Individuals in the accounting profession have a considerable responsibility to the general public. To gain public trust and maintain professionalism, professional conduct and ethical behavior are necessary. This is an ethics course for New York CPAs with a taxation concentration.

The course begins with a presentation of ethics and ethical behavior, discussing the relationship between morals and ethics and identifying the causes of unethical behavior. It explains the process of ethical reasoning and how to apply it when dilemmas occur. It covers the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, along with the conceptual framework approach, which helps CPAs identify threats to compliance with the rules and evaluate the significance of those threats. It also includes the AICPA’s standards for tax services and Internal Revenue Service requirements for tax professionals’ obligations under Treasury Circular No. 230. Finally, it addresses New York State rules on ethics as found in the New York State Law, Rules and Regulations. Examples and case studies are used to illustrate the appropriate application of the rules and also AICPA ethics violations.