401(k) Rules in 2026: The Roth Catch-Up Mandate, Updated Limits, and Nondiscrimination Testing
The 401k Roth catch-up 2026 mandate — a SECURE 2.0 provision that had been delayed — takes full effect January 1, 2026. Participants age 50 or older whose prior-year FICA wages from the plan’s sponsoring employer exceeded $150,000 can no longer make pre-tax catch-up contributions. Those contributions are now Roth-only. If the plan doesn’t offer […]
529 Plans in 2026: Gift Tax Mechanics, OBBBA Expense Changes, and the Roth IRA Rollover Rules
The 529 plan OBBBA 2026 landscape sits at the intersection of education savings, gift tax planning, and estate mechanics. The basic structure is straightforward: contributions grow tax-deferred, qualified distributions come out federal income tax-free, and the account owner retains control while assets pass out of the estate. Where CPAs earn their keep is in the […]
Section 1202 QSBS in 2026: Effective Date Lines, the 28% Rate Trap, and What Changes for Prior Stock
The Section 1202 QSBS OBBBA changes look generous on paper: a tiered holding period, a higher gain exclusion cap, a broader gross asset threshold. But the practical question for CPAs working with clients who hold qualified small business stock isn’t what the new rules offer — it’s which set of rules actually applies to the […]
HSA Eligibility and the 2026 Rule Changes: Getting It Right on Client Returns
Two things changed for HSA eligibility rules in 2026 under the OBBBA. The contribution limits moved up modestly. The eligibility rules, thanks to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), changed in ways that matter a lot more for return preparation. IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-19 covers the limit adjustments. The OBBBA, signed July 4, 2025, […]
CPE Compliance After Tax Season: Deadlines, Formats, and What Actually Counts
April 16 arrives and the CPA CPE compliance clock keeps running. For CPAs who’ve been heads-down since January, the post-tax-season window is typically when CPA CPE compliance finally gets attention. That’s fine, provided the hours, formats, and subject matter actually meet the state board’s requirements. The gap between what CPAs assume counts and what state […]
CPA Ethics & Responsibilities: Professional Standards That Define the Profession
CPA ethics and professional responsibilities are governed by the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and state licensing boards. These CPA ethics standards apply across audit, tax, advisory, and industry roles. Six CPA Ethics Principles of Professional Conduct The AICPA Code establishes six foundational CPA ethics principles that apply to all members regardless of practice area: […]
CPA CPE Requirements: How Many Credits You Need
State licensing boards require CPAs to complete continuing professional education throughout their careers. Credit requirements range from 80 to 120 hours depending on jurisdiction, reporting period structure, and practice type. Understanding CPE Credits CPE credits measure learning time in 50-minute increments. The terms “CPE credits” and “CPE hours” mean the same thing. A 150-minute course […]
AI-Powered Workflows: ChatGPT Adoption in CPA Firms
The 2024 Intuit QuickBooks survey revealed that 98% of accounting professionals now use AI in some capacity to serve clients. ChatGPT emerged as the dominant platform, with Thomson Reuters documenting 49% of firms actively deploying the tool while another 30% plan implementation. The shift from manual processes to AI-assisted workflows transformed productivity metrics across the profession. Quantified Performance Improvements […]
CPE Compliance Pitfalls That Cost CPAs Their Licenses
State boards conduct random compliance reviews targeting licensees who completed renewal requirements. These audits reveal patterns of documentation failures, calculation mistakes, and procedural errors that trigger enforcement actions. License suspensions, penalty hour assessments, and reinstatement proceedings stem from preventable compliance breakdowns. Losing Certificates Before Audit Requests Arrive State boards select audit targets 12-36 months after reporting […]
The Rise of AI and Technology in Modern Accounting
The accounting profession stands at a technological inflection point. Artificial intelligence, blockchain systems, cloud computing, and advanced analytics are actively reshaping how CPAs work, how firms operate, and what clients expect from financial professionals. The Numbers Tell the Story The AI accounting market sits at $6.68 billion in 2025 and analysts project explosive growth to $37.6 billion by 2030—a compound annual growth […]