Section 1 MCQ Flashcards
Decisions by which of the levels of courts listed would result in the definitive answer on a tax issue?
When the Tax Court reaches a decision with all the judges agreeing, then the result is a _?
U.S. Supreme Court
strong decision.
The only way a Supreme Court decision can be changed is when ?
Congress disagrees and changes the tax law.
Gross negligence is the extreme, flagrant, or reckless _____ of due care and competence in performing or reporting upon professional engagements
What is gross negligence also called?
departure from the standards
constructive fraud
The IRS requested client records from a CPA who does not have possession or control of the records. According to Treasury Circular 230, the CPA must:
notify the IRS of the identity of any person who, according to the CPA’s belief, could have the records.
What is the penalty for failure to provide the taxpayer with a copy of her return?
$50 for each failure, but no more than $26,000 in a return period
Compensated tax return preparers must furnish the taxpayer with a copy of the prepared return no later than the time the ____
original return is presented for signing
Joe is the trustee of a trust set up for his father. Under the Internal Revenue Code, when Joe prepares the annual trust tax return, IRS Form 1041, IS HE CONSIDERED A TAX RETURN PREPARER?
is not considered a tax return preparer.
Is privity required if the accountant is guilty of fraud/gross negligence
no
On what basis may a client sue a CPA for errors in the tax return that result in penalties or other sanctions due to the CPA’s wrongful action?
Tort of negligence or breach of contract
When preparing a client’s Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, a CPA determined that there was documentation supporting only $12,000 of the $20,000 travel expenses claimed by the client. Which of the following courses of action taken by the CPA would be in compliance with Treasury Circular 230?
Make reasonable inquires to obtain the needed documentation
An individual taxpayer (whose adjusted gross income is BELOW $150,000 in the previous year) may avoid the penalty for failure to pay estimated tax by:
paying at least ________ of the tax shown on the current year’s return or
________ of the tax shown on the prior year’s return (assuming that the prior year’s return was for a full 12-month period).
90%
100%
Complaints can be filed against CPAs in most jurisdictions through online reporting sites or the state site itself. Reporting a violation requires that the person reporting:
has an attorney file the complaint.
lists his or her name for verification of the complaint.
file the appropriate complaint form.
None of the answer choices are correct.
None of the answers are correct - each jurisdiction has its own standards. Nothing is uniform.
Negligence is the failure to do what an ordinary, reasonable, prudent CPA would do in similar circumstances. To establish negligence, the plaintiff (client) must establish: (3)
CPA owed legal duty to plaintiff
CPA Breached their legal duty
CPA’s action caused injury to the client/plaintiff
Compliance with a court summons, a subpoena, laws, or government regulations would be an exception to the ____
Confidential Client Information Rule
The Ultramares decision upheld the ___defense for negligence: the accountant is not liable to an unidentified third party for ___negligence.
privity , simple
The ultramares decison states that when the degree of negligence is so gross as to amount to the inference of fraud (constructive fraud/gross negligence), ______
the auditor could then be liable to third parties.
According to Treasury Circular 230, can a monetary penalty be imposed on a practitioner in addition to censure, sanction, or disbarment?
Who imposes this?
Yes, monetary penalties are allowed, but the amount shall not exceed the gross income derived (or to be derived) from the conduct giving rise to the penalty.
Secretary of Treasury OR a delegate (note: they don’t determine the monetary amount)
What is the definition of a writ of certiorari?
A petition for the Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision
Generally, a corporation must make installment payments equal to the lesser of (1) __% of the tax shown on its return for the current year, or (2) ___% of the tax shown on its return for the preceding year.
100%
a corporation cannot base its estimated tax payments for the tax year on the prior tax year if (3)
- filed return in the PY showing $0 in taxes due to NOL
- PY was less than 12 months
- Large corporation ($1M or more in taxable income)
ICPA Code of Professional Conduct, the CPA may disclose confidential client information only pursuant to: (4)
Client consent
Subpoena
AICPA/State CPA Society authorization
Inquiry from investigatory/disciplinary body (not IRS/State agency)
CONFIDENTIAL CLIENT DATA
Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) do not require such disclosure although the prohibition against disclosure does not relieve the CPA of professional obligations under generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS).
This is saying “GAAP Doesn’t require, but GAAS does”
American Corp. retained Baker, CPA, to conduct an audit of its financial statements to obtain a bank line of credit. American signed an engagement letter drafted by Baker that included a disclaimer provision. As a result of Baker’s failure to detect a material misstatement in American’s financial statements, the audit report contained an unmodified opinion. Based on American’s audited financial statements, National extended credit to American. American filed a petition in bankruptcy shortly thereafter. National sued Baker for damages based on common-law fraud. What would be Baker’s best defense?
lacked intent to deceive
What is the maximum prison sentence for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax? How much is the fine?
Same questions, but for a corporation
5 years - $100,000
No imprisonment for corporations - $500,000