R5 - Ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What governs those individuals who prepare federal tax returns for a fee?

A
  • IRC

- related US Treasury regulations

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2
Q

What is defined as a transaction specifically identified by the Secretary of the US Treasury Department as a tax avoidance transaction?

A

Listed transaction

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3
Q

How is the “more likely than not” standard met?

A

Greater than 50% likelihood of a tax position being upheld by the courts

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4
Q

Which standard is more stringent?

“More likely than not” OR “Substantial authority”

A

More likely than not

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5
Q

Are IRS publications considered primary authoritative sources?

A

NO

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6
Q

What term describes any failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply with the provisions of the internal revenue laws?

A

Negligence

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7
Q

What term describes any failure to exercise ordinary and reasonable care in the preparation of a tax return?

A

Negligence

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8
Q

What term describes any failure by the taxpayer to keep adequate books and records or to substantiate items properly?

A

Negligence

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9
Q

How is the reasonable basis standard met?

A

Greater than 20% likelihood of a tax position being upheld

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10
Q

What is defined as the legal use and application of tax laws and cases in order to reduce the amount of tax due?

A

tax avoidance

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11
Q

What is defined as efforts, by illegal means and methods, to not pay taxes?

A

tax evasion

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12
Q

When would you have substantial authority?

A

> 33% but less than 50% likelihood tax position upheld

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13
Q

What is defined as an objective standard involving an analysis of the law and application of the law to relevant facts?

A

Substantial authority

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14
Q

What is defined as any person who prepares for compensation, or who employs persons to prepare for compensation, any tax return required under the IRC or any claim for refund of tax imposed by the IRC?

A

tax return preparer

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15
Q

Does a tax return preparer include a person who prepares as a fiduciary a return or claim for refund for any other person?

A

NO

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16
Q

True or false.

A tax practitioner is any of the following individuals who practice before the IRS: attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, and enrolled retirement plan agents.

A

True

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17
Q

A tax shelter means any plan or arrangement if a significant purpose is the avoidance or _______ of federal income tax.

A

Evasion

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18
Q

A position is deemed unreasonable UNLESS there is ______ _______ for the position and the position does not involve either a tax shelter or a reportable transaction.

A

Substantial authority (>33% but less than 50%)

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19
Q

A position is deemed unreasonable UNLESS the position is disclosed, there is a _____ _____ for the position, and the position does not involve either a tax shelter or a reportable transaction

A

Reasonable basis (>20%)

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20
Q

A position is deemed unreasonable UNLESS with respect to a tax shelter or a reportable transaction, it is reasonable to believe that the position would ____ _____ _____ ____ be sustained on its merits.

A

More likely than not (>50%)

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21
Q

Circular 230 applies to tax _____.

A

practitioners

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22
Q

Is the following a best practice for tax advisors?

Communicating with the client regarding the terms of the engagement to determine the client’s purpose and use for the advice

A

Yes

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23
Q

Is the following a best practice for tax advisors?

Establishing the facts and arriving at a conclusion supported by the law and the facts

A

YES

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24
Q

Is the following a best practice for tax advisors?

Acting fairly and with integrity in practice before the IRS

A

YES

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25
Q

May a tax practitioner endorse or otherwise negotiate any check (including directing or accepting payment by any means into an account owned or controlled by the practitioner) issued to a client by the government in respect of a federal tax liability?

A

NO

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26
Q

May a tax practitioner willfully or recklessly sign a tax return?

A

NO

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27
Q

May a tax practitioner advise a client to take a tax position that the practitioner knows or should know lacks a reasonable basis?

A

NO

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28
Q

May a tax practitioner advise a client to take a tax return position that is frivolous?

A

NO

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29
Q

ABC Corp. retained Walter, CPA, to prepare its Year 6 income tax return. During the engagement, Walter discovered that ABC had failed to file its Year 2 income tax return. What is Walter’s professional responsibility regarding ABC’s unfiled Year 2 income tax return?

A

Consider withdrawing from prep of ABC’s Year 6 income tax return until the error is corrected

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30
Q

All written tax advice is covered by paragraph 10.37 of Circular ____.

A

230

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31
Q

True or false.

In giving written advice, a tax practitioner must base the written advice on reasonable factual and legal assumptions (including assumptions as to future events).

A

True

32
Q

True or false.

In giving written advice, a tax practitioner must reasonably consider all relevant facts and circumstances.

A

True

33
Q

True or false.

In giving written advice, the tax practitioner must use reasonable efforts to id and ascertain the facts relevant to written advice on each federal tax matter (solicit info.).

A

True

34
Q

A tax practitioner may only rely on the advice of another if the advice was reasonable and the reliance is in ____ _____ considering all the facts and circumstances.

A

Good faith

35
Q

A practitioner must possess the necessary ______ to engage in practice before the IRS.

A

Competence

36
Q

What are three procedures to ensure compliance with Circular 230?

A

Disseminate, educate, test

37
Q

Who may sanction a practitioner practicing before the IRS for being incompetent or disreputable?

A

Secretary of the Treasury

38
Q

The state board of accountancy has the power to do what two things?

A

Give and revoke license

39
Q

Who has the sole power to license CPAs?

A

State board of accountancy

40
Q

Title I of SOX provides for a PCAOB composed of how many members?

A

5 members (2 CPAs, 3 non)

41
Q

The PCAOB is subject to oversight by whom?

A

SEC

42
Q

Is the following a duty of the PCAOB?

Register public accounting firms

A

YEs

43
Q

Is the following a duty of the PCAOB?

Est. rules relating to the preparation of audit reports for issuers

A

YES

44
Q

Is the following a duty of the PCAOB?

Conduct inspections, investigations, and disciplinary proceedings concerning registered public accounting firms

A

YES

45
Q

Only what type of firms can audit an SEC issuer?

A

Registered public accounting firm

46
Q

Audit workpapers must be maintained for how many years?

A

7 years

47
Q

How often must the PCAOB inspect registered public accounting firms that regularly audit 100+ issuers?

A

Annually

48
Q

How often must the PCAOB inspect registered accounting firms that perform fewer audits?

A

At least once every 3 years

49
Q

The lead audit partner must be rotated every _____ years.

A

5

50
Q

Public companies are responsible for establishing an audit committee that is directly responsible for what?

A

Appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the public accounting firm employed by that public company

51
Q

Most tax legislation begins in the House of Representatives, more specifically, which committee?

A

House Ways and Means Committee

52
Q

Upon approval by the Ways and Means Committee, the bill is voted on and approved by whom?

A

the full House

53
Q

From the House, the bill then goes to whom?

A

Senate Finance Committee

54
Q

Upon approval by the Senate Finance Committee, the bill then goes to whom?

A

Voted on and approved by the full Senate

55
Q

Differences between the House approved bill and the Senate approved bill is resolved by what committee?

A

Joint Conference Committee

56
Q

The compromise bill must then be approved by both the ________ and the ________.

A

House and the Senate

57
Q

The compromise bill must then be approved by both the ________ and the ________.

A

House and the Senate

58
Q

What statistical model does the IRS utilize to select tax returns for audit?

A

DIF (Discriminant Inventory Function System)

59
Q

True or false.

If an individual’s itemized deductions are in excess of norms established for certain income levels, the return may be selected for audit.

A

True

60
Q

In a direct correspondence audit, is there a need for a formal meeting with an IRS rep?

A

NO

61
Q

If the revenue agent and the taxpayer cannot come to an agreement, what is the next step?

A

Administrative appeals process

62
Q

Can the taxpayer take a case to the US Tax Court before the IRS sends a notice of deficiency?

A

NO

63
Q

True or false.

The Appeals Division is authorized to settle all tax disputes based on the hazards of litigation.

A

True

64
Q

If an agreement is reached with the Appeals Division, what form does the taxpayer sign?

A

Form 870-AD

65
Q

If there is no agreement after the appeals conference, the taxpayer is entitled to take the case to where?

A

1) US Tax Court
2) US Court of Federal Claims
3) US District Court

66
Q

In most civil cases, who has the burden of proof?

A

Taxpayer

67
Q

The US Tax Court is a specialized trial court that hears only what type of cases?

A

Federal tax cases

68
Q

The US Tax Court is a specialized trial court that hears only what type of cases?

A

Federal tax cases

69
Q

True or false.

The US Tax Court is the only forum in which taxpayers may litigate w/o first having paid the disputed tax in full.

A

True

70
Q

What makes the US District Courts unique?

A

jury trial

71
Q

The US Court of Appeals is a _____ judge panel (no jury).

A

3

72
Q

The US Court of Appeals is a _____ judge panel (no jury).

A

3

73
Q

How much is the failure-to-pay penalty(GR)?

A

1/2 of 1% per month of the unpaid tax

74
Q

How much is the failure-to-pay penalty(GR)?

A

1/2 of 1% per month of the unpaid tax

75
Q

What must the IRS prove in a criminal case?

A

Beyond a reasonable doubt

76
Q

What must the IRS prove in a criminal case?

A

Beyond a reasonable doubt

77
Q

True or false.

US District Court cases are heard before one judge, not a panel of judges.

A

True