CPE Catalog & Events

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. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions  SSARS No. 26, Quality Management for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation and review engagements Reporting and disclosure illustrations for each level of service, including attesting on personal financial statements, prescribed form, special purpose framework and other engagement variations Other communication requirements, such as sample engagement letters and management representation letters

Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE Act 2.0 Understanding the environment: what’s new, what’s expired or expiring, and what’s likely to change Reading a tax return for developing client-specific tax strategies Changes to the lifetime estate tax exemption in light of 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 solvency issues 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

Preparation of a reasonably complicated Form 1120, “U.S. Corporate Income Tax Return,” from trial balance to completed return The importance of Schedule M-1, including adjustments in reconciling book income to tax income and items staff may look for on all business returns New tax-planning strategies for depreciation deductions, including changes to §179 and first-year depreciation under §168(k) as a result of new tax legislation Methods of accounting In-depth analysis of Form 4797 dealing with depreciation recapture Deductible expenses, including rules on meals and entertainment Section 163(j) Computation of tax liability Overview of common business deductions – deductibility and Schedule M-1 How to practically handle uniform capitalization and inventory accounting for a small manufacturing concern And more!

Compare and contrast the tax consequences, opportunities, and pitfalls of operating a business as a partnership, LLC, or S corporation  Reporting requirements and filing exceptions for Schedules K-2 and K-3  Form 7203, S Corporation Shareholder Stock and Debt Basis Limitations  Gain a comprehensive understanding of income tax laws for S corporations from eligibility and election to tax return preparation, stock basis, and loss limitation issues  Recognize and properly handle special pass-through items of income and expense  Accurately prepare S corporation returns and reconcile book income to taxable income  Accurately prepare partnership returns and reconcile book income to taxable income  What the transactional method entails and how to report partners’ capital accounts under this method  Properly handle the tax treatment of distributions to shareholders, partners, or members  Understand the special restrictions and sanctions for tax year-end selection  Review the basics of partnership and LLC formation and basis calculation  Self-employment tax or NOT, for each entity  Filling in K-1s correctly for S corporations, partnerships, and LLCs. Major changes in K-1 reporting on both partnership and S corporation forms and content  The most frequently used forms and schedules, including some form “oddities” 

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Discuss the impact of the Section 199A flow-through entities deduction on partnerships and their partnersThe meaning of a "tax basis capital account"How the financial accounting and tax capital accounts differ from one anotherDetermine a partner's share of the partnership's liabilitiesDistinguish "recourse" loans from "nonrecourse" loansWhat are "qualified nonrecourse financing" loans and how they affect partnersSection 704 "built-in gain or loss" rules and how they impact Schedule K-1 reportingSection 4655 "at risk" rules and how they impact Schedule K-1 reporting

General rules relating to the sale of a residence under § 121 Sale of a taxpayer’s main home Qualifying for a partial exclusion of gain on the sale of a home How a taxpayer meets the residence requirement Meeting the look-back requirement Separated, divorced, and widowed taxpayers Work-related moves and unforeseeable events Inherited homes and homes received in a divorce Impact of business or rental use of home on the gain exclusion Reporting gain or loss on the sale of a home

The major subjects that will be covered in this course include:Identify time wasters and adopt strategies for eliminating themRecognize the variety of causes of procrastination and apply techniques to overcome themUse practical techniques for prioritizing workDelegation strategiesIncorporate wellness and stress management into your day in short incrementsUnderstand their energy cycles and use it to manage your scheduleLearn techniques to decrease stress in the moment (based on neuroscience)

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Stay in compliance with recent ethics standards changes that impact your practice.Learn about key regulatory changes and initiatives impacting CPAs and the future of the profession.Discuss emerging issues and standard-setting activity that could affect your practice in the future. Explore practical applications of the standards and hear about common practice issues and challenges. Examples include private equity, technology, tax planning, audit quality, regulatory enforcement and standard-setting environment.Learn how failure to follow the standards can result in unwanted regulatory actions and publicity.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Overview of AI and its evolution in businessDeep dive into generative AI and its applicationsImpact of AI on accounting, tax and finance sectorsFuture trends and opportunities for CPAsPreparing for the AI-driven business environment

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Characteristics unique to the gig economyIndependent contractor and employee classification considerationsRecordkeeping considerations for independent contractorsAccounting and reporting issues for gig economy participantsAudit and attestation for clients who participate in the gig economyTax and regulatory considerationsThe CPA as a trusted advisor for independent contractors

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Role of cloud computing as the foundation for all tech trendsBig data and data analytics the new frontier for CPAsWorkflow automation with RPA, ML and AI with a focus on ChatGPTBlockchain technology, the revolutionary data storage modelCryptocurrency 15 years later, an update on the market and technologyMetaverse - what's it all aboutCloud based financial and ERP software market update

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The common weaknesses in a criminal tax investigation.The key documents to review (In a sea of thousands of documents).Crafting questions to recommend in court proceeding.

What does practicing before the IRS mean? Who may practice before the IRS? What should a tax preparer do if he or she has knowledge of a client's omission of income from a tax return? May a tax preparer rely on the work of other tax return preparers? May a tax preparer rely on and use client-provided information? Standards associated with giving advice to clients Abolition of the disclaimer requirement When must a tax preparer examine a client’s books and records?

Major topics covered in this course include:Introduction to ChatGPT and artificial intelligence chatbot technologiesAutomating frequently asked questions and the onboarding processVerifying and reviewing financial recordsProviding real-time support to clientsGenerating financial reportsAutomating tax return preparation and financial planningProviding guidance on financial decision making

The key requirements, options, and best practices seen in each of the basic financial statements Today’s core accounting and reporting requirements related to contributions and how to effectively and efficiently apply them How to analyze and incorporate the needs of financial statement users into a not-for-profit’s financial statements and disclosures

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, and New Exceptions to Penalty-Free Withdrawal from Retirement Plans Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation The Gig Economy -- Tax implications, Independent Contractor vs. Employee Classification, and the 2024 DOL Final Rule Advanced practice, reporting, and other issues intertwined with advanced planning and discussion ideas

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Tier 1: Basis limitations for S corporation shareholders and partners Tier 2: Section 465 at-risk limitations for S corporation shareholders and partners, including the impact of debt, indemnities, guarantees, and shareholder/partner agreements Tier 3: Section 469 passive loss limitations and exceptions to the limitations Tier 4: The excess business loss limitation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (new §461(l)), American Rescue Plan Act, and Inflation Reduction Act

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

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Enterprise-wide risk management best practices for identifying, evaluating, and determining how to respond to relevant risks.The importance of risk and uncertainty disclosures in the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements, including evolving risks with cybersecurity and ESG.Coordinating risk management efforts, including the required involvement of corporate governance.How to embed risk management into day-to-day accounting and finance activities.

The 20 common law factors in a worker classification audit that are used to distinguish an employee from an independent contractor How disgruntled independent contractors can use IRS Form 8919 against a former employer When and how to use §530 as a defense in worker classification audits What is "industry practice" for §530 purposes Common sense steps that will avoid the recharacterization of workers treated as independent contractors to employees The IRS’s Voluntary Classification Settlement Program — advantages and disadvantages The DOL Final Rule