nysscpa
Letter Sent to All State Society Presidents and Presidents-Elect
April 27, 1999

VIA FAX ORIGINAL TO FOLLOW

RE: The AICPA and Workload Compression

Letter Sent to All State Society Presidents and Presidents-Elect

This year we are "celebrating" an unlucky anniversary, the 13th anniversary of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which ushered in chronic workload compression.

The AICPA labored hard to address the workload compression problem twelve years ago and again seven years ago, both times with some legislative success (although the 1992 attempt was ultimately vetoed by President Bush). After 1992, the AICPA became somewhat conflicted on the issue and it came to the conclusion that there is no realistic solution to the problem. Its analysis runs something like this:

  • The workload compression solution CPAs want - turning back the clock on fiscal years to before 1986 - is not legislatively viable because it ostensibly costs too much.
  • The solution Congress is willing to pass - permitting fiscal years so long as the tax deferral is offset - is unpalatable to CPAs.

    AICPA committees and staff concluded that this is a hopeless situation and that they may as well drop workload compression from the legislative agenda. When you talk to AICPA senior staff today, they will tell you that CPAs have adjusted to workload compression and so members are no longer demanding a solution.

    I believe that CPAs still are very concerned about workload compression and I hope to send a wake up call to the AICPA during my Society presidency. I will be working through our chapter and committee structure to pique New York CPAs' concern about workload compression. We CPAs tell our employees and our clients that they must be proactive to accomplish their goals. Now it is time for all of us to be proactive and emphatically request that the AICPA go back to the drawing board to solve this horrendous problem.

    I hope that you also remain concerned about workload compression and will join me in this effort. I am enclosing some discussion points which I will be distributing throughout New York and encourage you to do the same to the members in your state. Further, you are requested to have your state's members write to the people listed on the enclosure. I would appreciate learning any suggestions or comments you have on resolving workload compression and look forward to seeing you at the AICPA Council meeting next week.

    Warmest regards,

    Alan E. Weiner, CPA
    President-elect

    cc: John E. Hunnicutt - AICPA
    Society Executive Directors

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