The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted both the personal and professional lives of CPAs and their clients. The legislative changes alone provided an incredible amount of complexity to sift through, but the trailing guidance thereafter has compounded the intricacy.

Two of the most talked about pieces of enacted legislation is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the employee retention credit (ERC). While we have guidance on how to treat most aspects of these provisions, key questions remain.

On this Tax Section Odyssey episode, April Walker, CPA, CGMA, Lead Manager — Tax Practice & Ethics, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA & CIMA, and Cari Weston, MST, CPA, CGMA, Director — Tax Practice & Ethics, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA & CIMA, discuss how to finalize client tax returns when we don't yet have all the answers.

What you'll learn in this episode

• Initial thoughts on how to handle open, unclarified and unclear issues while trying to finalize extended tax returns (1.43)
• Professional responsibilities and the signing of tax returns (9.11)
• Example on how to handle the ambiguity of a shareholder and their spouse's salaries as qualifying wages for the ERC. (19.43)
• What to do when the IRS releases guidance after a position is taken on a return (24.28)

AICPA resources

• SBA PPP resources for CPAs – Tools and resources on the ever-evolving PPP
• AICPA Town Hall Series – Bi-monthly, high-impact news broadcast series that delivers the latest news, analysis, insights and practical guidance to accounting and finance professionals and respond to pressing issues facing the profession
• Treasury Department Circular No. 230 – Consolidated information on the rules governing the recognition of attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, enrolled retirement plan agents, registered tax return preparers and other persons representing taxpayers before the IRS
• Statement on Standards for Tax Services (SSTSs) – Toolkit for the enforceable tax practice standards for members of the AICPA

Other resources

• Circular No. 230 Tax Professionals – IRS resource page with multiple links to information on Circular No. 230 and information from the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://taxodyssey.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Tax Section, your home base to maintain your professional edge. To learn more about the Tax Section, check out aicpa.org/tax or sign up for a free web tour.