Pataki Proposes Education Improvements and Tax Cuts

Governor George E. Pataki, in his annual State of the State address to the New York State Legislature on January 5, posed a number of initiatives to strengthen the state's educational system and a comprehensive package of tax cuts totaling $700 million annually. (Article)

Regulatory and Professional Groups Examine Multidisciplinary Practices

Multidisciplinary practices (MDPs)--where CPAs and lawyers partner or share fees--continue to attract attention from both professions, and related studies by the NYSSCPA, American Bar Association (ABA), and Independence Standards Board (ISB) are now under way. (Article)

The IRS must love poor people--it's creating so many of them. -- Henny Youngman

I'm concerned. Was I wrong? Since Congress passed the law granting CPAs the right of "privilege" (see "Perry Mason," CBS, 1957­1966, 1973­1974), I have been advocating a course or seminar for CPAs since, unlike Perry Mason, a CPA still can be forced to testify as to (i.e., reveal) much of what he or she has heard in confidence. (Article)

SEC Report Finds Violation of Rules on Investments in Audit Clients

An independent report, prepared at the Securities and Exchange Commission's request, found that the majority of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP partners have violated the SEC's and the profession's independence rules regarding holding investments in CPA firms' audit clients. (Article)

New Tax Law Forbids Installment Sales Method by Accrual Basis Taxpayers

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Act of 1999 (H.R. 1180), signed by President Clinton on December 17, 1999, includes a provision that denies the use of installment reporting by accrual method taxpayers, effective for transactions on or after December 17. The provision, section 536, disallows installment sales reporting of the sale of an asset by accrual method taxpayers (most businesses and all with inventories), representing a significant trap for CPAs who are unaware of the change in the law. (Article)

NYSSCPA Collaborates with Medical Society on Medicare Seminar

The NYSSCPA Health Care Committee has approved developing a new seminar in cooperation with the New York State Medical Society on compliance with Medicare billing and collection regulations for physicians and other health-care service providers. (Article)

Society Welcomes First Associate Members

The NYSSCPA Executive Committee has approved the following new associate members (Article)

Yipinet Increases Online CPE Offerings

Yipinet, a provider of Internet-based learning and the NYSSCPA's online CPE affinity partner, has added more than 20 new courses since November, increasing the current number of its online offerings to more than 100. (Article)

Executive Director Signs for Another Tour of Duty

NYSSCPA Executive Director Louis Grumet has renewed his contract with the Society for three-plus more years through May 31, 2003. Grumet came to the Society in April 1998 from the New York State School Boards Association. We were a new challenge to Lou, who is an attorney but not a CPA and had to learn our CPA business and our problems in order to be an effective leader for our 32,000 members. (Article)

CPA Journal Editorial Board Formed

The CPA Journal has created and staffed an editorial review board. Comprised of CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals, the board's primary role is to review articles for suitability and recommend topics and authors. Editorial board members will offer their opinions on important professional issues for publication and cast their vote for the annual Max Block Distinguished Article Award. (Article)

East Meets West (Article)

Southern Tier

Southern Tier is one of the smaller chapters of the NYSSCPA and has less than 400 members. Geographically, we are situated upstate and along the New York­Pennsylvania border. The primary communities in our chapter include the "Triple Cities" (Binghamton, Johnson City, and Endicott), Oneonta, Elmira, and Ithaca. Many chapter activities are focused in the Triple Cities area. We are home to many educational institutions, for example, Binghamton University, Cornell University, Hartwick College, Ithaca College, Elmira College, and SUNY­Oneonta. (Article)

Suffolk Young CPAs Network with Local Professionals

More than 65 young professionals from banking, finance, insurance, law, and accounting attended the NYSSCPA Suffolk Chapter's Young CPAs Committee semiannual networking cocktail party on November 17 at the Long Island Sheraton Hotel in Smithtown. (Article)

CPA Firms a Source for Associate Members

Public accounting firms are a primary source for NYSSCPA associate members, specifically non-CPA professionals who may qualify to join as a CPA firm employee, one of the five new associate categories approved by a membership vote last year. (Article)

Society Insurance Plans Offer Broad Coverage

From coverage for health and medical expenses to term life, disability, and auto insurance, the NYSSCPA group insurance programs offer members a wide array of plans at affordable rates. Benefits include: (Article)

Protect Your Eyes with Society Vision Plan

NYSSCPA members and their families can receive up to a 60 percent savings on eyewear and receive free eye exams through a Society membership benefit with Eye Care International. (Article)

Candidates Association Members Qualify for Society Membership

Members of the former New York Association of CPA Candidates now qualify for NYSSCPA associate membership under the new CPA candidate or student categories. They can now join committees, including the newly formed CPA Candidates Committee, chaired by Alan Chu, and benefit from leadership training, knowledge building, and networking gained through committee service. (Article)

NYSSCPA introduces the CPA Professional Lisence Plate
(Article)

Society Scholarships Help Aspiring CPAs Achieve Goals

In 1990, the NYSSCPA created the Excellence in Accounting Scholarship fund to provide financial assistance and encourage deserving candidates to enter the accounting profession. Over the years, the fund--supported by member contributions-- has helped hundreds of accounting students pursue their education. (Article)

AICPA Core Competency Framework the Focus of Educators' Conference

The AICPA's new Core Competency Framework for Entry into the Accounting Profession was the primary theme of the Institute's 1999 Accounting Educators' Conference, held November 12­13 in Framingham, Mass. (Article)

Society Hosts Newly Licensed CPAs and NYC Members at Open House

More than 30 newly licensed CPAs and new associate members learned about NYSSCPA programs and membership benefits at the December 14 New York City area open house reception. (Article)

Chapters Also Reach out to Newly Licensed CPAs
(Article)

Website FAQs

FAQs, cyberspeak for "frequently asked questions," is a feature of The Trusted Professional that answers common questions about http://www.nysscpa.org. (Article)

TechCenter

These are exciting times in the NYSSCPA information services department. We are completing multiple projects on which we have been working since May--including rebuilding the network infrastructure, deploying new standardized desktop computers, upgrading all our servers, and, most importantly, replacing our membership and accounting software--indisputably our most mission critical applications. (Article)

FAE's Emerging Technologies Conference (Article)

Movers and Shakers (Article)

Litigation Conference Features Annual Meeting Luncheon (Article)

Welcome New Members (Article)

Members Encouraged to Join Committees

The Society is now accepting committee service applications for the 2000­2001 year. Networking opportunities and a forum for exchanging ideas among peers are just two of the many rewards committee members receive. Members can choose from more than 70 committees under a new committee structure. (Article)

IRS Deputy Commissioner Discusses Restructuring

The IRS is about to be transformed from an octopus-like creature, with 33 districts each serving the full range of taxpayers in a geographic region, to a four "stovepipe" concept, with each of four new operating divisions serving a unique category of taxpayers. (Article)

Regulatory and Professional Groups Examine Multidisciplinary Practices

This is the inauguration of a periodic column on international taxation. Many companies and CPA firm clients are now part of or are entering the global marketplace. Even "ma and pa" operations, once limited to their local neighborhood, now can expand their horizons thanks to the Internet and e-commerce. (Article)

In memorium (Article)

International Operations Committee Discusses Border Due Diligence

The NYSSCPA International Operations Committee's recent breakfast meeting featured a presentation by committee member Gregg H. Saunders on due diligence in cross-border transactions. (Article)

Metro New York Young CPAs Network at Holiday Party (Article)

COAP Alumni Reunite at Holiday Party

Alumni, parents, advisory board members, and counselors from last summer's Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) residency attended a holiday party held at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on December 27. (Article)

COAP Receives $10,000 Community Trust Grant

The Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program recently received a $10,000 two-year grant from the New York Community Trust. (Article)

Northeast Young CPAs Reach out to Area College Students

The NYSSCPA Northeast Chapter's Young CPAs Committee recently presented two student nights, one at the State University of New York at Albany and another at Siena College. (Article)

Why I Want to Be a Certified Public Accountant

There are so many options open to young people today to start a fulfilling career. However, few offer the rewards, opportunities, and challenges that the field of accounting brings on a regular basis. (Article)

Members in the News (Article)

Tri-State AAHCPA Members Celebrate at Holiday Party

More than 125 members and guests attended the December 20 holiday party of the American Association of Hispanic CPAs (AAHCPA) New York Tri-State Chapter. (Article)