SHARPECPA

Sharpe CPA  /  For CPAs  /  Terms of use and sources

The free tools: terms of use, and where they come from.

Every free tool on this site is built from public standards and regulations. Here is what you agree to when you use one, and the public source behind each.

Use at your own risk.

All of the work a CPA performs is subject to that person’s or firm’s professional judgment. These tools do not make that judgment for you and are not a substitute for it.

Do your own research, and verify that the checklist or protocol you are using is valid and up to date. Standards, regulations and IRS procedures change, and a citation that was right when a page was written may not be right when you read it.

No warranty

The tools, pages, checklists, templates, calculations and downloads are provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including any warranty of accuracy, completeness, currency, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. They may contain errors or omissions.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, James D. Sharpe, CPA and Sharpe CPA will not be liable for any loss or damage of any kind — direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or otherwise, including lost fees, regulatory or peer review findings, penalties, or claims by clients or third parties — arising from the use of, or reliance on, any free tool or its output.

Not professional advice

Nothing on these pages is accounting, auditing, legal or tax advice, and using a tool does not create a professional relationship. The output is a starting point. The CPA or firm that signs a report, issues a financial statement, files a return or represents a taxpayer is solely responsible for it, and for complying with the AICPA, PCAOB, SEC, IRS and state board rules that apply.

Keep it current

Each page cites the paragraphs it was built from. Check those citations against the current text of the FASB Codification, the auditing and review standards, the Internal Revenue Code, the regulations and the Internal Revenue Manual before relying on them. The pages were last reviewed in September 2026.

Your data

The tools run in your browser. Trial balances, bank statements, customer lists and figures you enter are processed on your computer and are not uploaded to this site. Files you download are yours to keep and protect.

Other sites and names

Links go to public sources maintained by others; their content is theirs. FASB, AICPA, PCAOB, SEC and IRS are named only to identify the sources. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.

Public sources

What each tool is built from.

The public source for every free tool. The FASB Codification offers free basic access with registration; the AICPA and PCAOB standards, federal regulations, the Code and the IRS materials are published online.

ToolBuilt fromPublic source
Audit workbook from a trial balanceAudit documentation and sign-offs: AU-C 230 and PCAOB AS 1215.AICPA auditing standards (AU-C) · PCAOB auditing standards
Bank statement workbookReads the statements you provide; audit evidence under AU-C 500 and PCAOB AS 1105.AICPA auditing standards (AU-C) · PCAOB auditing standards
Confirmations and UCC searchesASC 305, 310, 326, 440, 470, 825, 860; AU-C 330, 505; PCAOB AS 2310; UCC §§ 9-301, 9-307, 9-503, 9-506, 9-523.FASB Codification · AICPA auditing standards (AU-C) · PCAOB auditing standards · UCC Article 9
General footnote (Note 1)ASC 235, 275, 855 and the policies cited in the note; AU-C 700, 560, 570; PCAOB AS 2810, 2801, 2415; SAB Topic 11.M; Regulation S-X Rule 4-08.FASB Codification · AICPA auditing standards (AU-C) · PCAOB auditing standards · Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210)
Fuel jobber footnote (Note 1)ASC 606 (including 606-10-32-2A and 606-10-50), 275-10-50-18, 705-20, 410-20, 410-30, 815, 330.FASB Codification
Contractor footnote (Note 1)ASC 606, 605-35, 910, 810-10-45-14, 715-80, 275-10-50-18.FASB Codification
Contracts in progress footnoteASC 606 (25-27, 45-1, 50-8 to 50-13, 55-16 to 55-21), 605-35, 250-10-50-4, 275-10-50-8, 910; AU-C 725; AR-C 90.FASB Codification · AICPA auditing standards (AU-C) · AICPA (SSARS, AR-C)
Leases — ASC 842ASC 842-10-15, 842-10-25, 842-10-55, 842-20-45, 842-20-50, as amended through ASU 2023-01.FASB Codification · FASB Accounting Standards Updates
Income tax footnote — ASC 740ASC 740-10 as amended by ASU 2023-09; the 2025 federal tax legislation enacted July 4, 2025.FASB Codification · FASB Accounting Standards Updates · Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.)
Disclosure checklist — audits and reviewsThe FASB Codification items cited on each line; AU-C 260, 330, 450, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 700, 705; AR-C 90; PCAOB AS 1301, 2410, 2415, 2501, 2801, 2805, 2810, 2815, 3101, 3105, 4105; Regulation S-X.FASB Codification · AICPA auditing standards (AU-C) · AICPA (SSARS, AR-C) · PCAOB auditing standards · Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210)
New and pending standardsFASB Accounting Standards Updates, proposals and technical agenda; AICPA SASs, SSARSs, SQMSs and exposure drafts; PCAOB standards, postponements and projects.FASB Accounting Standards Updates · AICPA (SSARS, AR-C) · PCAOB auditing standards
The IRS manual and Circular 230The Internal Revenue Manual; Treasury Circular 230 (31 CFR Part 10) and the proposed amendments of December 26, 2024.Internal Revenue Manual · Circular 230 · 31 CFR Part 10 · Federal Register (Circular 230 proposal)
Penalty abatementIRM 20.1.1; IRS guidance on First Time Abate and the Automatic Exemption from Penalty; IRC 6404, 6511, 6651, 6656, 7502, 7508A.IRM 20.1.1 · IRS First Time Abate / AEP page · Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.)
What a letter from the IRS meansIRS notice and letter pages; Publication 594; IRC 6203, 6213, 6303, 6320, 6330, 6331, 6502, 6672, 7345; IRS Document 6209.IRS notice pages · Publication 594 · Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.)