H2R CPA Blog

What Owners Learn After the Deal

How Financial Readiness and Sell-Side Diligence Improve Process Efficiency and Deal Certainty For owners looking back on a sale, buy-side financial due diligence is often remembered less for any single accounting issue and more for how it felt: the pace, the pressure, the credibility challenges, and the moments where the process either reinforced confidence or … Read more

Audit vs. Review vs. Compilation: Understanding the Key Differences

An audit, review, and compilation are three of the most common types of financial statement services provided by CPAs. Each service differs significantly in terms of the level of assurance provided and the procedures performed to achieve that level of assurance, if any. Understanding these differences is important for business owners, lenders, and other financial … Read more

The Power of Annual Gifting

Annual gifts can be a powerful tool for trimming down a future estate. When structured correctly, they can pass to recipients without triggering gift taxes, thanks to the annual exclusion as well as the separate exclusions for qualified education and medical expenses. Annual Gift Tax Exclusion For 2026, the Federal annual gift tax exclusion is … Read more

IRS issues final regulations on tips tax break

Last year, a new income tax deduction for qualified cash tips went into effect under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The break is scheduled to expire after 2028. In September 2025, the IRS released proposed regulations to provide guidance for taxpayers. The IRS has now published final regs that largely mirror the proposed regs … Read more

Post-tax-day tips for staying organized

With the April 15 tax filing deadline in the rearview mirror, you’re likely to turn your attention to other things. But before you do, it’s in your best interest to tie up a few tax-related loose ends. IRS statute of limitations Generally, the IRS’s statute of limitations for auditing a tax return is three years from the … Read more

Case Study: Forensic Accounting Analysis of a Distressed Energy Company 

Client Situation An investor in a privately held energy sector company sought clarity regarding the organization’s worsening financial position. The company—engaged in oil and gas exploration and production—was experiencing significant and unexplained cash flow shortages. Engagement Objective The investor requested an independent forensic review to understand the true financial condition of the business and the … Read more

IRS releases guidance on new depreciation deduction

A new but temporary special depreciation allowance for qualified production property (QPP) was created by last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It’s available for certain manufacturing-related real property placed in service after July 4, 2025, and before January 1, 2031. Under previous law, taxpayers had to depreciate such property over a 39-year period. The OBBBA … Read more

New provisions for 2026 may affect your tax planning

The many tax-related provisions that went into effect last year after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law are affecting 2025 federal income tax returns being filed now. However, some OBBBA provisions aren’t taking effect until this year. Plus, some changes under previous legislation are also taking effect in 2026. Here’s … Read more

Sell-Side Quality of Earnings: The Benefits of a ‘Practice Test’ Before Going to Market

Sell-side financial due diligence, often called a sell-side Quality of Earnings (QoE) review, helps privately owned businesses prepare for a sale by giving buyers clearer and more reliable financial information. For companies that have never had an audit, this review reduces uncertainty about revenue, expenses, and working capital. It also prepares owners for the level … Read more

IRS releases 2026 retirement plan contribution limits

With Notice 2025–67, the IRS has issued its 2026 inflation-adjusted retirement plan contribution limits. Although the changes are more modest than in recent years, most retirement-plan-related limits will still increase for 2026. Depending on your plan, these adjustments may provide extra room to boost your retirement savings. Type of limitation 2025 limit 2026 limit Elective … Read more