At a farm in Dublin, Ireland, Paul Brennan took a video that has gone viral for its creativity in using drones – rounding up sheep. Questions: 1. Put on your thinking cap. Is there any task that a drone could do in the future to assist the accountant or auditor? 2. Besides Amazon, what other… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Managerial Accounting
Tax Laws for Tangible Property
Late in 2013, the IRS issued final regulations regarding repair regulations and rules regarding the treatment of expenditures for acquiring, maintaining, or improving tangible property. The IRS issued final regulations on the treatment of disposing tangible property in 2014. This article provides guidance on the capitalization and expenditure rules contained within the regulations. Questions: 1…. Read more »
No longer Big Brother watching – Now its Big Teacher!
At Rutgers University, online student must download Proctortrack, a new anti-cheating technology, prior to taking exams. Questions: 1. Did you agree or disagree that the software was intrusive? Discuss the pros and cons of it. 2. Do you agree or disagree that human behavior in test taking can be reduced to an algorithm? Discuss. 3…. Read more »
Scary Time of Year!
This article discusses the important issues surrounding the possibility of an IRS can audit. It points out that the potential for large civil penalties and perhaps even criminal liability can be real and something you should consider before you file. Questions 1. How many of these errors were you aware of before reading the article?… Read more »
The New Parameters of the Advertising War
Electronic warfare has broken out between internet users and the $120bn online advertising industry. Questions: 1. According to the article, by what amount did the number of people using ad blocking software increase last year? 2. Do you agree with Mr. Zaneis, general counsel at the Interactive Advertising Bureau, that the free internet that consumers… Read more »
The Clock is Ticking!
A new legal quirk could bring a surreal ending to foreclosure casess around the country; the debtors may get to keep their homes without ever having to pay another dime. Questions: 1. Why might tens of thousands of homeowners who have missed more than five years of mortgage payments get to keep their homes without… Read more »
The Slump of the Big Mac?
According to the CEO of McDonalds, Steve Easterbrook, McDonald’s has an “urgent need to evolve” after unveiling another slide in worldwide sales, which is the ninth month in a row that sales have fallen at the fast-food chain. Questions: 1. How does McDonalds propose to get out of this slump? 2. What is Mr. Easterbrook’s… Read more »
Huge Food Merger
Heinz is going to buy 51% of Kraft in a deal brokered that is by Berkshire-Hathaway and the Brazilian-based private equity company 3G. As a result, Kraft shareholders will get a $10 billion special dividend (about $16.50 a share) under the deal. Questions: 1. What happened to the price of Kraft shares after this deal… Read more »
Huge deal!
General Electric Co. has agreed to sell the consumer-lending business of GE Capital in Australia and New Zealand to an investor group. This investor group includes KKR & Co. and Deutsche Bank AG—and the estimated price is about $A8.2 billion or $6.26 billion U.S. Questions: 1. Why is GE selling its banking business? 2. Why… Read more »
Maybe its time to flip a coin
According to a recent study, very few professional investors have actually managed to outperform the rising market consistently over the past few years. In fact, based on the updated findings and definitions of a particular study, it appears that no mutual fund managers have. Questions: 1. What is a mutual fund? 2. What does the… Read more »