CPE Catalog & Events

When is the auditor required to follow the Yellow Book (aka Government Auditing Standards or GAGAS)? How the Yellow Book requirements relate to generally accepted auditing standards and the single audit requirements The different types of Yellow Book audit and attestation engagements that auditors may be called upon to perform The Yellow Book standards related to the qualifications of the auditor (i.e., requirements related to independence, CPE, peer review, and more) The Yellow Book requirements related to the performance of and reporting on a financial audit The Yellow Book requirements related to attestation engagements (i.e., examinations, reviews, and agreed-upon procedures engagements) and performance audits

Proper planning of benefit plan audit engagements and developing audit strategy while improving overall efficiency Common pitfalls in planning and detailed audit procedures Changes affecting 401(k) plans, including recently issued SASs Common mistakes as noted in peer reviews and DOL inspections

Classifying receipts between “income” and “corpus” under the Uniform Principal and Income Act Calculation of DNI utilizing three different methods, a “forms” method (Schedule B), a “code” method, and a “shortcut” method, utilizing a worksheet of common income and expenses Proper W-2 preparation and procedures in the year of death Taxpayer passes before taking a required minimum distribution; what must be done?  Forgetful fiduciaries of simple trusts Fluctuating trusts – Simple one year, complex the next Dividing income in the year of death Overview of Subchapter J Form preparation issues – Filing requirements and line-by-line explanations of Form 1041 Taxable income of estates and trusts and expense allocation issues Specific deductions and miscellaneous itemized deductions Income in respect of a decedent The income distribution deduction calculation Relation of principal and income law to DNI Understanding how to handle capital gains and losses Allocating tax items to beneficiaries: another K-1 Other considerations: excess deductions on termination Comprehensive DNI case study, with principal (cost and FMV) and income reconciliation Comprehensive trust and estate case studies, with filled-in forms

Using lookup functions as an alternative to direct cell references Understand the limitations of the VLOOKUP function Discover ways to move beyond these limitations

Employment at will — what this means in a practical sense Implied employment contracts What a prospective employer can ask about, and test for, during employment interviews Federal anti-discrimination rules applicable to hiring and firing How to discipline or fire an employee and not get sued FMLA/ADA/PWFA — Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act Constructive discharge — what is it and how it affects your business?

How to Identify a Complex Trust and the Complications that Arise with Complex Trusts The Importance of Recognizing the Tier System used by Complex Trusts The Advantages and Requirements of the 65-day Rule Special Issues Related to the Charitable Contribution Deduction Use of a Checklist for Complex Trusts

SAS 136 audit requirements for ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audits Update of the changes affecting 401k plans Compliance issues commonly encountered in 401k plan audits Best practices for engagement planning, internal controls, risk assessment and detailed testing Common audit reporting and disclosure issues

SSARS Codification requirements SSARS engagements: preparation of financial statements, compilation of financial statements and proforma financial information Review of financial statements Overview coverage of the amendments to the SSARS contained in SSARS 26

Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act, including: The Clean Vehicle Credit, Credit for Previously Owned Clean Vehicles, Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles, Residential Clean Energy Credit, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, Premium Tax Credit, Elective Payment, Transferability, and Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE 2.0 Act, including: Expanding Enrollment in Retirement Plans, Increase in Age for Required Beginning Date for Mandatory Distributions, New Exceptions to Penalty-Free Withdrawal from Retirement Plans, and recent IRS guidance Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Detailed analysis and examples of Sale of Passthrough Entity Interest and Net Investment Income Tax The Gig Economy -- Tax implications, Independent Contractor vs. Employee Classification, and the 2024 DOL Final Rule Real Estate professional requirements Review of pertinent cases and rulings affecting taxpayers Practice aids, including all the numbers applicable for the current year -- inflation-adjusted amounts, mileage rates, retirement contributions, and more Advanced practice, reporting, and other issues intertwined with advanced planning and discussion ideas

Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act, including: The Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, The Clean Vehicle Credit, Credit for Previously Owned Clean Vehicles, Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles, §45L New Energy Efficient Home Credit, Elective Payment, Transferability, and Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements Principles and considerations for nonresident withholding, composite payments, and passthrough entity taxes Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE 2.0 Act with a focus on provisions applicable to employers Thinking beyond §163(j) -- Interest Allocation Rules, Original Issue Discount, Applicable High Yield Discount Obligations, Convertible Corporate Debt Instruments, and Debt-Financed Distributions  Retirements and redemptions: considerations for partnerships and S corporations Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Selected Practice and Reporting Issues: What’s new? A review of recent cases and tax law changes and IRS guidance affecting S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships Form 1099-K reporting requirements Bonus depreciation  Section 174 Research & Experimental Expenditures -- new guidance under Notice 2023-63 and Notice 2024-12 FinCEN reporting requirements  A review of like-kind exchange transactions under §1031

Uses of a Quality of Earnings Report Information needed to prepare the report Overlapping enterprise valuation concepts Various adjustments to "as reported" EBITDA

Calculating DNI & the Distribution Deduction Determining Types of Distributions and Whether a Distribution "Carries Out" DNI In-Kind Distributions & the Impact on the Distribution Deduction Depreciation and the Distribution of In-Kind Property Distributions that Result in "Kenan Gain" Funding a Pecuniary Bequest with Depreciated Property IRC Sec. 643(e)

Definition of a digital asset for purposes of Form 1099-DA What is a sale of a digital asset affected by a broker on behalf of another person? Mandatory 2025 reporting of gross proceeds information and voluntary reporting of basis information Treatment of sales of digital assets Who is a broker for purposes of Form 1099-DA? Information required to complete Form 1099-DA Reporting closing transactions and covered securities Who is a processor of digital asset payments? How many transactions to report on each Form 1099-DA and how many forms to file for each transaction Optional reporting methods for digital asset transactions Substitute statements for the Form 1099 Reporting a disposition of digital assets held by a widely held fixed investment trust

Rethinking Risk Management: Historic view Challenges Rules Recent lessons Required skills Sources of Risk: Economy Competitors Operations Investments Strategy Compensation Routine practices Unethical behavior. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): Defining ERM Areas of focus Implementation Planning for disasters Business continuity Contingencies Analytical Tools: Post-completion evaluations Simulation Z-score Hedging Brainstorming Mind mapping Delphi technique

Explore PivotTable capabilities and functionality Retrieve data from a database and feed it into the PivotTable Pull web tables from web pages into Excel

The new Roth SEP IRAs and Roth SIMPLE IRAs created under SECURE Act 2.0 Key factors for choosing a retirement plan for a small business Key questions an advisor must ask a small business owner to help determine which retirement plan is suitable for their business Key questions an advisor must ask a small business owner to help ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations How SEP and SIMPLE IRAs benefit the small business owner How SEP and SIMPLE IRAs benefit employees of small businesses The tax benefits that help to offset the cost of employer contributions How to determine which business is eligible to adopt a SIMPLE IRA or SEP IRA How to determine which employees must be covered

Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and SECURE Act 2.0  A tour of the most recent changes starting from gross income and ending with alternative minimum tax (AMT) and selected credits including the latest IRS guidance on recent tax legislation Hot developments affecting the upcoming tax season Review of new laws and changes in old forms to provide a familiarity for the upcoming tax season Key new tax and practice developments and how they impact the current-year tax forms for individuals

Why the IRS selects a tax return for audit What happens when the taxpayer disagrees with the results of the audit IRS employees who interact with taxpayers during an audit FATCA audits Types of IRS examinations Potential IRS audit outcomes Substitute for returns Large Partnership Compliance Program IRS’s shift in audit strategies Responding to IRS Notices online Audits of high income and high net-worth individuals The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) and its impact on auditing partnerships IRS Letters of Concern

The evolving landscape of client expectations in the accounting profession Building strong and lasting client relationships through effective communication, empathy, and proactive service Implementing efficient client onboarding and engagement processes Leveraging technology to streamline communication, enhance collaboration, and deliver personalized service Effectively resolving client concerns and complaints Utilizing client feedback to continually improve your practice

Will Social Security be there for me? How is my benefit calculated? Can I claim my benefit and work too? When do I stop paying Social Security taxes? Why does my government pension cause my benefits to be reduced? Can I claim spousal benefits now and my own later? What is my breakeven? Can I claim benefits from my ex-spouse? What do you mean I may pay taxes on my income benefits? … and more!