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

Advantages and disadvantages to buyer and seller of an asset acquisition and a stock acquisition Tax treatment of consulting agreements and covenants not to compete Sale of personal goodwill associated with an asset acquisition Tax consequences associated with a stock acquisition and an asset acquisition Acquisitive reorganizations Non-tax issues that must be considered when a corporation is acquired

Disclosure - Overview Disclosure - Expense Disaggregation Implementation Guidance

Active versus passive investing Taxable, tax-exempt, and deferred-tax bonds and the net investment income tax The tax treatment of bonds purchased at a discount or premium Bond swap and U.S. Savings Bond strategies

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

Recently issued FASB Accounting Standards Updates, including those that will become effective during audit engagements conducted in 2024 Recently issued Statements on Auditing Standards and other AICPA activity Recently issued Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services

Broadly applicable ASU effective in 2024 and beyond Significant recent SAS Tax-basis financial statements Statements on Quality Management Standards

Intestate succession and probate administration Holding title to assets Lifetime asset transfers and testamentary asset transfer planning Structures to avoid or minimize transfer taxes Living trusts, including A-B and A-B-C, life insurance trusts, terminating irrevocable trusts, use of trust protectors, trust administration during incapacity and post-mortem

Review of recent federal legislation and administrative rulings Review of recent modifications to tax forms Review of small business tax law and administrative update changes Review of retirement plan changes Overall review of tax practice and procedures

Congressional Budget Reconciliation Process - explore how this powerful legislative tool allows Congress to fast track tax law changes and how it could be used to enact significant tax reforms in the current political climate President Trump's tax proposals - review key components of President Trump's tax agenda, including a tip income exemption, overtime pay relief, Social Security tax exemption, auto loan interest deductibility, SALT deduction modifications, a lower corporate tax rate, restoration of 100% bonus depreciation, immediate R&D expensing, and permanent extension of select TCJA provisions Potential expiration of select TCJA provisions - understand the implications for taxpayers as key provisions of the TCJA approach sunset dates Tariff policy and implementation - analyze the use of tariffs as a fiscal and trade policy tool Principles and considerations for nonresident withholding, composite payments, and passthrough entity taxes Partnership Distributions, Form 7217, and S Corporation Redemptions Thinking beyond §163(j) -- Interest Allocation Rules, Original Issue Discount, Applicable High Yield Discount Obligations, Convertible Corporate Debt Instruments, and Debt-Financed Distributions 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 -- guidance under Notice 2023-63 and Notice 2024-12 Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)

Section 1402(a)(1) exclusions from the definition of self-employment income Application of the SE tax to members of limited liability companies Taking a self-employed owner's health insurance deductions against self-employment tax How using the S corporation and the MMLLC treated as a partnership can help reduce an individual's exposure to self-employment tax How hiring a spouse and/or child helps reduce self-employment tax Differentiating between income treated as self- employment income and income that is not self-employment income

Relevant sections of SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services – 2018 SSARS No. 26, Quality Management for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services Proposed changes to the SSARS guidance Comprehensive sample engagement work programs for preparation and compilation engagements Prescribed form, specified line item, pro forma, and other engagement variations Complete illustrations of relevant engagement letters, reporting and other required communications for preparation and compilation engagements

The communication process and barriers that get in the way Techniques for overcoming barriers Understanding and self-assessment of each component of the communication process Gaining skills to listen more effectively, especially in stressful situations with heightened emotions Action plan to apply techniques in the workplace for communication success

Changes to the lifetime estate tax exemption in light of proposed regulations SECURE 2.0 updates More than 20 documents that should be reviewed that are neither a will nor trust Provisions you need in a will Trusts and other arrangements for children Durable powers of attorney for healthcare and for financial matters Realistic retirement goals Developments relative to estate tax, and the implications for planning

-Review of ethics standards, both extant and proposed, for Arizona CPAs including the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and the Arizona Accountancy Statutes and Administrative Code. - Review recent updates to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and Arizona Accountancy laws. - Provide practical examples of best practices in applying the laws pertaining to Professional Ethics. - Identify the latest ethics guidance to illustrate "hot topics" in professional ethics.

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

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

Review of recent federal legislation and administrative rulings Review of recent modifications to tax forms Review of small business tax law and administrative update changes Review of retirement plan changes Overall review of tax practice and procedures

Financial statements, disclosures and presentations Review of two Annual Financial Reports (IFRS and U.S. GAAP)

The downside of traditional retirement asset accumulation strategies Threats to a successful retirement Holistic retirement planning: how personal goals integrate with tax, estate, risk and investment management principles Matching investment assets with the appropriate retirement plan and distribution strategy Review the provisions of the SECURE Acts and how they will impact retirement planning