This is a comprehensive document prepared by Ernst & Young LLP on a special report that evaluates the New York income tax withholding audit procedures. It is in efforts to help company executives in performing process to assist in risk assessment, tax compliance, and governance. An increase in the income tax from the audit has been reported from the assessment in successive years. During the audit process, the examiners are informed to be keen on areas where an employer has not complied with the set laws. Information document request (IDR) is sent to businesses selected for income tax withholding audit where information on workers classification, mobility tax, non-resident income tax withholding, benefits and compensation is obtained. In New York, employers are subjected to ensure primary attention to the following categories; multistate non-resident withholding for regular wages, trailing compensation, income tax withholding tables and allowance certificates, and inpatriate or expatriate work assignments.
Penalties or interests can be levied on employers who are found not to have fully complied. However, the individual employees will still be required to pay these
…show more content…
They also ensure consistency and uniformity in examination and withholding of tax records. The role of the auditor is to ensure employers are in full compliance with the tax regulations and laws. It aims at ensuring the audit staffs are able to balance the audit process, enhance protection of New York state revenues, as well as encouraging economic activity by non-resident employees and employers in New York. It thus, should be implemented with care to ensure minimization of the burdens placed on the taxpayers. According to the policies and regulations of the withholding tax law, it is the responsibility of the employer to withhold the personal income tax for New York City, New York State and Yonkers as outlined in the
citizens and residents if the wages are effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. This also includes an employee working for an organization organized in the U.S. or an estate. “Under IRC section 864(b), with certain exceptions, the term "trade or business within the United States" includes the performance of personal services within the United States” (IRS.gov, 2016) (p. 1). Any wages paid to a nonresident alien individual for personal services performed as an employee for an employer are generally exempt from the 30% "NRA withholding" if the wages are subject to graduated withholding (IRS.gov,
Arens, Alvin A., Elder, Randall J., and Beasley, Mark S. (2012). Auditing and Assurance Services:
The purpose of the internal audit is to protect Costco 's assets through evaluating the acceptability and efficiency of internal controls; recognizing areas of possible risk, revenue improvement and/or cost reductions; and making sure transactions are authorized, completed, and logged as proposed. The internal auditors are accountable for guiding audits of all Costco’s local and global activities, its affiliates, and other entities Costco conducts business with as deemed necessary by management.
Our current system of taxation is a varied rate percentage based on different income brackets. Many say that it violates our constitutional rights through unequal taxation. Multiple deductions, loopholes, special rates, and a complex system of regulations all characterize our Federal Income Tax System, prompting many to question why it is still being used (Peters, 2013). The current system although bringing in over $3 trillion, taxes income multiple times, and includes the taxing of estate, labor, savings, and investments (National Priorities Project, 2013). The system itself is complex with over 20,000 pages of regulations, requiring a massive filing system, which is set up and maintained by an even larger IRS, requiring over $225 billion in compliance costs (Hall, 2001). One can be hard pressed to find an advantage in the current system, other than the fact that it provides the government with an enormous amount of funds, and it has...
Filing and payment – Individual income tax on employment income is subject to withholding, payment and reporting by the employer. Payment is due by 25th of the month following the month the income was paid. Income and tax should be reported on a quarterly basis by the 15th of the second month following the reporting quarter.
Rittenberg, Larry, Bradley Schwieger, and Karla Johnstone. Auditing. 6th ed. Mason: Thomas South-Western, 2005. 10-40.
Tax season is upon us and many Americans are scrambling around trying to get theirs finished by the end of the dead line. This time of year is not a joyous occasion, everyone on edge most of them pondering how much they will have to pay. While others are wondering if they will get as much as they thought they will, or are they going to be one of the unlucky few to be audited? I am one of those people, anxious, and waiting at the edge of my seat for that hammer of reality to come crashing down over my head. With each new election year comes new arguments and battles fought within the halls of Capital Hill, but who is right and is there a middle ground? I will present you with the facts as I have found them; the choice is yours to determine what is right and what is wrong.
Blaise M. Sonnier, J.D., DBA. (2012). Circular 230: Its Day-to-Day Impact on Tax Practices. Retrieved October 12, 2016, from http://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/2012/feb/tpr-feb12.html
According to Accounting Theory: Contemporary Accounting Issues by Evans, accountants have developed two alternative approaches to accounting for income taxes, which are the cash method and the allocation method. The cash method is described as a simple and direct approach. The amount of income taxes actually paid for the year is reported on the Income Statement. The amount comes from the firm's income tax return and fit is not adjusted in any way. Therefore, the firm's actual transaction to record its income tax liability is the basis for the amount of the income tax expense reported on the Income Statement. The allocation method is a bit different. The actual amount of tax that is paid in the year is ignored when it comes to reporting income tax expense on the Income Statement. The amount of income tax expense reported on the Income Statement is based on the on the income tax rate that the firm pays, which is applied to the amount of pretax income. This makes the Income Statement perfectly consistent with the before-tax income. Using the allocation method makes it look like all items on the Income Statement based on the same method.
A consolidated financial statement can be defined as the financial statements of a parent and its subsidiaries combined to form a single economic entity (AASB 10, 2011). The entity, which acquires the other entity, is known as the parent and the entity, which has been acquired, is known as the subsidiary. Consolidation financial reports arise when one entity purchases another entity, to then form a group.
The four types of taxes this paper will discuss are income tax, sales tax, property tax, and user fees. Income tax was not permanently established until the 16th Amendment was passed in 1913. Most federal taxes had been previously derived from excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol and other consumer goods. The US Constitution, when written and still continues to, legitimize taxation in the United States through Article I, Section 8, that Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes, duties et al, pay the debts or provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States (Cornell Law LII). Investopedia defines income tax as ‘a tax government(s) impose on financial income generated by all entities within their jurisdictions (Investopedia, 2014). Businesses and individuals are required to file an income tax return every year to determine if they owe taxes or qualify for a refund. That is determined by measuring the total income one earns to a designated tax rate, calculating one’s taxable income, which are some or all items of income reduced by other adjustments or expenses in that tax year. There are different subcategories of income tax; there is a federal income tax that is set by the federal government, apart from a few states, there is a state income tax that is imposed on their respective residents, as well as the possibility of there being local income tax ...
The Commissioner of Income Tax may issue an assessment of his own if he disagrees with the company's assessment. There is an appeal process, winding up eventually at the Supreme Court.
Accounting dates back as far as first centuries, is the language of business. As everything has gone through many changes, accounting has also changed many times through out the centuries. It went from the use of abacus to the most advanced softwares, and computers. With these drastic improvements nowadays accounting, financial accounting and management are facing big challenges. From the presentation of the reports to communication to the users, investors, and owners, the accounting field has gained totally a new shape from two decades ago. Today with the dynamic change in every aspect of life, the accounting field has to act fast and be able to adapt these new changes and challenges in order to survive.
The accounting cycle is a series of steps starting with recording business transactions and leading up to the preparation of financial statements. This financial process demonstrates the purpose of financial accounting–to create useful financial information in the form of general-purpose financial statements. In other words, the sole purpose of recording transactions and keeping track of expenses and revenues is turn this data into meaning financial information by presenting it in the form of a balance sheet, income statement, statement of owner’s equity, and statement of cash flows.
Modern information system is now popular all over the world, it also change the accounting area. Instead of the old manual analysis, many companies making effort in developing a fitted accounting information system for themselves, as they realize the advantages that the new technology brings in - more efficient and accurate in processing, integrated data, detailed record etc. However, even though there are so many benefits, the functional system also brings challenges, making new requirements to the accountants and auditors. This paper will discuss the impact of technology to the accounting information system, as well as the necessary capability ethics that the accountants should learn in this 21th century.