5 Signs Small Business Owners Have ‘Financial Imposter Syndrome’ and How to Beat It
Small business owners face heightened stress in Q1 as tax deadlines, post‑holiday cash flow tightness, and goal‑setting converge, often triggering financial imposter syndrome. The condition makes founders mistake bookkeeping gaps for a lack of business talent, leading to avoidance, over‑work, and self‑doubt. Raj Bhaskar of Tight outlines five tell‑tale signs, from hiding behind busyness to assuming peers have perfect finances. He then offers five practical steps—role separation, five‑minute number checks, fact‑focused framing, honest peer dialogue, and firm work‑day limits—to restore confidence and improve financial management.
Fund Accountants Cite Manual Work Headaches Despite AI Gains
Fund accountants in private‑equity and venture‑capital firms still spend a large portion of their day on manual data entry, according to Dynamo Software’s 2026 Frontline Insight Report. While 78% now view AI and automation as major future drivers—up from 61%...
Illinois CPA Society Accepting Accounting Scholarship Applications
Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) and the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois have opened applications for 2026‑2027 scholarships, offering up to $5,000 to eligible accounting students in the state. The program includes separate awards for upper‑level undergraduates and graduates, community‑college transfers,...
Tax Refunds Are Up Double Digits So Far in 2026, IRS Stats Show
Tax refunds are up more than 10% so far in 2026, with the average refund reaching $3,804, a $351 increase over the previous year. Direct‑deposit refunds rose 8.7% to $3,809, even though the number of returns processed fell about 2%....
California Bill Would Exclude Military Retirement Pay From State Taxable Income
California’s Senate Bill 1407 proposes eliminating the $20,000 cap on military retirement pay exemptions, allowing veterans to exclude their entire pension and survivor benefits from state income tax. The measure, backed by a bipartisan coalition, aims to reverse a loss...
Forvis Mazars Acquires Healthcare Consultancy The Innova Group
Forvis Mazars US announced the acquisition of healthcare consultancy The Innova Group, effective March 1, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal adds nine executives, nearly 50 professionals, and a new office in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1995 and based...
Consark Unveils Its Noa Suite of Autonomous AI Agents for Finance Operations
Consark.ai announced the Noa suite, a collection of autonomous AI agents that continuously prepare and execute financial close, reconciliation, and variance analysis tasks. The agents ingest structured data, apply accounting routines, draft journal entries and explanations, and present outcomes for...
Indiana Adopts No Tax on Tips, Overtime Only for 2026 Tax Year
Indiana lawmakers approved a one‑year tax exemption for tips and overtime earnings in the 2026 tax year, aligning state law with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The measure is projected to reduce state and local revenue by up to $237 million, a shortfall...
Washington State House Democrats Push to Strip Corporate Break From ‘Millionaires Tax’
Washington state House Democrats are urging the finance committee to remove a corporate tax break from Senate Bill 6346, which would levy a 9.9% tax on income above $1 million. The contested provision would end the Business & Occupation surcharge for...
Audit Committees Rethink Risk Oversight: Governing Amid Uncertainty with an Opportunity Focus
Audit committees are shifting from periodic risk updates to a portfolio‑driven, scenario‑based oversight model that ties risk directly to strategy. Boards are intensifying focus on AI and cyber risk, with AI disclosures nearly tripling and 48% of Fortune 100 firms assigning...
AICPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Updates to Attestation Standards
The AICPA Auditing Standards Board has opened a public comment period on an exposure draft that updates attestation standards and introduces new sections for sustainability reporting. The draft adds AT‑C 325 and AT‑C 330 to cover examinations and reviews of...
AICPA Requests Guidance for Itemized Deductions and Trump Accounts
The American Institute of CPAs has formally asked the Treasury and IRS for detailed guidance on reporting requirements introduced by the H.R. 1 legislation. The request centers on Section 68’s limitation on itemized deductions for high‑income individuals, estates and trusts, and on...
Why Your Exporter Clients Need to Hear About IC-DISC Right Now
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision limiting presidential tariff authority under the IEEPA has heightened uncertainty for exporters facing new duties. In this environment, the Interest‑Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation (IC‑DISC) offers a tax‑saving mechanism that converts export earnings into...
Ryan Reynolds and Former Costco CFO Richard Galanti to Headline AICPA ENGAGE 2026
AICPA ENGAGE 2026 will feature a high‑profile keynote conversation between actor‑entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds and former Costco CFO Richard Galanti. The event, marking ENGAGE’s 10th anniversary, runs June 8–11 at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas under the theme “the next wave.” Their dialogue...
Opinion: States Are Responding to the Accounting Crisis. Now, It’s the Profession’s Turn
State legislators are passing flexible CPA licensure bills, beginning with California Assembly Bill 1175 and New York Assembly Bill 7613, to accelerate the accounting talent pipeline. By 2026, Arizona, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri and South Dakota are poised to follow suit, creating a...
The Executive Guide to Lending: What CPAs Need to Know About Today’s Capital Market Shift
Traditional banks are tightening underwriting standards, prompting middle‑market firms to explore alternative financing. Private credit has surged, offering faster, more flexible structures that align with cash‑flow volatility and complex capital stacks. Lenders now focus on free cash‑flow coverage, collateral liquidity,...
UHY Acquires St. Louis Firm Larson Tax Partners
UHY announced the acquisition of Larson Tax Partners, a St. Louis‑based tax, accounting and advisory firm. The deal expands UHY’s Midwest footprint and strengthens its national tax capabilities, adding to a network of more than 2,000 professionals across 40 U.S. offices....
Michigan House Speaker Suggests Nearly $5B in Property Tax Cuts
Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall unveiled a property‑tax reform that would cut roughly $4.9‑$5 billion in revenue by eliminating the State Education Tax, personal‑property tax, real‑estate transfer tax and the so‑called pop‑up tax. Hall said schools and local governments would be...
Crowe Reports Global Revenue of $6.5 Billion in 2025
Crowe Global reported $6.5 billion in revenue for its 2025 financial year, marking a 12% increase over the prior period and continuing a 10% growth streak. The network posted strong regional gains, led by Europe at 21% and the Middle East...
Report Shows Finance AI Automation Gap as 76% Plan Investment, Only 6% Deliver Advanced Implementation
Savant Labs' 2026 Trends Report reveals finance, tax and accounting leaders plan heavy AI investment. Seventy‑six percent intend to fund strategic agentic automation in 2026, yet only six percent have advanced, broad‑scale deployments. Governance, auditability and ERP integration emerge as...
The Future Is Fractional: How a Growing Model Is Reshaping the Accounting Profession
The accounting profession is witnessing a shift toward fractional financial leadership, where seasoned accountants provide part‑time, embedded CFO or controller services to multiple clients. Small‑ and mid‑size businesses, facing complex strategic decisions, can now access senior expertise for 5‑15 hours...
Platform Accounting Enters Connecticut After Latest Move
Platform Accounting Group announced the addition of its first Connecticut‑based firm, rebranding Smeriglio Associates as Green Coast Advisors. The Greenwich office, with a 40‑year history and a client mix spanning architecture, retail, automotive, nonprofits and contractors, brings one partner and...
Bowers Adds Sciarabba Walker in New York
Syracuse‑based Bowers CPAs & Advisors is expanding into Ithaca, New York by partnering with long‑standing local firm Sciarabba Walker, with the transaction slated to close on July 1. The financial terms were not disclosed, marking Bowers' first M&A activity since its early‑2024...
‘Millionaires Tax’ Clears Washington Senate
Washington state senators approved a 9.9% income tax on earnings above $1 million, marking the first legislative hurdle for the so‑called “millionaires tax.” The measure, passed 27‑22, is projected to generate about $3.5 billion annually and would affect roughly 30,000 high‑income taxpayers....
Sage Adds New AI Functions to Intacct for Financial Analysis, Closes and Management
Sage announced a suite of AI‑powered enhancements to its Sage Intacct cloud ERP, targeting finance‑close analytics, cash intelligence, and workflow automation. The R1 2026 release adds a Finance Intelligence Agent, AI‑driven close analytics, cash‑position dashboards, AI line‑level AP matching, an Import...
UCLA Wins 24th Annual Deloitte FanTAXtic National Case Study Competition
UCLA’s student team captured first place in Deloitte’s 2026 FanTAXtic national case study competition, delivering the strongest analysis of a complex entity‑focused tax scenario. The case required recommendations on whether a fictional company should operate as an LLC taxed as...
UHY Expands Presence in Upstate New York with Addition of CMJ LLP
UHY, a top‑25 U.S. accounting firm, has added Queensbury‑based CMJ LLP to expand its footprint in New York’s Capital Region. The merger brings CMJ’s construction and financial‑services expertise into UHY’s national platform, while CMJ founders join as partners. The move follows...
Cherry Bekaert Acquires California Accounting Firm Richardson Kontogouris Emerson LLP
Cherry Bekaert has acquired the assets of Richardson Kontogouris Emerson LLP, a California‑based public accounting and advisory firm. The purchase adds RKE’s middle‑market client base across manufacturing, real estate, construction, and consumer sectors to Cherry Bekaert’s portfolio. The deal splits the assets...
MindBridge Announces Global Partnership with Genpact to Elevate Audit Analytics and Risk Consulting
MindBridge, an AI‑powered financial intelligence firm, announced a global partnership with Genpact to embed its analytics platform into Genpact’s Enterprise Risk Consulting engagements. The collaboration will allow Genpact to deliver full‑population risk scoring, anomaly detection, and continuous controls monitoring for...
Knowledge Foundations Fuel AI Use, Growth, and Client Trust, New iManage Study Finds
The iManage Knowledge Work 2026 Benchmark Report, surveying 3,185 decision‑makers across 26 countries, shows that professional services firms with mature, well‑governed knowledge foundations outperform peers in AI adoption, revenue growth, and client trust. While 85% of firms are piloting AI,...
CPE Webinar: Building Economic Resilience: How Accounting Firms Can Stay Profitable when Markets Shift
On February 26, 8am CPA Charge will host a free, one‑hour CPE webinar titled “Building Economic Resilience: How Accounting Firms Can Stay Profitable When Markets Shift.” The session, presented by CPA Kelley Brubaker of Profit Scale Thrive and 8am specialist Brittany Hoffmann, focuses on...
KPMG Starts Tax AI Accelerator Program
KPMG has launched a Tax AI Accelerator Program to help corporate tax departments adopt generative AI. The initiative provides hands‑on training, a secure Azure OpenAI‑based sandbox called Digital Gateway, and access to KPMG’s “Think, Prompt, Check” framework. More than a...
Report Finds Trump’s Tariffs Cost U.S. Households $1,000 on Average in 2025
The Tax Foundation reports that Trump‑era tariffs added an average $1,000 to U.S. household expenses in 2025, rising to $1,300 in 2026. A weighted average tariff rate of 13.5% pushed the effective rate to 9.9%, the highest since 1946. Companies...
19 States Offer Tax Credits for Private School Scholarship Donations
Eighteen states now offer tax credits for donations to scholarship‑granting organizations that fund private‑school tuition, mirroring Ohio's program. Ohio’s credit, introduced in 2021, has cost the state over $80 million in lost revenue and reduced tax collections by $21 million in fiscal 2024...
Sen. Bernie Sanders to Kick Off California Billionaire Tax Campaign
Senator Bernie Sanders will launch a campaign to place a one‑time 5% billionaire tax on California’s November ballot. The measure seeks to raise funds to offset federal healthcare cuts, protecting over 3 million working‑class residents. Supporters must collect roughly 875,000 signatures...
Washington’s Millionaires Tax Advances in State Senate with Some Changes
Washington Senate Ways and Means Committee approved a revised millionaire’s tax bill, preserving a 9.9% levy on earnings above $1 million starting in 2028. The measure is projected to generate roughly $3.5 billion annually from about 30,000 high‑income taxpayers. Amendments include expanding...
Blue & Co. Joins Forces with D & Co. In Texas
Blue & Co., a top‑60 accounting firm, announced the acquisition of Texas‑based D & Co., adding more than 40 healthcare‑focused employees and six directors to its roster. The deal, effective Feb. 1, expands Blue & Co.’s footprint into Lubbock, Dallas, Fort Worth and Waco,...
How Is New Paid Family Leave Law in Minnesota Holding Up?
Minnesota’s paid family and medical leave program launched on Jan. 1 and delivered over $30 million in benefits during its first month, approving 13,700 claims. Early demand was buoyed by a surge of child‑bonding applications, a phenomenon known as the “baby bump.”...
Leah Partners with PwC UK on Agentic AI
Leah, the creator of Leah Agentic OS, has teamed up with PwC UK to embed its enterprise‑grade, domain‑native agentic AI platform into global business services. The partnership combines PwC's industry and functional expertise with Leah's OS to design, deploy, and...
CFOs to Prioritize Growth Functions, Technology and AI in 2026
CFOs are reshaping 2026 budgets to favor growth‑driving functions, technology and artificial intelligence, according to Gartner’s survey of over 300 finance leaders. More than half plan higher spending on sales and IT, with 28% targeting double‑digit growth, while marketing follows...
Citrin Cooperman Adds Browne Consulting Group in Massachusetts
Citrin Cooperman, a top‑20 accounting firm, announced its first M&A transaction of 2026, acquiring Boston‑based Browne Consulting Group. The deal adds roughly 60 professionals with deep expertise in life‑science and biotech advisory services. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition...
Car Dealers Worry Prices Are Getting Too High for Shaky Economy
Car dealers warn that rising new‑vehicle prices threaten sales in 2026. Average new‑car price now $50,000, monthly payment $750, loan terms 70 months, while consumer confidence hits an 11‑year low. Dealers plan to increase inventory of cheaper trims and used...
Michigan Governor Floats ‘Sales Tax Holiday’ for School Supplies, Property Tax Refund for Seniors
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is set to unveil a budget proposal that includes a sales‑tax holiday on school supplies and a property‑tax refund for seniors. The holiday would suspend the 6% sales tax on clothing, classroom items and computers, while...
Oregon Democrats’ Bill to Add $300M to State’s Budget by Ending 3 Trump Tax Breaks Advances
Oregon Democrats moved Senate Bill 5107 forward, aiming to raise more than $300 million for the state’s 2025‑27 budget by repealing several Trump‑era tax breaks and adding new credits. The bill eliminates the accelerated depreciation deduction, costing corporations an estimated $267 million...
Circit Secures $22 Million Growth Equity Funding for Audit Technology
Circit announced a $22 million growth equity round led by Ten Coves Capital to scale its audit‑confirmation platform. The funding backs a network already adopted by over 400 audit firms—including all Top 20 global networks—and connects more than 30,000 banks, funds and...
IRS Rolls Out New Enhancements to Tax Pro Account
The IRS announced new enhancements to its Tax Pro Account, extending digital capabilities to tax‑professional businesses. The upgrade lets designated representatives manage business CAF access, link CAF numbers to EINs, and view or withdraw active authorizations. These tools aim to...
KPMG Brings Aboard AI Development Platform PrivateBlok
KPMG announced that the founders and employees of PrivateBlok, an AI development platform from Bangalore with a U.S. office, have joined the firm. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, adds a dedicated AI‑first product team to KPMG’s existing...