About Us :: Why Seigel & Associates

In the new climate affecting tax reserves – occasioned by the adoption of FIN 48 and continuing demands for and expectations of independence in financial accounting practices for public companies – Seigel and Associates provides an unparalleled level of service to meet today’s needs.

Our company offers unrivaled expertise in dealing with the substantive, procedural, and disclosure mandates of tax reserve determination and FIN 48 compliance, and the best corporate governance practice in this area insuring integrity, objectivity, and credibility in financial statement presentation of tax reserves and tax reserve related information.

Expertise.

Seigel and Associates provides services exclusively dealing with tax reserves. We have a “laser focus” on tax reserves and the issues related to their ascertainment, presentment, and disclosure. This specialization results in a singular knowledge base and background in this area.

Our expertise extends beyond required substantive tax judgments to include a unique capability and competence in dealing with the newly prescribed tax reserve disclosure rules. Failure to satisfactorily meet these new requirements can lead to inquiry and comment from the SEC and provoke questions for additional data and explanation from institutional investors and analysts. As demonstrated in The Seigel Tax Reserve Report (available on our home page), we have an unmatched depth of knowledge and understanding of what is needed to comply and demonstrated expertise in guiding companies to provide the prescribed information without disclosure of proprietary and confidential information.

Best Corporate Practice.

Our service model is emerging as a recognized best corporate governance practice. Why?

We only offer services related to the determination of tax reserves and their financial statement disclosure including, where requested, an opinion to management on the adequacy and reasonableness of such reserves.

Because we offer no other service – be it accounting, legal, or tax advisory - our independence is not subject to question or taint because we receive or seek to receive additional financial remuneration from clients. And, because we do not offer tax advice to companies, we cannot face issues of compromised or biased judgment in the resolution of substantive tax issues arising in the course of tax reserve evaluation – a real or potential problem faced by all other accounting and tax advisory firms that play a role in tax reserve judgments.

This means that where issues concerning the extent and appropriateness of tax reserves arise - be it by regulators, investors, the press, or analysts, - management has insulated itself from adverse criticism or action. This unique level of independence and objectivity assures the integrity and reliability of tax reserve judgments and their impact on financial statement correctness. It also assures the independence of the auditing firm that also provides tax advice to the client – a long standing efficient and effective practice – because its audit review of tax reserves is not clouded by the tax advice it has rendered – it cannot be said to be “auditing” its own work thereby raising the specter of potential bias.

Putting in place the twin hallmarks of exceptional expertise and best practice provided by Seigel & Associates assures management and the audit committee of the board that they have positioned the company to meet its obligations in an exemplary manner and to discharge well their obligations to shareholders.