug use.
If you have questions or concerns about your drug test results, reach out to the medical review officer, or MRO. An MRO evaluates drug test results and may be able to explain your test results.
Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior to the test date. That’s because the chemicals from the drugs that end up in your bloodstream become part of the hair cells as your hair grows.
Hair drug tests may not be appropriate for determining exact drug use. That’s because it may take five to seven days for the drugs to be identifiable through a hair test. Urine drug tests are used to detect exact drug use.
If you’re taking prescribed medications, let the administrator of the test know. Medications may lead to a false-positive test result.
The AICPA has sent a list of 61 proposals for changes to the Internal Revenue Code to Congress, starting with a proposal that the definitions of terms be standardized so that words have the same meaning throughout the Code.
The 2023 AICPA Compendium of Tax Legislative Proposals — Simplification and Technical Proposals "includes items focused on improving tax administration, making the tax code fairer, and effectively promoting important policy objectives," says the Feb. 7 letter signed by Jan Lewis, CPA, chair of the AICPA Tax Executive Committee. "It is not a comprehensive list of all provisions that Congress should add back or remove from the reformed Code. We intend to continue our efforts in this area and make further recommendations in the future."
The compendium opens with a proposal to standardize definitions to avoid multiple meanings for terms such as "small business," which is defined in numerous ways in the Code, including businesses as having $10 million or less in gross receipts for the Sec. 263A small retailer exception; $25 million or less in gross receipts for the Sec. 448 small business exception; and having total assets of $50 million or less for the Sec. 1202 gain exclusion for qualified small business stock.
The AICPA makes the following recommendation in the proposal regarding terms: "Find existing terms in the Code that have multiple definitions. If there is no reason for different definitions, standardize the definition. Consider if transitional relief is needed along with the change. If there is a reason justifying the different definitions, change the name of one of the terms to avoid confusion. In crafting legislation, consider use of existing terms rather than creating new definitions."
Other highlights are proposals to:
Amend Sec. 62(a)(1) to permit the deduction of all state and local taxes, including income, sales, and property taxes, derived from or attributable to any trade or business to be deductible under Sec. 62(a)(1).
The recommendation in the proposal states: "Congress should allow owners of passthrough entities (including sole proprietors) to take an 'above-the-line' deduction for state and local taxes attributable to carrying on a trade or business, whether paid at the entity level or directly by the partner/owner. The calculation done to determine the attributable and therefore deductible amount would be done in a manner similar to calculations presently done under [Sec.] 111 to determine the amount of a state tax refund that is excludable from income or taxable."
Provide permanent and uniform provisions to aid taxpayers in disaster relief situations.
Under this proposal, 11 permanent tax provisions are recommended, including one that provides permanent, uniform inflation-adjusted disaster relief that takes effect immediately when individual disaster assistance is available in a disaster declaration area and one allowing an employee retention credit for specified disaster-damaged business.
The analysis in the proposal states that "It is important that all victims — regardless of where they reside, and whether they endured a hurricane, a mudslide, or other type of disaster — receive comparable relief. The rules should be consistent among the various disasters."
Harmonize and simplify education-related tax provisions.
The five recommendations for changes to the existing education provisions in this proposal include replacing the tax incentives intended to help taxpayers meet higher education expenses (the American opportunity tax credit and the lifetime learning credit) with one new or revised credit.
The analysis in this proposal states that the recommended changes are needed because "analysis and application of the education tax incentives are too cumbersome compared with the benefits received" for many taxpayers.
The compendium was sent to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance; Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means; Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member, Senate Committee on Finance; and Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., ranking member, House Committee on Ways & Means.
— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Martha Waggoner at Martha.Waggoner@aicpa-cima.com.
SOC 2 Type II certified since 2014, Snap Tech IT annually invests in protecting client data with the most stringent compliance audits.
Independent Audit Verifies Snap Tech IT's Internal Controls and Processes
TEMPE, AZ, UNITED STATES, February 13, 2023 /einpresswire.com / -- snap tech it , a managed services & cybersecurity provider, today announced that it has completed its SOC 2 Type II audit, performed by kirkpatrickprice . This attestation provides evidence that Snap Tech IT has a strong commitment to security and to delivering high-quality services to its clients by demonstrating that they have the necessary internal controls and processes in place.A soc 2 audit provides an independent, third-party validation that a service organization's information security practices meet industry standards stipulated by the AICPA. During the audit, a service organization's non-financial reporting controls as they relate to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of a system are tested. The SOC 2 report delivered by KirkpatrickPrice verifies the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of Snap Tech IT's controls to meet the standards for these criteria.
“The nature of our business dictates that we take the necessary steps to ensure, not only the most secure internal controls & processes to protect ourselves, but to protect sensitive data our clients have entrusted with us. We annually invest time, money, and resources in our third-party SOC 2 Type II audits to provide accountability and reassurance to our clients that we are constantly monitoring and testing control and processes that directly affect their business. We wouldn't have it any other way,” said Shawn Brown, COO, Snap Tech IT.
“The SOC 2 audit is based on the Trust Services Criteria,” said Joseph Kirkpatrick, President of KirkpatrickPrice.“Snap Tech IT delivers trust-based services to their clients, and by communicating the results of this audit, their clients can be assured of their reliance on Snap Tech IT's controls.”
About Snap Tech IT
Led by technology veterans in the industry, Snap Tech IT provides IT management, cybersecurity, cloud services, professional services & data center services for small and medium-sized businesses nationwide, with offices in Atlanta, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Snap Tech IT has held SOC 2 Type II certification since 2014.
Founded in 2001, Snap Tech IT delivers technology to solve business challenges, coupled with exceptional client experiences that enable businesses to focus on strategy & growth. Snap Tech IT has solved a multitude of technical & compliance challenges for clients, from minimizing cybersecurity risk & operational downtime to managing IT roadmaps tailored for client business needs. A dedicated IT partner that believes client success is their success. For more information, visit , follow Snap Tech IT on LinkedIn, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
About KirkpatrickPrice:
KirkpatrickPrice is the leader in cybersecurity and compliance audit reports. Our experienced auditors know audits are hard, so they take complicated audits such as SOC 1, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, HITRUST, GDPR, and ISO 27001 and make them worth it. The firm has issued over 10,000 reports to over 1,200 clients worldwide, giving its clients trusted results and the assurance they deserve. Using its Online Audit Manager, the world's first compliance platform, KirkpatrickPrice partners its clients with an expert to guide them through the entire audit process, from audit readiness to final report. For more information, visit , follow KirkpatrickPrice on LinkedIn, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Allison Monohan
Snap Tech IT
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In exact weeks, multiple advisory industry executives have told ThinkAdvisor they are growing panic about an increasing lack of certified public accountant talent in the United States.
Their fear is based mainly on the fact that RIAs are themselves facing growing client demand for holistic retirement planning services that take complex tax considerations into account. Often, today’s financial planners find themselves collaborating closely with CPAs to meet their clients’ income planning and tax-efficient investing needs.
In the emerging talent environment, sources warn, RIAs will have to search harder for trusted CPA partners. In fact, it is likely many firms could find themselves outsourcing significant tax planning work to India or other countries, one accounting firm executive says.
From the perspective of Lisa Simpson, vice president of firm services at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, these concerns are not surprising to hear. Responding to a exact inquiry from ThinkAdvisor, Simpson acknowledged that accountants are indeed leaving their jobs in significant numbers, and replacing them all isn’t an easy proposition.
However, while she acknowledges the concerns of the RIA community, Simpson is also quick to point out that similar issues are affecting almost all the skilled professions in the United States, and she says she is hopeful that ongoing efforts by the AICPA and other organizations can help address the emerging talent gap.
Ultimately, the CPA profession remains an attractive and important field, Simpson says, and she is hopeful that redoubled recruiting efforts and updates to the professional accreditation process can reverse some of the concerning trends.
From the AICPA’s perspective, there appears to be a variety of trends affecting the CPA profession, many of which are being seen across other professions and the U.S. workforce at large.
“Societal shifts that were developing before the COVID-19 pandemic have been accelerated over the last three years,” Simpson says. “We are seeing shifting generational expectations about work, an overall decline in college enrollment, changes in immigration rules and a rapidly changing technology environment.”
Simpson says the simple fact that the baby boomer generation is aging and rapidly leaving the workforce is a significant factor in the CPA talent shortage, and at the same time, some younger professionals are choosing to participate in the Great Resignation the U.S has seen in the workforce.
“Accounting is not the only profession impacted by these issues, as evidenced by job reports that indicate there are almost two unfilled jobs for every person considered unemployed,” Simpson says.
Simpson says the AICPA’s goal is to help foster a dynamic accounting profession that works every day to build trust, create opportunity and grow prosperity worldwide.
“As we talk with leaders in the accounting profession, we encourage them to understand the changing perceptions of work, and the need to continue fostering cultures where their talent has a sense of belonging,” Simpson says.
In this sense, the challenges facing the CPA industry closely resemble those facing the RIA industry itself.
