On Nov. 3, 2011, the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published interim final rules on “Procedures for Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as Amended.” While the intention is for these rules to be final, the DOL is asking for additional comments until Jan. 3, 2012.

Communication is vital to all business operations. Effective communication within your organization positively affects communication outside – the two are connected. In accounts payable, effective internal communication involves ensuring that other business units understand the AP process. According to Tom Nichols, President, Process Management Improvement Inc. and TAPN advisor, problems often arise because of a communication breakdown between business units and AP.

The Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC) hopes to secure a zero hour delay of purchasing card reporting requirements for merchant banks and third party payment networks as well as changes to government contractor withholding.

IRPAC was formed in 1991 in order "to provide a public forum for the IRS and members of the information reporting community in the private sector to discuss relevant information reporting issues," according to the IRS web site.

Repealing soon-to-be-enacted tax legislation seems to have become the modus operandi for lawmakers. A resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives seeks to repeal the upcoming government contractor withholding requirements.

On Oct. 13, 2011, the House Ways and Means Committee passed HR 647. The goal of the resolution is to overturn Section 3402(t), which requires federal and state governments to withhold 3 percent on most contractor payments beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

The Internal Revenue Service has reinstated the high-low substantiation method for per diem reimbursements. If your organization uses the high-low method, then you can continue to do so.

While paper invoices are still king, electronic invoices continue to make gains. Almost one-fourth of organizations currently receive some invoices electronically, with even more planning to implement e-invoicing systems during the next few years.

According The Accounts Payable Network’s Automation Benchmark Survey 2011 preliminary results, 24 percent of participants stated that they have implemented electronic invoicing. In a 2009 survey, just 10 percent had implemented the technology. The percentage of organizations receiving invoices electronically more than doubled in two years.

Each year many of us celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day, National Secretaries Day and National Bosses Day to name just a few celebratory occasions. What do all of these have in common? Well, they were probably all created by greeting card companies to sell cards. But, more importantly, they are all great ways to show appreciation for what each of these individuals has done during the year.

For organizations that misclassify their employees as independent contractors, now may be the best time to come clean. A new IRS program allows violators to reclassify their employees voluntarily without penalties.

With lodging prices still well below the highs seen in 2008, the U.S. General Services Administration has left the standard federal per diem rate for 2012 unchanged from the lower 2011 rates. In addition, the rates for most non-standard areas will also remain consistent with 2011 rates.

After spending two years transitioning to a new sales tax system, the residents of British Columbia are finally ready to embrace their Harmonized Sales Tax. Just kidding, they axed it.

British Columbia’s Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) has been in effect for just over a year. The tax, which combined the country’s 7 percent Provincial Sales Tax with Canada’s 5 percent Goods and Services Tax, has been widely unpopular since it was first announced more than two years ago.