Taxpayers are baring all in Norway. The country’s internal revenue authority has released details of most individuals’ tax records that reveal not just their annual income but even — gasp! — their overall wealth. Some are calling it “tax porno.” (No, not “porno tax” … though, come to think of it, that might not be such a bad idea.) more

Microsoft has introduced Windows 7, its long-awaited upgrades to Windows Vista. Microsoft’s announcement is here. If your organization runs Windows, you probably have a decision to make: upgrade to Windows 7, remain using what you have, or do something completely different.

IT industry research group Information Technology Intelligence Corp. (ITIC), in conjunction with Sunbelt Software, surveyed more than 1,600 companies worldwide about plans regarding Windows 7. It found that 60 percent of survey respondents indicated they will migrate to Windows 7. Of this group, 49 percent indicated their organizations will upgrade to Windows 7 within the first year; another 11 percent say they’ll convert their desktops “as soon as the first service pack ships” and they are assured any bugs are worked out.

There is no big rush to adopt Win 7. If you are running really old versions of Windows, pre-Windows XP, then you probably should do something sooner rather than later. Otherwise, take time to consider your options. There are several. more

What goes into measure selection and design? How do you know you have the right measures? Have you considered the law of unintended consequences? So often I receive calls from companies that started with a viable strategy only to have the measure drive the wrong results. How does this happen? Maybe we call this segment “When bad things happen to good strategies”? more

While CFOs may be skeptical of pronouncements that the recession is over (see this blog post), small and midsize business owners around the world appear to glimpse some light at the end of the tunnel, particularly when it comes to global trade. On average, the 3,500 respondents to a recent HSBC survey put their confidence at 110, on a scale of 0 to 200, with 100 being neutral. While that might be just barely positive, it’s positive nonetheless. more

Corporate board members may be up to their ears in a zillion pressing business issues competing for their limited time and attention, but that’s no excuse for taking their eyes off the tax-risk ball, according to IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. In remarks to the National Association of Corporate Directors on Monday, Shulman pointed out what few finance execs will need reminding of — that tax strategies are a significant source of financial and restatement risk, not to mention reputational exposure. “In today’s business climate, the general public has little tolerance for overly aggressive tax planning that can be viewed as corporations playing tax games,” he added. more