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Software
USERS RANK TAX SOFTWARE
Stanley Zarowin
The annual JofA/NATP survey of tax software users revealed a significant drop in satisfaction from last year. Respondents downgraded products, support and network operations and provided clues about their e-filing habits.

Tax
TAX REFORM—CHAPTER 2003
Rebecca Carr and Tina Quinn
The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 accelerates some previously made changes in overall tax rates and cuts rates for dividends and capital gains. It also makes some important adjustments to increase business spending and investment.

Divorce Consulting/Litigation Issues
STARTING OVER
Thomas F. Burrage
CPAs have specialized skills and knowledge they can apply to helping divorcing individuals organize the financial side of a very difficult life transition. In working with clients who must uncouple matrimonial finances, practitioners can use tax, audit, valuation and forensic skills to develop a domestic-relations-consulting niche.

Practice Management Case Study
A PAPERLESS SUCCESS STORY
Sarah E. Phelan
To remedy tax-season inefficiencies, Habif, Arogeti & Wynne LLP, a 25-partner Atlanta accounting firm, took a plunge into the deep end of the information technology (IT) pool. This article describes how the practice embraced IT to organize common CPA office procedures and in doing so developed a digital, virtually paper-free business.

Financial Reporting
OCBOA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Thomas A. Ratcliffe
As preparing and reporting on client financial statements using an “other comprehensive basis of accounting” (OCBOA) become more common and accepted, CPAs should understand how to employ such statements. They produce a result that both internal and external users might find easier to understand and can save the client money.

The Fraud Beat/Career Development
THE FRAUD EXAMINERS
Joseph T. Wells
The investigation of fraud is a growing field for CPAs. This article profiles three antifraud experts who describe the nature of the work, the kinds of personality traits necessary for success and how they got started in this sector of the profession.

Special Report—Professional Issues
AN INSIDERS’S VIEW OF THE NEW, COMPUTERIZED CPA EXAMINATION
Beginning April 5, 2004, scheduling and taking the CPA exam will be more convenient than ever before. But the test’s expanded emphasis on certain subjects and its electronic interface will be new to candidates. The chairman of the exam content committee of the AICPA board of examiners explains how the test has changed and the best way to approach it.

News Digest
Accounting…Auditing…International…Risk Management…Technology.

The Internet
Smart stops on the Web.

At a Glance: Charts and Graphics
Top 10 reasons people seek financial advisers.
Don’t take it personally.
More self-filers go electronic.
E-filing increases this year.
Uncle Sam lends a hand.

Letters
Tax ruling—not procedure.
Misidentification noted.
Another choice.
The most misunderstood investments.
A burning question.

Checklist
Plan an effective retreat.

Tax Matters
Tax Case: Trust investment fees revisited.
Tax Case: Reasonable inquiry required to avoid tax-preparer penalties.
Tax Case: Step transaction doctrine thwarts attempt to exclude gift taxes.
Tax Case: Principal residence—which home is it?

From the Tax Adviser
Pass-through entities’ tax payments for nonresident owners.

Technology Q&A
Sharpen the images on your screen…Reduce the 24/7 online risk… Automatically insert current date… Word makes backup copies, too…A more convenient way to add signatures in Outlook.

Inside AICPA
Institute names Metzler small firm liaison.
Maiman chosen to head AICPA communications.
Kess cited for service to the profession.
Virginian earns top honors on CPA exam.

Golden Business Ideas
Practical ideas for improving your business.

In This Issue