CPE Catalog & Events

Circular 230 (IRS) rules for conducting a "best" tax practice How to avoid tax return preparation penalties Recent developments impacting today's tax practice Review of tax return preparer's registration rules Explanation of the revised AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Contingent fees

Gift tax fundamentals and exclusions Completing Form 709 accurately Gift-splitting and its tax implications Lifetime exemption and GSTT considerations Valuation of gifted assets Common filing mistakes and IRS audits Updates on new legislation impacting gift taxation

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Property distributions in liquidation of a partner’s interestSection 751 and its impact on property distributions from a partnershipMechanics of completing Form 7217 – new for 2024The Section 754 election and its role in partnership property distributions

Internal audit Standards Institute of Internal Auditors GIAS IPPF

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction to Forensic Accounting: Gain an understanding of the fundamentals, roles, and responsibilities of forensic accountants in uncovering financial discrepancies, fraud, and economic damages.Maintain Ethical Integrity: Learn the importance of ethics in forensic accounting and strategies for ethical decision-making.Expert Report Preparation: Learn the essential components, best practices, and common pitfalls in writing clear, concise, and objective expert reports for legal proceedings.Investigation Report Writing: Explore the methodologies for conducting investigations, gathering evidence, and crafting thorough and accurate investigation reports.Economic Damages Writing: Understand the methodologies and best practices for calculating economic damages, including lost profits, business valuation, and other financial impacts.Reviewing Investigation Reports and Economic Damages: Analyze real-world examples to review and critique investigation reports and damage calculations, highlighting key insights and lessons learned.

Preparation Compilations Reviews

Lease classification Amortization of the lease asset Derecognition of the underlying asset Recognition of lease receivables Lease modifications Sale and leaseback transactions Presentation and disclosure requirements

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

Review an error-prone "staff-prepared" Form 1040 from client-provided information. Where do you start? Get to know your client and ask the questions Several new reporting issues for the reviewer to consider, including the main credit provisions as enacted under the American Rescue Plan What are common errors preparers make and what are the areas generating malpractice claims? The importance of engagement letters, questionnaires, and §7216 permission statement Initial administrative groundwork Identifying organizing issues in the tax return to be reviewed Avoiding “willful blindness.” Handling ethical and moral dilemmas Efficient review of certain advanced issues for income, adjustments, deductions, and credits Effective procedures for delinquent clients, filing past-due tax returns First-time client issues requiring extra scrutiny Multiple checklists of efficient procedures to identify potential issues on a 1040 return Listing of schedules for staff to prepare to make a review easier, including basis issues for 1040 clients Reconciling time pressure with thoroughness and quality control Professionals acting professionally

Basic tax structure of partnerships and LLCs Check-the-box elections to be taxed as a partnership Partnership distributions Compensatory payments to partners At-risk and passive activity limits Profit and loss allocations: general rules and restrictions

Comprehensive coverage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Review of key components of President Trump's tax bill, 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 Tariff policy and implementation - analyze the use of tariffs as a fiscal and trade policy tool Digital assets and tax implications - understand the new Form 1099-DA for reporting digital asset transactions, along with updated IRS guidance on cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and broker responsibilities Artificial intelligence - discover how AI and generative tools are transforming tax practices, as well as how the IRS is leveraging AI to enhance audit selection Form 1099-K reporting requirements - understand the evolving IRS thresholds and rules for third-party payment platforms Sale of Passthrough Entity Interests and Net Investment Income Tax - analyze the tax implications of selling interests in passthrough entities, including relevant examples, and how the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) applies to these transactions The Gig Economy - examine key tax implications for gig workers, including Independent Contractor vs. Employee classification challenges, reporting responsibilities, and the impact of the 2024 Department of Labor Final Rule on worker status Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Practice aids, including all the numbers applicable for the current year -- inflation-adjusted amounts, mileage rates, retirement contributions, and more Advanced practice, reporting, and other issues intertwined with advanced planning and discussion ideas

Understanding the workbook and worksheet environment Obtaining and utilizing data Editing and formatting The “Insert” Menu The “Page Layout” Menu The “View” Menu Selecting and using formulas Shortcuts and tricks

Setting and resetting performance expectations On-the-spot counseling Addressing erratic performance Drafting and presenting performance appraisals

Ethics Yellowbook Code of Professional Conduct

FASB updates that will affect near-term reporting Future topics that may soon be addressed by the FASB

Behavioral insights (BI) PrimerHow and why BI are used by the IRSIRS and individual decision-makingIRS and environmental and design considerationsIRS and social normsIRS "top of mind" issues BI and Implementation of tax reform legislation BI and private debt collectionBI and online taxpayer accountsBI and taxpayer rights in "real" vs. "unreal" auditsBI and the tax-exempt approval processBI and passport renewal and revocationHow to use BI to more mindfully interact with the IRS to improve outcomes

Creating a visionary company Traits of successful, visionary companies Goal setting to create a successful organization The role of experimentation and failure in achieving success How successful organizations emphasize learning new skills The role of effective communication in achieving corporate success The importance of emotional intelligence in building corporate culture How leadership can direct a company toward success

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

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Risk Assessment - Properly assessing inherent, control, and detection risk on an engagement, and linking the results to an appropriately tailored detailed audit plan based on risk assessment and client service goals, regardless of entity type.Substantive Analytics- Leveraging strong substantive analytic procedures as audit evidence to cut back on tests of details.Selecting items to test common misunderstandings related to designing, performing and concluding on tests of details, including sampling.Identifying and Evaluating Internal Control Deficiencies - Emphasizing the importance of identifying both design and operating effectiveness deficiencies during the course of the audit, and how to properly categorize deficiencies as inconsequential, significant or material for impact on the audit or required communications with management and those charged with governance.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:An overview of AI constructs.How artificial intelligence is being used by accountants today.Accounting-centric AI developments on the horizon.