The Accounting Podcast

• IRS Officials Claim Cuts Will Widen Tax Gap by $500 Billion

  What happens when tax enforcement weakens? With 17% of millennials considering skipping their tax filing altogether, Blake and David dig into how IRS budget cuts might impact compliance and revenue. They analyze fascinating survey data revealing what taxpayers truly value when choosing between professional preparation and free options like Direct File. Plus, discover the accounting scandal forcing Financial Times to retract its Tesla analysis, exposing how GAAP complexity confounds even financial experts. You'll also learn why three major US cities face billion-dollar budget holes and the disturbing revelation that duplicate Medicaid payments are costing taxpayers billions—all while Tether still can't produce an audit after ten years of promises.Sponsors Bluevine - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bluevine (Bluevine is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking Services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC.)    RightWorks- http://accountingpodcast.promo/rightnow2025Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview (00:42) - Top Stories of the Week (02:27) - Sponsor Messages and Event Announcements (04:52) - Interview with Christina Ho on PCAOB (07:57) - Discussion on IRS Cuts and Tax Compliance (19:44) - Survey on IRS Direct File (28:21) - AI's Impact on Tax Professionals (29:14) - Discrepancies in Tax Software Results (30:08) - Public Opinion on Tax Filing Services (31:23) - Challenges for Tax Professionals (32:39) - LA's Budget Crisis (36:24) - Federal Government Spending Issues (37:28) - Medicaid Duplicate Payments Scandal (45:55) - Tether's Audit Controversy (50:38) - Tesla's Financial Discrepancies (56:16) - Big Four Transparency Rankings (58:07) - Conclusion and Farewell  Show NotesTax Revenue Could Drop by 10 Percent Amid Turmoil at IRShttps://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/03/22/irs-tax-revenue-loss-federal-budget/ Survey: Some Americans Might Roll the Dice on Not Filing Their Taxes This Year Due to IRS Job Cutshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/03/26/survey-some-americans-might-roll-the-dice-on-not-filing-their-taxes-this-year-due-to-irs-job-cuts/157877/ Most Americans Are Interested in Using IRS Direct File to Prepare and File Their Taxeshttps://taxpolicycenter.org/briefs/most-americans-are-interested-using-irs-direct-file-prepare-and-file-their-taxes TurboTax vs Free Tax USA: A Shocking Price Comparison https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinesadventure/video/7482613418801859870 Survey: 91% of Americans Think Filing Taxes Should Be Freehttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/03/11/survey-91-of-americans-think-filing-taxes-should-be-free/157176/ Why you should think twice before claiming an income-tax extension. ‘This is not the year to do your normal procrastinating.’https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-you-should-think-twice-before-claiming-an-income-tax-extension-this-is-not-the-year-to-do-your-normal-procrastinating-89937e0d LA Faces $1 Billion Budget Hole, Warns of Thousands of Layoffshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-20/la-faces-1-billion-budget-hole-warning-thousands-of-layoffs WSJ investigation: Medicaid paid health insurers billions by covering the same patients twicehttps://www.risehealth.org/insights-articles/wsj-investigation-medicaid-paid-health-insurers-billions-by-covering-the-same-patients-twice/ Tether seeks Big Four firm for its first full financial audit — Reporthttps://cointelegraph.com/news/stablecoin-issuer-tether-big-four-firm-full-reserve-audit-report Financial Times retracts report on Tesla’s alleged shady accountinghttps://www.teslarati.com/financial-times-retracts-report-tesla-shady-accounting/ The Big 4 Transparency Accounting Awardshttps://big4transparency.beehiiv.com/p/the-big-4-transparency-accounting-awards Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify:

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  59:09
• Fired IRS Workers Reinstated, Rippling v. Deel, DOGE Cuts Consultants

  Blake and David dive straight into the headlines, starting with the controversial IRS workforce cuts and their potential impact on tax collections. They examine corporate espionage allegations between payroll companies Rippling and Deel, including a complex web of legal battles, Russian connections, and political involvement, and go on to discuss how AI is rapidly improving at handling longer tasks. All this and much more, right now!SponsorsRightWorks- http://accountingpodcast.promo/rightnow2025 (use code TAP15 for 15% OFF)Bluevine - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bluevine (Bluevine is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking Services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC.)  Chapters(00:31) - Exciting Stories and Headlines (03:07) - Live Stream Shoutouts (05:08) - Earmark Podcast and CPE Credits (10:56) - IRS Workforce Cuts and Tax Gap (30:13) - Rippling vs. Deel Espionage Saga (41:20) - Evolve Bank and Trust Controversies (42:39) - Rippling and Deal Lawsuit Drama (42:57) - Political Connections and Scandals (44:31) - The Future of AI in Accounting (46:36) - AI Performance and Moore's Law (50:42) - AI's Impact on Accounting Tasks (54:43) - Live Demonstration with Claude AI (01:08:27) - The Future of Accountants in an AI World (01:20:45) - Conclusion and Upcoming Events  Show Notes7,000 IRS workers ‘reinstated’ — but not yet returning to workhttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/mar/7000-irs-workers-reinstated-but-not-yet-returning-to-work/ IRS Retreats From Some Audits as Agency Slashes Workforcehttps://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/internal-revenue-service-doge-taxes-f00ac956 Opinion | With IRS cuts, DOGE would lose far more money ...https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/03/13/doge-irs-cuts-tax-revenue/ Former Defense Contractor and his Wife Indicted for Evading U.S. Taxes on Profits from Selling Jet Fuel to the U.S. Militaryhttps://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-ci/j5-media-release-7-3-2024.pdf Lawsuit Alleges $12 Billion "Unicorn" Deel Cultivated Spy, Orchestrated Long-Running Trade-Secret Theft & Corporate Espionage Against Competitorhttps://www.rippling.com/blog/lawsuit-alleges-12-billion-unicorn-deel-cultivated-spy-orchestrated-long-running-trade-secret-theft-corporate-espionage-against-competitor IRS in Crisis: Tax Professionals Bear the Brunthttps://cpatrendlines.com/2019/02/26/taxpayer-advocate-lambastes-irs/ Measuring AI Ability to Complete Long Taskshttps://metr.org/blog/2025-03-19-measuring-ai-ability-to-complete-long-tasks/ Earmark Podcast – Ep. 87 - How to Use AI to Analyze Data and Draft Financial Reports in Minuteshttps://share.transistor.fm/s/c86818f5 Earmark’s Screening of The Accountant 2https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-of-the-accountant-2-tickets-1225264421869?aff=EarmarkAppNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

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  1:23:51
• The Broken CPA Exam: Why Pass Rates Are Collapsing and How to Fix It

  Is the CPA exam fundamentally flawed? With FAR section pass rates plummeting to a 15-year low of 36% and a staggering 40-point gap between discipline section pass rates, something isn't adding up. Dr. Josh McGowan of Troy University joins Blake Oliver to dissect these troubling statistics and explore how the 2024 CPA Evolution model may be inadvertently pushing candidates toward "easier" disciplines. They tackle the growing movement to drop the 150-hour requirement and propose a provocative solution: splitting the credential into specialized tax and financial/audit pathways. Whether you're preparing for the exam or leading a firm, this conversation reveals how accounting's licensing system might finally evolve beyond its one-size-fits-all approach.Meet Our Guest, Dr. Josh McGowan, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-josh-mcgowan-cpa-503846b7/X: https://x.com/Jmcgowan3838Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifiedsWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

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  17:30
• How Trump's Pick to Run Medicare Paid No Medicare Taxes in 2023

  This week on the pod: Judge orders 6 agencies (including IRS?) to rehire fired probationary workers, we dig into the tax trick Dr. Oz used to pay no Medicare taxes, AICPA in pointless talks with the IRS, Digits takes on QuickBooks with AI-powered GL, remote accounting jobs in retreat, and more!SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayRelay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay RightWorks- http://accountingpodcast.promo/rightnow2025 (use code TAP15 for 15% OFF)Chapters(01:29) - Listener Feedback and Criticism (02:37) - Political Discussions and Their Impact on Accounting (12:34) - IRS Workforce Cuts and Technology Issues (20:44) - Dr. Oz and the Limited Partner Tax Strategy (33:15) - Viewer Comments and AI Discussion (33:56) - Digits and AI (52:29) - Remote Accounting Jobs: Trends and Insights (58:32) - Deloitte's Audit Integrity (01:02:01) - IRS Drama: Chief Counsel Clash (01:03:11) - Podcast Wrap-Up and Listener Engagement  Show NotesDr. Mehmet Oz may have underpaid Medicare and Social Security taxes, Senate Democratic memo findshttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/dr-mehmet-oz-medicare-social-security-taxes-democrats-memo-rcna196237 DOGE proposes cutting IRS workforce by a total of nearly 20%https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/politics/doge-irs-workforce-cuts-downsizing/index.html Judge orders Trump administration to reinstate thousands of fired employees at VA, Defense Department and other agencieshttps://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/politics/judge-opm-probationary-employees-fired-hearing/index.html AICPA CEO Releases Statement on IRS Services for this Tax Seasonhttps://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-ceo-releases-statement-on-irs-services-for-this-tax-season Introducing Autonomous General Ledgerhttps://digits.com/blog/agl-announcement/ Building AI that Actually Works: 10 Key Lessons from Calendly’s CPO and Head of UXhttps://www.saastr.com/10-key-lessons-from-calendlys-cpo-and-head-of-ux-on-building-ai-that-actually-works/ Only 9% of SMB finance teams are still working fully remotehttps://www.cfo.com/news/only-9-of-small-medium-SMB-cfos-are-still-working-fully-remote-return-to-office-strategies/740312/ Opportunity to Attract and Retain Highly Motivated Working Parents via Enhanced Flexibility, Stronger Support Systemshttps://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-working-parents-survey-2025.html Steak n Shake's parent company gets an adverse opinion from auditorhttps://www.expressnews.com/business/article/steaknshake-biglari-auditor-adverse-opinion-20204740.php The IRS just demoted its chief counsel who clashed with Elon Musk’s DOGEhttps://fortune.com/2025/03/13/irs-chief-counsel-doge-elon-musk/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

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  1:06:39
• IRS to Lay Off 50%, How Trump's Tariffs Are Working

  How does a profession revitalize itself when salaries haven't budged since 2007? In this episode, Blake and David examine the shocking reality that Big Four audit associates in Chicago earn the same salary range today as they did nearly two decades ago. They also explore why accounting's value proposition has stagnated in a world where financial statements fail to capture what truly matters to modern investors, and you'll hear their take on the IRS's plan to cut 50% of its workforce, Social Security's future, and the economic impact of tariffs—including a surprising clip from Ronald Reagan himself. Plus, learn how over 30 states are now advancing legislation to eliminate the 150-hour rule that has long been blamed for declining CPA candidates.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayBluevine - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bluevine (Bluevine is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking Services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC.) RightWorks- http://accountingpodcast.promo/rightnow2025 (use code TAP15 for 15% OFF)Chapters(00:49) - BOI Reporting Requirements Halted (02:00) - Impact of BOI Reporting Suspension (05:12) - IRS Layoffs and Their Implications (11:56) - Reagan's Take on Tariffs (15:58) - Trump's Tariffs and Fentanyl Production (19:59) - OnPay Updates (24:50) - Economic Optimism Among CPAs (27:10) - Strategic Crypto Reserve (30:30) - Elon Musk on Social Security (37:49) - Earmark Webinar Highlights on CPA Licensure Changes (40:17) - Audit Associate Salary Stagnation (43:32) - CPA Supervision and Work Experience Challenges (44:48) - Audit Quality and Firm Economics (47:46) - Intangible Assets and Financial Reporting (01:00:11) - Expense Card Industry Updates (01:05:34) - US Debt and Economic Power  Show Notes The IRS Is Reportedly Planning to Cut Up to 45,000 Workers — Half of Its Workforcehttps://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/irs-planning-mass-layoffs-cutting-half-of-workforce-report/487974 President Reagan's Radio Address on Free and Fair Trade on April 25, 1987https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5QK03KXPc Trump’s Tariffs Set Off Day of Anger, Retaliation and Market Uneasehttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/04/us/tariffs-us-canada-mexico-china Domestic economic sentiment declines 20 percentage points among CPA execshttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/mar/domestic-economic-sentiment-declines-20-percentage-points-among-cpa-execs.html Trump signs order to establish strategic bitcoin reservehttps://www.reuters.com/technology/trump-signs-order-establish-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-white-house-crypto-czar-2025-03-07/ Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpilehttps://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-u-s-digital-asset-stockpile/ Elon Musk's Social Security Comments Called Out by Former Administratorhttps://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-social-security-comments-ponzi-scheme-martin-omalley-2042006 85% of Americans Willing to Raise Taxes to Save Social Security, Survey Showshttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/85-americans-willing-raise-taxes-133018876.html Erica Goode’s LinkedIn Post on Salary Declineshttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/erica-goode-cpa-00205616_thisindustry-icanteven-activity-7300526290778869762-hqph/ Will Debt Sink the American Empire?https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/will-debt-sink-the-american-empire-8459096b FASB Requests Feedback Related to Intangible Assetshttps://dart.deloitte.com/USDART/home/news/all-news/2024/dec/fasb-invitation-to-comment-intangible-assets Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podch...

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  1:17:04

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