2014年美國CPA REG考試內容及所占分值比例

REG：

法規科目對職業道德，專業級法律責任，商業法與聯邦稅法均進行測試。

道德，專業級法律責任與商業法：

此相關話題對注冊會計師的專業及法律責任的認知與理解進行測試。職業道德問題涉及到稅法實務問題并基于美國注冊會計師稅務服務標準及規則。 商業法課題對商業交易特別是與審計及財務報告相關的潛在法律規則的理解進行測試。 此部分實際到聯邦及廣泛采用的統一州法律及文獻進行測試。

為了證明立對這些課題的理解， 應試者需證明掌握以下技能：

·鑒別不符合職業道德標準的行為并做合理應對

·識別審計對象潛在缺乏職業道德行為并決定其對稅務業務的影響

·運用商業法概念評估交易的商業實質

·評估企業的法律結構以決定企業相應的法律規則

聯邦稅法：

此課題對于聯邦稅法相關（收入，禮品，及不動產）的概念和法律的認知和理解進行測試。 測試領域包括聯邦稅法過程，會計處理，計劃，不動產交易稅制，個人稅和企業稅。

除證明掌握此課題外，應試者還需證明能夠運用稅法理論到稅務實務中，納稅申報，咨詢服務好其他業務。 應試者需證明可完成如下任務：

·評估企業的不同法律結構的潛在稅務處理

·運用分析性工具評估與收入/支出匹配，財產交易相關的經濟決策的稅務影響

·考慮多州稅務事項對聯邦稅法的影響

·區分稅制及財務報告制度

·信息及相關稅務分析

·調查相關文獻

·結論歸檔

Regulation (REG)

The Regulation section tests knowledge and understanding of ethics,professional and legal responsibilities,business law,and federal taxation.

Ethics, Professional and Legal Responsibilities and Business Law

These topics test knowledge and understanding of professional and legal responsibilities of certified public accountants.Professional ethics questions relate to tax practice issues and are based on the AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services, Treasury Department Circular 230,and rules and regulations for tax return preparers. Business law topics test knowledge and understanding of the legal implications of business transactions,particularly as they relate to accounting,auditing,and financial reporting.This section deals with federal and widely adopted uniform state laws or references identified in this CSO.

In addition to demonstrating knowledge and understanding of these topics, candidates are required to demonstrate the skills required to apply that knowledge in performing their responsibilities as certified public accountants.To demonstrate such knowledge and skills,candidates will be expected to perform the following tasks:

.Identify situations that might be unethical or a violation of professional standards,perform research and consultations as appropriate,and determine the appropriate action.

.Recognize potentially unethical behavior of clients and determine the impact on the tax services being performed.

.Demonstrate the importance of identifying and adhering to requirements,rules,and standards that are established by licensing boards within their state,and which may place additional professional requirements specific to their state of practice.

.Apply business law concepts in evaluating the economic substance of client transactions,including purchase agreements,loans and promissory notes, sales contracts,leases,side agreements,commitments, contingencies,and assumption of liabilities.

.Evaluate the legal structure of an entity to determine the implications of applicable laws and regulations on how a business is organized,governed,and operates.

Federal Taxation

These topics test knowledge and understanding of concepts and laws relating to federal taxation(income, gift,and estate).The areas of testing include federal tax process,procedures, accounting,and planning,as well as federal taxation of property transactions,individuals,and entities (which include sole proprietorships, partnerships,limited liability entities,C corporations,S corporations,joint ventures,trusts, estates, and tax-exempt organizations).In addition to demonstrating knowledge and understanding of these topics,candidates are required to demonstrate the skills required to apply that knowledge in providing tax preparation and advisory services and performing other responsibilities as certified public accountants.To demonstrate such knowledge and skills,candidates will be expected to perform the following tasks:

.Evaluate the tax implications of different legal structures for business entities.  

.Apply analytical reasoning tools to assess how taxes affect economic decisions related to the timing of income/expense recognition and property transactions.

.Consider the impact of multijurisdictional tax issues on federal taxes.

.Identify the differences between tax and financial accounting.

.Analyze information and identify data relevant for tax purposes.

.Identify issues, elections, and alternative tax treatments.

.Research issues and alternative tax treatments.

.Formulate conclusions.

.Prepare documentation to support conclusions and tax positions.

.Research relevant professional literature.

The outline below specifies the knowledge in which candidates are required to demonstrate

proficiency:

I.Ethics, Professional, and Legal Responsibilities(15% -19%)

A.Ethics and Responsibilities in Tax Practice

1.Treasury Department Circular 230

2.AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services

3.Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Regulations related to tax return preparers

B.Licensing and Disciplinary Systems

1.Role of state boards of accountancy

2.Requirements of regulatory agencies

C.Legal Duties and Responsibilities

1.Common law duties and liability to clients and third parties

2.Federal statutory liability

3.Privileged communications, confidentiality, and privacy acts

II.Business Law(17% - 21%)

A.Agency

1.Formation and termination

2.Authority of agents and principals

3.Duties and liabilities of agents and principals

B.Contracts

1.Formation

2.Performance

3.Third party assignments

4.Discharge,breach,and remedies

C.Uniform Commercial Code

1.Sales contracts

2.Negotiable instruments

3.Secured transactions

4.Documents of title and title transfer

D.Debtor-Creditor Relationships

1.Rights,duties,and liabilities of debtors,creditors,and guarantors

2.Bankruptcy and insolvency

E.Government Regulation of Business

1.Federal securities regulation

2.Other federal laws and regulations(antitrust, copyright,patents,money-laundering,labor,employment,and ERISA)

F.Business Structure(Selection of a Business Entity)

1.Advantages,disadvantages,implications,and constraints

2.Formation,operation,and termination

3.Financial structure,capitalization,profit and loss allocation,and distributions

4.Rights, duties,legal obligations,and authority of owners and management

III. Federal Tax Process,Procedures,Accounting,and Planning(11% - 15%)

A.Federal Tax Legislative Process

B.Federal Tax Procedures

1.Due dates and related extensions of time

2.Internal Revenue Service(IRS)audit and appeals process

3.Judicial process

4.Required disclosure of tax return positions

5.Substantiation requirements

6. Penalties

7.Statute of limitations

C.Accounting Periods

D.Accounting Methods

1.Recognition of revenues and expenses under cash,accrual,or other permitted methods

2.Inventory valuation methods, including uniform capitalization rules

3.Accounting for long-term contracts

4.Installment sales

E.Tax Return Elections, Including Federal Status Elections, Alternative Treatment Elections, or Other Types of Elections Applicable to an Individual or Entity’s Tax Return

F.Tax Planning

1.Alternative treatments

2.Projections of tax consequences

3.Implications of different business entities

4.Impact of proposed tax audit adjustments

5.Impact of estimated tax payment rules on planning

6.Role of taxes in decision-making

G.Impact of Multijurisdictional Tax Issues on Federal Taxation(Including Consideration of Local,State,and Multinational Tax Issues)

H.Tax Research and Communication

1. Authoritative hierarchy

2.Communications with or on behalf of clients

IV.Federal Taxation of Property Transactions(12% - 16%)

A.Types of Assets

B.Basis and Holding Periods of Assets

C.Cost Recovery(Depreciation,Depletion,and Amortization)

D.Taxable and Nontaxable Sales and Exchanges

E.Amount and Character of Gains and Losses, and Netting Process

F.Related Party Transactions

G.Estate and Gift Taxation

1.Transfers subject to the gift tax

2.Annual exclusion and gift tax deductions

3.Determination of taxable estate

4.Marital deduction

5.Unified credit

V.Federal Taxation of Individuals(13% - 19%)

A.Gross Income

1.Inclusions and exclusions

2.Characterization of income

B.Reporting of Items from Pass-Through Entities

C.Adjustments and Deductions to Arrive at Taxable Income

D.Passive Activity Losses

E.Loss Limitations

F.Taxation of Retirement Plan Benefits

G.Filing Status and Exemptions

H.Tax Computations and Credits

I.Alternative Minimum Tax

VI.Federal Taxation of Entities(18% - 24%)

A.Similarities and Distinctions in Tax Treatment Among Business Entities

1.Formation

2.Operation

3.Distributions

4.Liquidation

B.Differences Between Tax and Financial Accounting

1.Reconciliation of book income to taxable income

2.Disclosures under Schedule M-3

C.C Corporations

1.Determination of taxable income/loss

2.Tax computations and credits, including alternative minimum tax

3.Net operating losses

4.Entity/owner transactions, including contributions and distributions

5.Earnings and profits

6.Consolidated returns

D.S Corporations

1.Eligibility and election

2.Determination of ordinary income/loss and separately stated items

3.Basis of shareholder’s interest

4.Entity/owner transactions,including contributions and distributions

5.Built-in gains tax

E.Partnerships

1.Determination of ordinary income/loss and separately stated items  

2.Basis of partner’s/member’s interest and basis of assets contributed to the partnership

3. Partnership and partner elections

4.Transactions between a partner and the partnership

5.Treatment of partnership liabilities

6.Distribution of partnership assets

7.Ownership changes and liquidation and termination of partnership

F.Trusts and Estates

1.Types of trusts

2.Income and deductions

3.Determination of beneficiary’s share of taxable income

G.Tax-Exempt Organizations

1.Types of organizations

2.Obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status

3.Unrelated business income

References – Regulation

Ethics, Professional and Legal Responsibilities,and Business Law

.AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services

.Revised Model Business Corporation Act

.Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act

.Revised Uniform Partnership Act

.Securities Act of 1933

.Securities Exchange Act of 1934

.Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

.Uniform Accountancy Act

.Uniform Commercial Code

.Current textbooks covering business law,auditing,accounting,and ethics

Federal Taxation

.Internal Revenue Code of 1986,as amended,and Regulations

.Treasury Department Circular 230

.Other administrative pronouncements

.Case law

.Public Law 86-272

.Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act (UDITPA)

.Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010

.Current Federal tax textbooks