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The Internal Revenue Service today launched the new Tax Withholding Estimator, an expanded, mobile-friendly online tool designed to make it easier for everyone to have the right amount of tax withheld during the year.

This episode addresses how and why CPA licensure requirements might evolve as a result of the technological revolution that’s transforming the accounting profession. The episode’s guest is Carl Mayes, the associate director for CPA Quality and Evolution at the AICPA.

Suffice to say, it’s not been a good week for the 5th largest U.S. credit card issuer. This week, Capital One was hacked in what’s being called one of the largest data breaches in history. A lone hacker gained access to more than 100 million American and Canadian customer accounts and credit card applications. The data theft exposed 140,000 social security numbers, 1 million Canadian Social Insurance numbers and 80,000 bank account numbers, among customers’ other personal data. Capital One estimates the breach will cost them between $100M and $150M in 2019 on customer notifications, credit monitoring, technology costs and legal support. And this does not include potential reputational damage or political and regulatory actions, including possible penalties. Capital One’s stock also plummeted 6% overnight.

The coming of summer means longer, lazier days filled with outdoor fun. But once we’ve packed away the thick wool and sleek leather jackets that defined our winter existence, we’re often faced with an unpleasant truth: months of indoor living have left us feeling unprepared for outdoor activities like beach volleyball and surfing. And many times, a long winter may have left your firm a little out of shape, too.

The excise tax on gasoline and undyed diesel fuel products increases to $.24 per gallon on gasoline and $.25 per gallon on undyed diesel fuel effective September 1, 2019. Also, the due date for the terminal excise tax return and corresponding payment is changing from the 22nd to the 20th day of the month following the month of activity.

Over the past several years, the emergence of new technologies has provided new ways for CPAs to provide services to clients through cloud-based and virtual platforms. These new services required careful consideration to maintain the high ethical principles that always have been a source of pride for CPAs, who are determined to maintain their independence so they can perform attest services without even a hint of possible impropriety.

Using a new “Taxes. Security. Together.” Checklist, the Internal Revenue Service and the Security Summit partners urged tax professionals to review critical security steps to ensure they are fully protecting their computers and email as well as safeguarding sensitive taxpayer data.

Taxpayers who received an extension but haven’t filed or those otherwise unable to file their return by the April deadline should visit IRS.gov if they need help completing and filing their return. These taxpayers must file by October 15.

Taxpayers who filed an extension and are submitting their 2018 tax return this summer might be waiting for their tax refund. It’s easy for these taxpayers to check on the status of their money. They can just zip over to IRS.gov and use “Where’s My Refund?”