Michael Cohn

Michael Cohn

Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

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Michael Cohn, editor-in-chief of AccountingToday.com, has been covering business and technology for a variety of publications since 1985. Prior to joining Accounting Today and WebCPA, he worked for Red Herring, Internet World, Beyond Computing, Accounting Technology and PC Magazine, and freelanced for a variety of other business publications. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English, he studied accounting at the Wharton School of Business, and currently lives in New York City.

HR copes with tax challenges of remote work

The work-from-home environment is producing tax complexities for companies and their human resources departments.

By Michael Cohn

June 7

Small businesses recovering despite pandemic

Small businesses are gaining more revenue this year despite the lingering challenges from COVID-19 and reversing last year’s losses, according to a report from Intuit’s QuickBooks unit.

By Michael Cohn

April 28

Bill offers tax credits to businesses owned by women, POC

The legislation aims to reduce inequality by giving more entrepreneurs access to capital through tax incentives.

By Michael Cohn

April 20

Private sector added 517K jobs in March

The economy continued to rebound this year despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, payroll giant ADP reported Wednesday.

By Michael Cohn

March 31

Small businesses increase employment and wages in March

Small businesses are recording a significant jump in job growth this month, while weekly and hourly earnings grew as well, according to payroll giant Paychex.

By Michael Cohn

March 30

IRS and Treasury start depositing stimulus payments

The initial direct deposits of the second round of economic impact payments are already going out to taxpayers.

By Michael Cohn

December 29

U.S. Capitol

New coronavirus stimulus package contains some big tax items

The latest round of coronavirus stimulus legislation includes some major tax provisions and changes for accountants to watch out for in the New Year.

By Michael Cohn

December 21

Expense management

The craziest work-from-home expenses of 2020

Employees working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic claimed some outlandish expenses this year, including pricey exercise bikes, facelifts and private jets.

By Michael Cohn

November 18

Women less likely to feel fairly comped for WFH expenses

The percentage of workers asking for compensation for work-from-home expenses with their employers hasn’t gone up significantly since the outbreak of COVID-19.

By Michael Cohn

November 11

Diversity and equality

NABA looks to partner with firms to diversify accounting profession

The National Association of Black Accountants is hoping to expand its partnerships with accounting firms and corporate America to bring more diversity to the accounting profession.

By Michael Cohn

November 2

IRS sets end date for faxing refund claim forms amid coronavirus

The Internal Revenue Service is giving taxpayers until the end of the year before it stops its temporary procedures for faxing in Forms 1045 and 1139 for claiming tentative tax refunds.

By Michael Cohn

October 15

Wages and hiring growing fastest among small businesses in Northeast amid coronavirus

As COVID-19 lockdown restrictions eased, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania businesses benefited.

By Michael Cohn

September 1

Expense management

Coronavirus affected employee expense trends, especially meals and travel

The novel coronavirus pandemic led to a transition from employer-provided meals to food delivery services arriving at employee homes, as workers all but eliminated their travel expenses, according to a new report.

By Michael Cohn

August 25

ADP Wisely Pay card

Payroll payments

ADP introduces new digital payment option

The Wisely Pay solution includes peer-to-peer transfers, instant pay and mobile digital wallets from Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay.

By Michael Cohn

May 16

A boy and girl hug their grandmother's dogs after being rescued from rising floodwaters due to Hurricane Harvey in Spring, Texas.

Disaster recovery

IRS loosens 401(k) lending rules to help Hurricane Harvey victims

The Internal Revenue Service granted relief to those hit by the storm by making it easier for retirement plans to give loans and hardship distributions.

By Michael Cohn

August 31

AICPA building in Durham, N.C.

Audit standards

AICPA proposes standard for auditing employee benefit plans

The American Institute of CPAs is toughening the rules after a critical report from the Labor Department about the quality of ERISA audits.

By Michael Cohn

April 23

AICPA building in Durham, N.C.

Audit standards

AICPA proposes standard for auditing employee benefit plans

The American Institute of CPAs is toughening the rules after a critical report from the Labor Department about the quality of ERISA audits.

By Michael Cohn

April 21

Paycheck problems chart

Payroll problems afflict 82M American workers

More than half the U.S. workforce has experienced a problem with their paycheck during their career, according to new estimates.

By Michael Cohn

March 28

Healthcare benefits

Lawmakers introduce bill to roll back tax penalties on HRAs

A group of lawmakers has introduced legislation to roll back guidance from the Treasury Department that prohibits employers from using stand-alone health reimbursement arrangements to reimburse employees for health care-related expenses.

By Michael Cohn

July 7

Healthcare reform

House votes to repeal medical device tax

The House passed H.R. 160, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, by a vote of 280 to 140. The bill was introduced by Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.), a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

By Michael Cohn

June 18