CPE Catalog & Events

Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Applicable coverage of any basis considerations within any recent tax legislation   Passthrough basis calculations required as attachments to certain individual returns  Executor’s form for disclosing basis in certain distributed property; what about the basis of a property distribution from a trust?  How §179 limitations affect basis and how tax-benefit rule is applied  Basis implications of personal assets converted to business use  How to calculate basis of inherited qualified and joint tenancy property  Tax basis capital account reporting requirements  S corporations: Beware of final IRS regulations regarding “open debt”; determine how to calculate basis; worksheets are included; understand the effect of stock basis and debt basis and IRS’s recent focus on “at-risk basis” for shareholders; recognize how AAA applies or doesn’t apply to S corporations; learn to apply the complex basis ordering rules and special elections that can have a big tax result; discuss loss limitation rules in depth; when you can have a taxable dividend in an S corporation; understand distributions of cash and property; understand the post-termination transition rules, and temporary post-termination rules for eligible corporations, which will be important for S corps returning to C corps  LLCs and partnerships: Learn the detailed rules of §704 for preventing the shifting of tax consequences among partners or members; learn to calculate basis under §704 & for “at-risk” under §465; recognize how recourse, nonrecourse, and qualified nonrecourse debt can create significantly different tax results; learn the difference between basis and “at-risk basis”; review §754 step-up in basis rules; the economic effect equivalence test or “dumb-but-lucky” rule; learn to apply the complex rules of distribution of cash vs. property, and the basis treatment of charitable contributions and foreign taxes paid 

Preparing to write: what is my purpose and objective and who is my audience When email is the appropriate communication methodology and when it’s not Common email mistakes and how to avoid them Proven techniques for writing more efficient, readable, and outcome-focused emails

Overview of estate planning The dangers of a Power of Attorney The most important aspect of a will Role, scope, rights, and responsibilities of an executor Benefits of incorporating a trust Bequests Caring for a pet Claims against the estate Insurance Consequences of poor estate planning

Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Tax consequences of retiring partners seeking liquidating distributions/redemptions and S corporation shareholders seeking the redemption of their shares At-risk and passive activity loss considerations Basis planning Related party transactions: making them work Income splitting and shifting with family can create considerable benefits Sale of ownership interest and NIIT considerations

The implementation of GASB No. 101 on compensated absences The 2025 application of GASB No. 102 regarding certain risk disclosures GASB No. 103 addressing improvements to the financial reporting model Additional recently issued GASB standards and projects

Managing client expectations How automation improves client engagement Understanding the role of feedback systems Seeking referrals Building client loyalty Customer retention marketing Expanding services offered to clients Knowing when it is appropriate to enter new markets

How to determine when an individual is subject to an RMD Coverage of RMD changes under SECURE Act 2.0 What is the required minimum distribution for an account owner? What is the required minimum distribution for a beneficiary IRA? Key explanations of RMD regulations The types of accounts that are subject to the RMD rules The parties that are subject to the RMD rules Exceptions and special considerations for RMDs Rollover and transfer rules in an RMD year The various responsibilities of interested parties Qualified charitable distributions and how they are coordinated with RMDs and IRA contributions How the 10-year rule works for beneficiaries

The keys that develop a plan into an actionable document The major difference between planning and budgeting Strategic planning The business plan The people plan The marketing plan Capital and technology plans

Key issues related to not-for-profit financial reporting (e.g., presenting a measure of operations, various disclosures, concentrations of risk, and etc.) Key challenges encountered in not-for-profit accounting (e.g., contributed services, restricted contributions, conditional contributions, membership dues, noncash contributions, and etc.)   Additional issues in not-for-profit financial reporting

An overview of control frameworks and concepts Strategy considerations that can be incorporated into control development Understanding and controlling risk that arises when organizations change or choose not to

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

S corporation earnings layers Observations on earnings layers S corporation basis calculation IRC 351 transactions Four loss tiers Appreciated property distributions

Eligibility for Medicare How to apply for  Medicare Introduction to Parts A, B, C, and D of Medicare Payments for Parts B and D of Medicare: the higher costs imposed on higher income beneficiaries Late enrollment penalties Medicare Advantage in lieu of original Medicare The Affordable Care Act’s impact on Medicare Legislative and regulatory developments

The fraud landscape in the United States Fraud risk procedures as updated by recently issued standards Most likely fraud types found in small to mid-sized entities Internal controls to prevent and detect fraud What to do when fraud is identified or suspected Case studies based on recent frauds Cyber fraud schemes and how to prevent and detect them Analytics that can be used as fraud risk procedures Assessing the risk of grant fraud in a Single Audit

An overview of control frameworks and concepts Strategy considerations that can be incorporated into control development Understanding and controlling risk that arises when organizations change or choose not to

Common risks and pitfalls associated with defined contribution plans Nuances of the fair value disclosures New reporting and disclosure requirements for the current year Results of DOL Audit Quality Study

Considerations for a small business owner Self-employment taxes Guaranteed payments to partners QBI deductions: Section 199A Built-in gains tax: S corporations Excess passive income tax: S corporations PTE elections: S corporations and partnerships Taxation of fringe benefits: S corporations Double taxation of C corporation dividends Taxation of limited liability companies Which entity to choose?

The essential internal control concepts applied in a single audit How the auditor obtains an understanding of controls over compliance and then tests the effectiveness of those controls in a single audit How the auditor plans and performs tests of compliance in a single audit The identification and reporting of control and compliance findings

Criteria that the IRS uses to select returns for examination Substantiation requirements for travel, charitable contributions, vehicles, meals, virtual currency considerations and tax-related identity theft Understanding worker classification determinations on who is an employee and who is an independent contractor Distinguishing S corporation officer’s reasonable compensation issues How the IRS holds persons other than an employer liable for unpaid payroll taxes, a.k.a., the trust fund recovery penalty Tax-related identity theft procedures

Each week’s topics will change based on the most critical issues affecting financial professionals