Tax section survey results.

Periodically, the AICPA Tax Section surveys its members to obtain input on its efforts to serve them and determine how to improve membership benefits. During summer 2006, it surveyed members, asking them how they view the benefits of membership, what they like and what should be improved or added. Of the total Tax Division membership (approximately 22,000), 1,320 members responded to the survey; the results follow.

1. Please rate the usefulness of the Tax Practice Guides and Checklists.

1. Please rate the usefulness of the Tax
Practice

Response              Count       %

Very useful             644       50%
Somewhat useful         473     36.7%
Not useful               16      1.2%
Aware, do not use       137     10.6%
Not aware                18      1.4%

2. Please rate the usefulness of the different formats in which the Tax Practice Guides and Checklists are provided.

2. Please rate the usefulness of the different
formats in which the Tax Practice Guides and
Checklists are provided.

                                          Aware,
              Very    Somewhat    Not     do not    Not
             useful    useful    useful    use     aware

Website      44.7%     26.9%      2.4%    13.8%    12.2%
CD-ROM       35.9%     31.7%      4.6%    21.4%     6.4%
Paper        19.1%     27.0%     12.6%    29.5%    11.8%

3. Please rate the following Tax Section products and services and other activities listed.

                                Some-             Aware,
                        Very     what     Not     do not    Not
                       useful   useful   useful    use     aware

Topical practice
guides (e.g.,
Disaster Area Guide)   15.2%    38.4%     3.4%    15.5%    17.4%

Tax articles on
website                29.2%    42.9%     2.1%    12.2%    13.7%

Website tax
discussion forums        8%     24.6%      9%     28.5%    29.8%

The Tax Adviser
magazine               59.5%    33.4%     1.3%     4.3%    1.4%

Group discounts
on tax research
publications and
software               25.4%    27.8%    10.7%    14.3%    11.8%

Bi-weekly Tax
eAlert                 43.9%    45.6%     2.7%     2.4%    5.4%

Comments on
proposed
legislation            28.5%    48.8%     5.1%     9.3%    8.2%

Comments on
proposed
regulations            28.1%    49.3%     5.1%     9.2%    8.3%

Tax policy
statements and
studies                26.2%    47.8%     5.1%    10.1%    10.8%

Resources on tax
ethics and tax
practice
responsibilities        31%     44.3%      4%      8.7%     12%

4. Please add the following items to the Annual Tax Practice Guides and Checklists:

There were thousands of requests for items that should be added to our Annual Tax Practice Guides and Checklists product. These suggestions have been compiled and are being assigned resources to produce them.

5. In the past year, we started sending you Tax eAlerts every two weeks. These brief emails are intended to put tax news into a practice context, with links to source documents. Which of the following most closely reflects your current usage of the eAlerts?

Response                            Count    %

I am not receiving the eAlerts.        86   6.6%

I read them and like the quick,
practical updates.                  1,096    84%

I read them, but do not find them
particularly helpful.                 122   9.4%

6. A portion of our website contains online discussion forums to float issues and bounce ideas off of other professionals. These forums use real names and are only accessible by Tax Section members. Please select the one statement, below, which most closely reflects your feelings about these forums.

Response                              Count     %

I use the Tax Section discussion
forums and find them helpful.            43    3.3%

I have visited the forums, but they
do not seem active in areas that

I am interested in.                      84    6.4%

I am aware of the forums, but do
not use them.                           561   42.8%

I am not aware of the AICPA Tax
Section discussion forums.              624   47.6%

7. Do you use online discussion forums from a source other than the AICPA?

Response       Count       %

Yes              223     17.2%
No             1,077     82.8%

8. Please provide any comments you might have that would make our website forums more useful to you.

Most comments fell into the following typical response categories:

* Need to have more activity there, for members to visit.

* Some members are not aware of the forums.

* Difficulty-in-use issues.

* Problem of anonymity.

9. What products (not available elsewhere) would you like the Tax Division to produce?

There were thousands of requests for items that should be added to the products the Tax Division produces. These suggestions have been compiled and are being assigned resources to produce them.

10. What do you like most about the Tax Section website?

Most comments fell into the following typical response categories:

* Ease of use.

* Availability of checklists, guides and The Tax Adviser.

* Current resources.

11. What do you like least about the Tax Section website?

Most comments fell into the following typical response categories:

* Difficult to use.

* Log-in issues.

* Navigation issues (i.e., too cluttered, hard to navigate).

12. What is the primary reason that you belong to the AICPA Tax Division and pay its accompanying dues each year?

Most comments fell into the following typical response categories:

* Tax Practice Guides and Checklists.

* The Tax Adviser.

* Current events and timely information.

* Access to tax resources.

13. Please provide your comments on the quality and effectiveness of Tax Section advocacy activities, such as commentaries on proposed legislation and regulations.

Most comments fell into the following typical response categories:

* Members generally find the comments to be very good.

* Advocacy activities are effective and worthwhile.

* Useful for keeping informed of current events.

14. Which of the following most closely describes your primary area of employment?

Response                   Count       %

Public accounting          1,047     79.9%
Government or military         6      0.5%
Education (all levels)        21      1.6%
Business and industry        182     13.9%
Not-for-profit                 8      0.6%
Other                         47      3.6%

15. If you are in public accounting, which of the following most closely describes your firm?

Response                   Count       %

Local firm                   890     85.2%
Regional firm                105     10.1%
National firm                 28      2.7%
"Big Four" firm               21      2.0%

Conclusion

The survey indicates that members are satisfied with the activities in which the Tax Division engages and how they provide opportunities for further enhancement of member benefits. They particularly like the products and services that can benefit them in their daily work, such as practice guides, checklists and Tax Adviser articles. Of particular interest is the positive reception of a new Tax Division product, the bi-weekly Tax Section E-Alerts of current tax "news you can use."

Members made many suggestions for more guides they would like to see developed. The Division is responding to this by implementing new production procedures, to develop more hands-on practice tools in the areas requested.

AICPA MEMBER GUIDANCE ON FIN 48, ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES

For years beginning after Dec. 15, 2006, all GAAP-based financial statements must account for uncertainty in income taxes in accordance with FASB Interpretation (FIN) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Incomes Taxes. Adoption of FIN 48 requires an analysis of all tax positions at the beginning of the period or, for calendar-year-end businesses, as of Jan. 1, 2007. Tax positions may be recognized only if they meet a "more-likely-than-not" threshold of being realized if challenged by a taxing authority with full knowledge of the facts. If this level of certainty does not exist, no tax benefit may be booked; even if this level of certainty does exist, only the amount that has a greater-than-50% chance of being sustained may be booked. Specific financial statement disclosures are required with respect to uncertain tax positions.

To help financial statement preparers, auditors and tax advisers meet this new requirement, the Accounting Standards, Auditing and Attest Standards and Tax Teams have developed a Practice Guide on Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions Under FIN 48. The AICPA's 13-page practice guide includes highlights of FIN 48 and its implications for in-house accountants, auditors and tax advisers. It is not authoritative, but intended to assist members in quickly understanding the requirements of FIN 48. The practice guide is available without charge to all AICPA members at www.aicpa.org/FIN48Guide.

Jim Clark, CPA, AICPA Technical Manager--Taxation, Washington, DC