Meaningless? Exagerating Customer Savings?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Fraud Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

Just as traditional retailers are faltering, so are list prices. This article exposes some of the secrets regarding list prices and online sellers. Questions: 1. Discuss the question in the article and what it means for you personally? “If everyone is getting a deal, is anyone really getting a deal?” 2. Explain the case against… Read more »

Lock Down that Debit Card

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Fraud Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized.

Have you ever lost or misplaced your debit card? Now some banks are offering a simple app for your cellphone that will allow you to protect bank accounts quickly while you figures out whether you lost or misplaced your card. Questions: 1. How does Bank of America’s version of the debit card lock work? 2…. Read more »

Lack Luster Gold

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According to Ms. Pattanaik, GOLD is not the safe haven that it once was. In fact, she concludes that gold may only come back as a safe haven if the markets face even grimmer news than that of recent times. Questions: 1. According to the author, what are the reasons why investor panic is not… Read more »

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs said it enforces tax rules impartially—regardless of a company’s size.

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

Google has agreed to pay 130 million pounds (or about $185 million) in a tax settlement to U.K. authorities, where the British Labour Party criticizes the government’s handling of the case and the normal use of corporate tax strategy workarounds. Questions: 1. How far back in time does the settlement go to cover back taxes?… Read more »

Weird Thought Experiment

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

As Powerball mania and the promise of $1.6 Billion swept the airways, Andy Kiersz came up with his own idea on how to win. Unfortunately, it would require 189,000 people filling out all the possible Powerball combinations on those annoying scantrons, working 10 hours a day at a rate of 50 tickets per hour. Questions:… Read more »

The Age of the Employee-less Company

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During most of the 20th century, companies bringing in the most money also employed the most people. This article looks at a new paper from the Brookings Institute about the new age of ghost companies. Questions: 1. The article mentions Walnart as one of the five largest companies in 2012 that had 100,000 people employed… Read more »

Be sure to remember your server!

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized.

According to the Washington Post, after a change in tax rules last year, the auto-gratuity added to the bill of large parties at restaurants is on its way out. Questions: 1. What is the new rule that the Internal Revenue Service imposed on restaurants that led to this change? 2. How does this change lead… Read more »

Paranoia or Internal Control?

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Red Star Operating System is North Korea’s homegrown computer operating system that mirrors its political one. The latest version (circa 2013) is based on a version of Linux called Fedora and has the feel of Apple’s OSX. Questions: 1. What are the two major challenges the article said that Pyongyang faces? From an international business… Read more »

Whistleblower in an Unusual Case

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According to Newsweek, David Danon, a former Vanguard tax lawyer, became a whistleblower two years ago when he filed formal complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and many state taxing agencies claiming that Vanguard’s low fees are an illegal tax dodge. Questions: 1. According to a 2006 law, how much could Danon stand to collect… Read more »

Sam’s Club CEO, Rosalind Brewer, Talks about Changes and Lessons Learned

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

The rivalry between Sam’s Club and Costco comes close to what you find in college sports. Questions: Source: 1. What things did the Sam’s Club CEO say were learned about Black Friday? 2. What happened to CostCo stock versus Sam’s Club Stock in 2015? 3. What are the differentiation strategies that Sam’s Club is implementing?… Read more »