CPE Catalog & Events

Review real-world examples of fraud schemes perpetrated against governments and not-for-profits, including misappropriations of cash, grant frauds, vendor frauds, inventory thefts and payroll frauds Understand and recognize fraud risk and fraud indicators Consider types of fraud prevention programs

How is fraud detected The role of external auditors in finding fraud Revenue recognition issues Corrupt management Data mining Physical and biometric controls

Overview of the four loss limitation rules and how the PAL rules interact with the other limitations Definition of a PAL including a detailed review of the 7 determining factors contained in the Treasury Regulations with a review of several recent court decisions that interpret this regulation Impact of PAL rules on real estate ownership Learn the six Nonshelterable Passive Activity (NOPA) rules that act as anti-abuse rules to the PAL rules Discuss how the PAL rules impact tax credits Discuss tax elections and planning techniques associated with PALs

Review the Basic Concept of Fiduciary Duty Review the Basic Concept of Fiduciary Accounting Use of a Diagram to Distinguish Income and Principal Calculating Fiduciary Accounting Income Requirements of a Simple Trust Problem Example Spreadsheets Reflecting Fiduciary Accounting and Taxation of Simple Trusts as well as how Depreciation is Handled by a Fiduciary Entity Problem Examples Reflecting a Completed Form 1041 using Spreadsheet Calculations for Fiduciary Accounting and Taxation of Simple Trusts

The causes of burnout in the accounting profession Effects of burnout on employee well-being Strategies to protect employee well-being in a highly demanding profession Organizational costs associated with employee burnout Tools used to measure employee well-being

Automatic enrollment requirements for 401(k) plans Change in the credit for small employer pension plan startup costs $2,000 saver’s match Changes in pooled employer plans Multiple employer 403(b) plans Increase in age for required beginning date for mandatory distributions Indexing IRA catch-up limit Higher catch-up limit to apply at age 60, 61, 62, and 63 Treatment of student loan payments as elective deferrals for purposes of matching contributions Application of credit for small employer pension startup costs to employers who join an existing plan Small immediate financial incentives for contributing to a plan Withdrawals for certain emergency expenses Starter 401(k) plans for employers with no retirement plans Improving coverage for part-time workers Recovery of retirement plan overpayments Tax treatment of IRAs involved in a prohibited transaction Clarification of substantially equal periodic payment rule

Calculating the home office deduction Actual expense method Simplified expense method Definition of a home for purposes of the home office deduction Whether working-from-home employees can claim a home office deduction What is a “separate, identifiable space?” The “regularly and exclusively used” rule Defining a “principal place of business” Meeting clients, patients, and customers More than one trade or business Special rules that apply to daycare providers Separate, free-standing structures Depreciating the home

Learn the power of flexibility and adaptability Manage daily changes and stressors Avoid burnout and achieve work-life balance

Final Circular 230 rules for CPAs who prepare returns or provide tax opinions. State law governing the practice of accounting. State Board of Accountancy rules. AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services. Preparer penalties. Professional liability in tax practice. Current practice and ethics issues.

Contract principles Legal issues related to various types of business organizations Worker classification Employee rights and the duties of employers Real property law

The key requirements and audit areas that peer reviewers hone in on when reviewing Yellow Book and single audit engagements Avoiding common pitfalls seen in Yellow Book and single audits How to improve your performance on Yellow Book and single audits while staying in good graces with your peer reviewer

An emphasis on newly enacted tax legislation affecting IRAs., including the NEW final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations Contribution limits to and tax treatment of distributions from Traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Deductible phase-out limits for Traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers who are active participants in qualified retirement plans Roth IRA contribution phase-out limits, as well as tax-free qualified distributions Planning opportunities for conversions to ROTH IRAs Rollover rules to/from different retirement accounts and the one-rollover-per-year limitation The different options of receiving IRA distributions before age 59 « and avoiding the 10% early distribution penalty (including substantially equal periodic payments) The required minimum distribution (RMD) rules from IRAs needed to avoid the 50% penalty after the account owner turns age 72 or dies The tax ramifications of spouse and non-spouse beneficiaries and how this affects the RMD calculation after the account owner's death Overview of health savings account (HSA) eligibility rules, contribution limits and distribution rules

Legislative developments A full chapter devoted to determining the best planning options for maximizing joint Social Security benefits Retirement benefits: Amount of benefits in various circumstances; how the amounts are distributed within the family unit Qualification: Has the client retired? How business entities may be used for Social Security advantage Income taxation of Social Security: avoidance tactics Spousal benefits: Should a spouse return to work? What benefits does a spouse have and when and how do they relate to benefits decisions by the client? When can hiring the spouse increase overall benefits?  Why should both spouses qualify for survivor benefits? Disability benefits When to start Social Security benefits: Advantages and disadvantages at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70 Coordinating benefits: Should you take Social Security first and higher-balance IRA distributions later, or take IRA balances first and enhanced Social Security benefits later? Pensions: Distribution strategies; how to use the minimum distribution rules in concert with Social Security benefits IRAs: Is it time to convert to a Roth? Medicare, Part D prescription drugs: what retirees need to know

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?

Understanding the time commitment required to start and run a business Selecting a corporate structure to protect your personal assets Building your product or service Sales and marketing in your business Establishing your owners, investors, managers, and employees Accounting, recording-keeping, and other software programs Leases, contracts, and employee agreements Protecting intellectual property Insurance Business plans Financing Market position

Active and passive investing Dividend-paying stocks, value stocks and the net investment income tax Favorable capital gain strategies and the netting process Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stock options and straddles

An emphasis on newly enacted tax legislation affecting IRAs., including the NEW final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations Contribution limits to and tax treatment of distributions from Traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Deductible phase-out limits for Traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers who are active participants in qualified retirement plans Roth IRA contribution phase-out limits, as well as tax-free qualified distributions Planning opportunities for conversions to ROTH IRAs Rollover rules to/from different retirement accounts and the one-rollover-per-year limitation The different options of receiving IRA distributions before age 59 « and avoiding the 10% early distribution penalty (including substantially equal periodic payments) The required minimum distribution (RMD) rules from IRAs needed to avoid the 50% penalty after the account owner turns age 72 or dies The tax ramifications of spouse and non-spouse beneficiaries and how this affects the RMD calculation after the account owner's death Overview of health savings account (HSA) eligibility rules, contribution limits and distribution rules

Final Rule - Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the FLSA: the multifactor “economic reality” test; What analysis guides whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under this final rule? Can a worker voluntarily waive employee status and choose to be classified as an independent contractor? Are any of the economic reality factors adopted in this rule more important than others when evaluating a worker’s employment status? How does the final rule explain “extent to which the work performed is an integral part of the employer’s business?” The Federal Trade Commission’s Decision on Non-compete Agreements: impact on new and existing non-competes; treatment and definitional terms for senior executives; definition of a non-compete clause; definition of a “worker” New Overtime Rules: exemptions from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and computer employees; increases in the standard level and the highly compensated employee total annual compensation threshold; new mechanism allowing for the timely and efficient updating of the salary and compensation thresholds

Nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) Nonqualified stock options (NQSOs) Incentive stock options (ISOs) Restricted stock/restricted stock units (RSUs) Stock appreciation rights (SARs) and phantom stock Employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) Applicable tax forms and schedules Stock sale reporting Estimated taxes Filing deadlines and extensions State taxation

Key concepts of trusts, including recent trends; best practices; jurisdiction; and ways to avoid pitfalls Decanting Federal estate tax exemption and remaining relevance of trusts Irrevocable life insurance trusts The role of family dynamics Choice of trustee and other fiduciaries State trust-friendly considerations Charitable trusts Delaware Statutory Trusts Powers of attorney  Pet Trusts – the emerging necessities State, county, and local issues Portability QTIP issues Creditor considerations Potential IRA problems Problems with re-titling assets