Fab 50: Hot Internet Resources for CPAs

California CPA magazine: October 2008

The internet is a vast place and one in which it’s easy to get lost when searching for information you need. To help make your searches a little more focused, the CalCPA Technology Committee helped us compile the following 50 favorite sites.

ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING
asc.fasb.org: In beta testing, this portal will be the single source for all authoritative accounting standards in the United States.

www.ifrs.org: The AICPA’s collection of information regarding the convergence to international reporting standards.

www.audit-net.com: AuditNet provides resources for auditors, managers and administrative personnel looking to update their company’s documentation for compliance with standard business practices.

www.auditnet.org: A useful collection of resources devoted to auditors that includes information on SOX and fighting fraud, among other topics.

BUSINESS VALUATION
www.bvmarketdata.com: This site offers financial and transactional data relating to the sale of public and privately held companies, control premiums, minority discounts and marketability discounts. You can pay per inquiry or buy an annual subscription.

CONSUMER INTEREST
www.giveawayoftheday.com: Download software for free ... but just for today.

www.kayak.com: One of the most powerful travel search pages available.

www.jiwire.com: Wondering where there’s a wireless internet hotspot nearest your location? Find it here.

CONTINUING EDUCATION
www.calcpa.org/podcast: We know you may not be able to attend or call in to all events that interest you. That’s why CalCPA offers podcasts of select events and interviews. Download podcasts and listen to them with Windows Media Player or download them to your MP3 player or a CD for later listening.

www.calcpa.org/rsvp: Easily search and register or purchase CalCPA and California CPA Education Foundation events, courses, conferences, webcasts, online courses, self-study and reference materials.

CPA PORTALS
www.accountantsworld.com: An extensive listing of accounting resources.

www.calcpa.org: Home of CalCPA and the California CPA Education Foundation.

ELDERCARE
www.aging.ca.gov: The California Department of Aging offers updates on California’s laws, regulations and legislative bills affecting the elderly, as well as information on legal aid services.

www.calcpa.org/eldercare: CalCPA’s Personal Financial Planning Committee offers a statewide list of localized eldercare resources. From homecare providers in Sacramento to the Social Security Administration office in San Diego, this is your place.

FINANCIAL PLANNING
www.calcpa.org/estate: CalCPA’s Estate Planning Committee offers an estate planning discussion board, an open forum for asking and answering estate planning questions, as well as related articles and news.

www.financial-planning.com: Financial Planning Interactive offers industry news, practice management tips, surveys, forums and educational opportunities.

INDUSTRY
www.cfodirect.com: A hub of news and analysis from PricewaterhouseCoopers that is aimed at the CFO. Features include technical alerts, SOX resources, industry-specific resources and more.

www.boardmember.com: A website for Corporate Board Member magazine, an information resource for senior officers and directors of publicly traded corporations, top private companies and Global 1000 firms.

www.soxtoolkit.com: The Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Kit offers resources intended to help you achieve full SOX compliance—a formidable undertaking,
www.calchamber.com: The California Chamber of Commerce is loaded with resources for California businesses. Don’t forget to sign up for “Labor Law Extra,” an e-mail update on human resource issues.

www.coso.org: The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s site features its popular internal control framework, as well as its emerging enterprise risk management framework.

www.sbaonline.sba.gov/starting_business: The U.S. Small Business Administration offers help on developing a business plan, getting a business license and establishing patents and trademarks.

www.xbrl.org: An SEC rule proposal, if enacted in its current form, will make XBRL (a financial reporting language that increases the transparency and ease-of-use of financial data for those internal and external to the reporting process) submission to EDGAR mandatory starting in the first quarter of 2009. Keep track of the progress of the technology here.

www.dol.gov: Info on everything from wages to workers’ comp to health plans.

www.calcpa.org/forum: CalCPA’s resources for business and industry CPAs.

INTERNATIONAL
The SEC recently released a proposed roadmap that could lead to the use of International Financial Reporting Standards by U.S. issuers, rather than U.S. GAAP, beginning in 2014. These two sites help you keep track of the progress, as each have been involved in developing the new, global standards.
www.iasb.org: Charged with developing a single set of global accounting standards, the International Accounting Standards Board website features project summaries, standards and exposure drafts.

www.ifac.org: The International Federation of Accountants’ website features news and information on international accounting standards, guidance and resources for CPAs in the global marketplace.

www.oanda.com: Current and historical foreign exchange rates.

LEGAL
www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html: The state’s California Law page is a clearinghouse of California law codes, with searchable databases of the 29 codes that make up California law, as well as the state constitution and statutes.

www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts: Displays a system diagram of the California judicial system and contains links to other California judicial sites.

www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html: A way to find pending California legislation. The full text of bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments, including status, history, votes, analyses and veto messages is available.

www.ustaxcourt.gov: Information about tax court procedures, pending and final cases.

NETWORKING
www.skype.com: Skype is a “phone over the internet” service that allows you to call most places in the world on the cheap. Also, you can use your computer to call other Skype users for free.

calcpayeps.ning.com: Any CPA new to the profession in California needs to log on and connect with his or her colleagues. This site offers the opportunity for real networking.

www.facebook.com: The leader in the social network wars, Facebook has matured in the past year and has become quite a useful networking tool.

www.linkedin.com: LinkedIn, a premier place for professionals to connect. Stop by and see us at www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=88164.

NONPROFIT
www.charitynavigator.org: Find a charity you can trust with these sites that evaluate a nonprofit’s legitimacy, regulatory files and more.

Practice Management
www.calcpa.org/licensure: CalCPA provides this handy one-stop site that answers your questions when it comes to licensure and mobility. If you still have questions after reviewing the information, you can submit it to us.

www.calcpa.org/MAP: CalCPA’s Management of an Accounting Practice Committee has sample letters and memos, as well as comprehensive disaster recovery planning guide.

www.camico.com: CAMICO provides professional liability insurance to CPAs. Policyholders get access to risk management tools, a loss prevention hotline and even tax advice.

www.cpaprotectplus.com: The Group Insurance Trust of CalCPA offers quality, cost-effective insurance to owners and employees of CalCPA member firms. The
site features quotes, enrollment forms and plan information.
SEARCH
www.cuil.com: Alternate search engine that provides a better synopsis of results and no paid advertising.

www.calcpa.org/classifieds: California’s one-stop shop for employers and CPA professionals who want to connect.

TAX
www.caltax.com: Spidell Publishing’s site is devoted to California tax and offers breaking news, notice alerts, seminar schedules and product information.
www.ustaxcourt.gov: Information about tax court procedures, pending and final cases.

www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Taxes/Tax_Practitioners.htm: The Employment Development Department’s information and resources page for tax practitioners.
GENERAL TECHIE SITES
www.leapfile.com: Forget FTP. If you need to transfer documents to your clients safely and securely, this is the place.

www.mxlogic.com: Looking to lock down your computer from viruses? Check out this site, which provides a comprehensive virus protection packages.

www.engadget.com: Brief news and reviews of technology, including cell phones, computers, etc.