• U.S. Increases Cases Against Tax Evaders – Every couple of weeks, the Service is expecting to make new scofflaws public. They describe it as a ‘great success for the government’ which is an odd combination of words. [Reuters via NYT]
• Phone Calls Add to Din Over Loans – “Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is trying to subpoena the remaining records of Countrywide’s VIP loan program. So far, the committee’s chairman, New York Democratic Rep. Edolphus Towns, has turned down that request.” And some of the tapes have been destroyed anyway. So that could turn out to be a hell of a problem. [WSJ]
• Harkin: ‘Public Option’ Will Be In Final Health Bill – Maybe. Hark also thinks it’ll be done by Christmas. There’s that whole tricky navigation of politics to deal with though. [NPR]
• Xerox to Buy Affiliated Computer for $6.4 Billion – “The acquisition is Chief Executive Officer Ursula Burns’s first since taking over the world’s largest maker of high-speed color printers in July. The transaction helps her expand into a market the company values at about $150 billion and gives her a foothold in managing administrative operations for multiple arms of the U.S. government.” Handling anything for the feds gets you closer to the money printing machine, so that’s not a bad thing. [Bloomberg]
Review Comments | 09.25.09
• Don’t forget to submit your captions and vote in the ‘Year Ahead’ poll
• Area Man Has One Month To Prove Why Bank Of America Owes Him 1,784 Billion, Trillion Dollars – Is this the ‘American Taxpayer’ we keep hearing about? [DB]
• BofA Formally Answers SEC Complaint – Deny ’til you die. [WSJ]
• AT&T Asks FCC to Investigate Google Voice – Ma Bell a snitch? [WSJ]
• Crowe Horwath Expands in Brazil and China [Web CPA]
Snitching in the UK Must Not Be a Big Deal
The UK version of the IRS, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, is looking for snitches.
Apparently the tax collection sitch has gotten so dire across the pond that the HMRC now needs ordinary folks to come forward out of the goodness of their hearts or their desire to screw over their personal nemeses, since the “HMRC says it takes all allegations seriously”.
We probably don’t have to tell you how well this would go over in the States. If they’re hanging volunteers for the census bureau in Kentucky, imagine what would happen if you called up the IRS to tell them about their neighbor not reporting the value of the keg beer they drank for helping you paint your house.
Snitch on your neighbours: HMRC [Accountancy Age]
Some at Deloitte Aren’t Too Concerned About Accountant Stereotypes
Look. We’re not saying that World of Warcraft is geeky. We’re sure that it’s a very challenging game and some very talented people put it together and continue to work on it. There just seems to be a particular segment of the population that is repeatedly associated with the game. So for the purposes of this discussion, World of Warcraft qualifies as geeky.
We’re all familiar with the reputation of accountants and people that work for the Big 4, so there’s not much to discuss there.
Continued, after the jump
Considering these two factors, why in the name of everything that is good and holy would Deloitte decide to put out an in-depth analysis on “performance improvement” that incorporates said game?
For all impractical purposes, we’re going to ignore any valid conclusions that the authors came to. That’s not what this is about. This about the authors cementing the stereotype of bean counters being not just geeks, but now super-geeks.
Don’t you recognize what we’re trying to accomplish here? There is serious cause for concern. Get someone on this before we get all Glenn Beck on your ass.
The collaboration curve: Exponential performance improvement in World of Warcraft [Deloitte]
The Year Ahead Poll
Well done people. Your creativity is unmatched. Here’s the poll to appease your craving for democracy. Since we know this will be a tough choice, the poll closes at 11:59 pm on Monday, giving you the weekend to ponder your decision.
Vote, after the jump
PwC ‘Prostitute’ Hopefully Won’t Spend it All in One Place
Dammit people, if someone is going to go to the trouble to sue the #1 company in all of Great Britain for every bloody list that can possibly be put out could we possibly get a more anti-climatic ending?
Mihaela Popa, who was obviously unaware that accountants are made to feel like prosties all over the world on a daily basis, hence, why the f*ck are you so special, wound up receiving £750 from a tribunal, according to the Romanian Times.
More, after the jump
The court:
“We find that in no way whatsoever did the unlawful victimisation either prevent Miss Popa from obtaining employment or cause her to lose employment. There was no loss of opportunity in this case. It is simply a case of injury to feelings.”
Maybe we’re a little shrewd but repeatedly seeing your name in the British press next to ‘whore’, ‘prostitute’, and ‘communist spy’, and then for a court to basically say you’re thin-skinned, all for £750 seems totally worth it.
Earlier: What if Everyone Sued Their Employer for Being Made to Feel Like a Prostitute?
TGIF
A few more updates for this weeks layoffs. We’ll continue to update you as long as more information comes in. Good luck to everyone affected.
Job of the Week: Taxes Aren’t Going Away…Ever
Fortunately for you tax people anyway. It was a rough week for a lot of you out there. Luckily, in our selfless nature, we’ll kindly remind you to check out the GC Careers Center for your next career move.
Hopefully, we’ve found someone their next job, because we’re sure some of your severance is blown already:
Details, after the jump
Company: John Hancock
Location: Boston
Title: Senior Accountant – Investment Tax Accounting
Description/Responsibilities: Manulife’s US Taxation Department within the Corporate Division is responsible for the tax compliance and financial reporting for Manulife’s operations within the US tax jurisdiction. Maintaining timely and accurate tax basis inventory of U.S. jurisdiction investments to support financial reporting and IRS audit work.
Assisting in the implementation of appropriate process improvements and technology solutions for the ongoing tax accounting and controls to support tax return preparation and financial reporting.
Assisting in analyses of investment tax positions taken and proposed to support ongoing valuation allowance analysis and tax planning initiatives.
Experience/Skills Required: Minimum Bachelors degree in accounting required, experience with tax accounting for investments preferred.
CPA or M.S.T. or M.S.A. would be preferred but not required. 3-5 years’ experience with: life insurance company financial reporting for NAIC and U.S. GAAP, experience with Canadian GAAP is a plus.
Must have expertise in Federal and State taxation laws as well as a strong knowledge of accounting for investments.
See the full description at the GC Career Center and if this position doesn’t get you amped, go to the main page and find something that does. We can’t do everything.
Caption Contest Friday: I Think You’ve Got My Handcuffs
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Not too much explanation needed. E&Y auditors at the Emmys. Leave your caption suggestions in the comments. We’ll run a poll next week with the best submissions.
The President Wants Your Ideas On Tax Reform
No, seriously. Get on this. Now before you libertarian types start screaming for abolishment or fans of Teve Torbes start demanding a flat tax, the Briefing Room Blog states that, “The mandate to the [President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board] is NOT to recommend a new tax system.” Their emphasis, so that means they’re serious. No messing about the current system because it’s just fine, thanks.
So, sorry people, taxation with incompetent representation will continue but this is your chance to get off your asses and at least pretend like you’re making something happen.
Do your part, after the jump
But don’t even think about raising taxes on the middle class, however you choose to define it, “They were instructed not to consider options that involve raising taxes on families making less than $250,000 per year. So be mindful of their constraints when submitting ideas.”
There, now if you had career changing moment this week, this is your chance to give back. So take a week to think about it and then sober up and get to work. You’ve got until October 15th, a familiar deadline. See? They’re thinking about you.
Tax Reform Subcommittee Requests Ideas [Whitehouse.gov]
President Obama Wants Your Tax Reform Ideas [TaxProf Blog]
Preliminary Analytics | 09.25.09
• Accused Perot Staffer Led ’79 Hostage Rescue – The SEC will be dropping the charges due to losing all the evidence… Not really but give it time. [WSJ]
• Goldman to benefit from new OTC derivatives rules: Citi – Surprised? [Reuters]
• IRS Tells Auditors to Look at Loans by Offshore Funds – The IRS continues its role as party-pooper. [Bloomberg]
• PCAOB Issues Report On First Year Implementation of AS5 – There’s room for improvement auditors. Sounds like your personal performance reviews. [FEI Financial Reporting Blog]
Review Comments | 09.24.09
• IRS Extends Grace Period On Small Business Penalties – “The IRS announced in July it would suspend efforts to collect those penalties through Sept. 30, in order to give Congress time to pass legislation shielding business owners from some of the penalties.” [WSJ]
• Twitter Lines Up New Financing – Get it over with. Follow us. [WSJ]
• “Wait! I Was Just Getting Started…” – A Response From Professor Kelly Pope – Of DePaul University in Chicago [RTA]
• 2010 State Business Tax Climate Index (Seventh Edition) – Some Dakota is #1, Dick Cheney Land is #2; CA #48; New York #49; New Jersey #50. [The Tax Foundation]
• Twitter, the new Reuters witness – Whatever works. [FT Alphaville]
• How Safe Is Your College? [The Daily Beast]
