A Reflection: Fighting for Simplicity and Clarity in Regulations is an Ethical Imperative for CPAs
As I reflect on my work and the challenges CPAs like me face, I can't help but feel overwhelmed by the complexity and confusion embedded in the regulatory environment. It seems like we're constantly dealing with a system that's needlessly complicated—one that forces us to navigate endless rules, shifting requirements, and inconsistent enforcement. This isn't just frustrating for us as professionals; it also creates unnecessary burdens for the businesses we serve, who are already juggling countless priorities. Far too often, it feels like the system is designed to make things harder, rather than easier, for those who need the most help.
Take sales tax rules, for example. Between the variations from state to state, the shifting guidelines, and unclear enforcement, it's hard to know what's actually required of businesses. And then there's the BOI—the Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirement—a perfect illustration of how complexity and unnecessary rules just keep stacking up. Instead of being able to spend our time streamlining processes and helping businesses focus on their core goals, we're buried in forms, regulations, and compliance checks that don't seem to add any real value.
This is where my ethical concerns start to emerge. It's tempting to see the complexity as an opportunity—an opportunity to make more money or charge more for our services. But that's not why I got into this field. I didn't start my business to take advantage of a broken system. I believe we should be fighting for a system that's simple, fair, and transparent, one that allows us to focus on what really matters: helping businesses grow and thrive.
The more I think about it, the more I feel that we, as professionals, should be advocating for a simpler, more straightforward system. Why should we spend so much time untangling convoluted rules and tax codes when we could be helping our clients make smarter, more impactful decisions? Why waste time on things that don't move the needle on the real work that adds value for our clients, their customers, and society as a whole?
Ultimately, the ethical dilemma lies in this: Should we be leaning into complexity for our own benefit, or should we push for a system that simplifies everything, letting us focus on what truly helps our clients? For me, the answer is clear. We need a tax and regulatory system that doesn't just add more work for us to do, but one that actually makes life easier for businesses—and by extension, for the people who run them, work in them, and benefit from the goods and services they provide.
There's so much more valuable work we could be doing—work that has a real, positive impact on the businesses we serve—than getting bogged down by these confusing rules and regulations. We need to push for change, not just to simplify the system, but to refocus our efforts on work that genuinely makes a difference for people.
In the end, I think we all have a responsibility to advocate for a system that's not just easier to navigate, but also one that's fairer and more transparent. A system that helps businesses focus on their growth, rather than drowning in unnecessary red tape. As a profession, we have the power to help make that happen—and I believe it's a fight worth taking on.
Note: Like many of those on this blog, this post was created with the help of AI, but all ideas, opinions, and insights herein reflect my own personal perspective.
- Sonny