Surgent's General Ethics for Tax Practitioners

Overview

This two-hour course covers most of the specific ethical considerations that come into play as a practitioner in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS intends to revise Circular 230, the core of this course. Stay tuned.

Highlights

• Who is a tax practitioner?
• What responsibilities does the Office of Professional Responsibility regulate?
• What limitations does the IRS place on fee arrangements?
• What duties does the practitioner have with respect to client records?
• What limitations apply with respect to a written tax opinion?
• What sanctions may be applied for violations of Service-imposed standards of conduct?
• NEW: The IRS Office of Professional Responsibility clarifies role of In-House Professionals under Circular 230

Prerequisites

None

Designed For

CPAs who want to satisfy the general professional ethics requirement in all states except those that require a state-specific ethics course (AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NY, OH, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY); and all EAs.

Objectives

• Identify the Office of Professional Responsibility
• Distinguish between ethical responsibilities owed to the Service and the client
• State the limitations on contingent fee arrangements
• Discuss the areas of conflict of interest and solicitation that attend practice before the Service
• Appreciate the possible sources of, and sanctions for, unethical conduct with the IRS
• Recognize the public disclosure of unethical conduct by a tax practitioner before the IRS

Preparation

None