CPE Catalog & Events

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!

The federal transfer tax exemption  What constitutes a valid will Common trust vehicles often used to safeguard assets Consequences of intestacy How to transfer property outside of a will Legal treatment of marital property Transfer of IRAs and retirement plans Probate generally and probate for property held outside of the state of decedent’s residence When an estate tax return should be filed Portability of the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion (DSUE) amount

Key requirements, options, and disclosures related to each of the basic financial statements The reporting of functional and natural expense information Core not-for-profit accounting requirements related to conditional and unconditional contributions, promises to give, restrictions, designations, contributed services, net assets, special events, the classification of expenses, and more

Bonus depreciation and §179 changes under the OBBBA Schedules K-2 and K-3 and filing exceptions Form 7203  IRS Tax Pro Account  IRS modernization initiatives Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) Identity Theft warnings   IRS guidance for the marijuana industry  “Recycled” Form 1099-NEC to report nonemployee compensation  Form 1065 steps for reporting capital  Centralized audit regime; late filing penalties and small partnership relief  “Substance over Form” argument of shareholder loans  Advanced study of “At-Risk” loans  Employer W-2 correction requests  Don't get caught watching the paint dry -- What is hot and new  What is terminating S corporations today?  Special allocation issues of §704  Final regulations for allocating depreciation recapture to partners and members of LLCs 

The 50% deduction for meals that are ordinary and necessary in carrying on a trade or business Elimination of the temporary rules that applied for 2021 and 2022 which allowed for 100% deductibility for ordinary and necessary business-related meals When meals are still 100% deductible IRS rules relating to the nondeducibility of activities considered entertainment or amusement What constitutes entertainment/amusement for tax purposes? When employers may deduct food and beverages provided to employees 50% deductibility for occasional employee meals and for overtime meals 50% deductibility for business meals during business meetings Business meals incurred during business travel Invoice meals separately from entertainment

Form W-4 Form I-9 Form W-9 End-of-year compliance Payroll tax returns Unemployment insurance

Funding options for Roth accounts Roth IRA contribution eligibility and income limits Enhanced catch-up contributions and age-based limits The Roth catch-up mandate for employer plans Roth 401(k) contribution rules, including catch-ups Roth SEP and Roth SIMPLE IRAs 529 plan rollovers to Roth IRAs Backdoor Roth strategies and pro-rata considerations The tax impact of rolling a 401(k) to a Roth IRA Who can start the Roth IRA 5-year clock? The 5-year rules for Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s Direct and indirect Roth conversions Direct and indirect rollovers from Roth 401(k) plans Ordering rules for Roth IRA distributions FIFO treatment and when it applies The risk of recapturing the 10% early distribution penalty Case studies and practical cheat sheets to reinforce key concepts

Eligibility rules for retirement, spousal, divorced spouse, survivor, and family benefits Understanding the new age of deemed filing How dual entitlement is calculated and how it affects benefit outcomes Key factors in deciding when to claim Social Security benefits Coordinating work and benefits, including the earnings test and its effect on income Managing Social Security to maximize after-tax cash flow, avoid higher Medicare premiums, and protect the survivor Updates related to recent legislation, including the SSFA and the OBBBA

Comprehensive coverage of the One Big Beautiful Tax Bill Act Reading a tax return for developing client-specific tax strategies Changes to the lifetime estate tax exemption considering proposed regulations  The net investment income tax: planning for compliance Family income-splitting strategies that need to be considered Income tax issues: impact on timing of other income Selling a principal residence Two principal residences at the same time Use of life insurance to protect families: Whole Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance, Universal Life Insurance, and Variable Life Insurance Using Roth IRAs and Roth contribution programs to best advantage Conversions: do they still make sense? Taking distributions: matching timing to client requirements Qualified plan contributions to reduce current income and Social Security tax: implications for business owners and self-employed Social Security - the latest on the looming solvency crisis Incentive Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan considerations What to do about itemized deductions Trans-generational planning: conversions, income, and gain-splitting Tax benefits of HSAs and other tax-advantaged accounts Identifying tax opportunities: reviewing the prior-year return to develop a plan for the future Planning for middle-income taxpayers: financial planning for the young, the working, and those approaching or in retirement Best financial planning ideas for young people

Overview of controls Preventative controls Detective controls Controls for SMEs

A case study approach to financial statement fraud Cases on misrepresentation of assets, including cash, inventory, accounts receivable, fixed assets, goodwill and reserves Common methods of deceiving users of financial statements Red-flags in fraud

Developments in hardware and software

Why do most strategic plans fail" Why so many formerly strong organizations have failed Why most organizations have a poor strategic plan and how to correct this The many risks that must be addressed: Financial risk, execution risk, commercial, business, and strategic risks as well as commonly overlooked risks How Behavioral Economics will help address the risk

Payroll tax requirements for wages, including wages subject to the .9 percent tax, employee benefits and reimbursements, nonqualified deferred compensation, stock options, and tips Fringe benefits issues, such as health insurance, life insurance, cafeteria plan benefits, accountable and non-accountable plans, standard mileage rates, and per diem rates Special issues -- Using a common paymaster, how to file W-2s after a takeover, merger, or acquisition, and state and local tax withholding Statutory employees, independent contractors, and possible changes to §530 relief Penalties -- Who is a responsible person? Expenses and gross-up calculations Pension issues and payroll taxes including SIMPLE plans, and §401(k) and pension distributions The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) Forms I-9, W-9, W-2, 1099, 1099-NEC, SS-8, and 940 Understanding payroll tax responsibilities in the gig economy

Guidance, related to "plain vanilla" interest rate swaps that convert variable into fixed rate debt and other derivatives Guidance related to amortization and impairment of goodwill Guidance related to separately recognizing intangible assets from goodwill in a business combination Guidance related to lease accounting and revenue recognition options

Recent tax legislation, rulings and developments impacting individual taxpayers Credits (child, dependent care, earned income, health) Key rulings and regulations affecting individual taxpayers, including the Section 199A deduction, capital gains and losses, rental real estate and other passive activities losses, and other topics

COSO 2013 Update Yellowbook Accounting

Update on significant business tax developments related to cases and rulings Business provisions of any recent legislation impacting business entities Depreciation changes in Sec. 179 and Sec. 168(k) bonus depreciation Recent developments impacting partnership and S corporations, including any changes to Forms 1065 and 1120S

Financial planning pyramid What to consider when picking an entity Single member LLC vs. sole proprietorship Corporations – S vs. C Double taxation