U.S. Master Accounting Guide (2004)

CCH's U.S. Master Accounting Guide distills key accounting, business, legal and financial information into a convenient, handy and affordable package for the accountant's fingertip reference. Hundreds of updates are reflected across the broad coverage areas in the 2004 Edition including critical tax developments, accounting standards changes, financial developments, and much more affecting every chapter in the book. In the 2004 Edition, the Accounting Journal Entries and Accounting Principles chapters cover new GAAP changes such as SFAS Statement Number 150--Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity and other GAAP developments. As with every edition, the Taxation Chapter was substantially revised to reflect never-ending changes to our tax law--new changes are highlighted upfront covering important changes from the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 and the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003. Government program changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are reflected. The Human Resources chapters reflect new data and ideas on employee benefits, Internet recruiting, performance appraisals, labor and employment law changes, OSHA, and more. With the Guide, practitioners can beam-in on important details that may be just a little beyond their memory. Once "on location," the professional has access to valuable lists, digests, illustrative tables and charts, calculations, formulas, ratios, examples, and descriptive explanations--all designed to help answer a client question or provide an additional slant or solution to a complex issue. Helpful information is provided on accounting principles (including the latest GAAP pronouncements), business entities, bankruptcy, business valuation, franchising, buying/selling a business, securities, financial analysis, Social Security, taxation (including recent legislative and regulatory developments), employment issues, human resources, investments, insurance, and much more. The U.S. Master ACCOUNTING Guide features: - Quick, easy-to-access facts that provide answers to nagging client questions - Highlights of new changes affecting important accounting, financial and legal topics - Specific business decision analysis tools - Formulas and calculations illustrated with practical examples - Checklists that call to mind detailed considerations - Concise explanations of important legal and regulatory underpinnings - Key contact information for government offices and accounting organizations The content is provided in concise form to provide an at-a-glance encyclopedia of helpful information for today's multifaceted and busy accounting professionals in a single, affordable reference. The U.S. Master Accounting Guide is the perfect companion to CCH's industry-leading U.S. Master Tax Guide and other Guides in the growing CCH Master Series. Here's a quick summary of what you will find in each chapter: ACCOUNTING JOURNAL ENTRIES--Presents selected sample journal entries and calculations that may seem basic, but are often quite challenging... all designed to improve the accountant's skills. ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES--Provides a quick reference digest of selected accounting principles for the busy practitioner. BUSINESS ENTITIES--Quick memory joggers on various business entity issues; hot topics such as franchises and LLCs are covered at greater length. BUSINESS VALUATION--Staccato coverage of valuation concepts and issues, plus detailed discussion of selected complexities reflecting the importance of this growing responsibility. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS--Keys in on Medicare and Social Security, including new changes to these programs and related coverage issues that often turn up on the accountant's doorstep. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS--Practicing accountants are often seen as the one person in their clients' circle of professionals who know the most about finance--and are the most