CPE & Event Calendar

Designed to make the practitioner comfortable with "high traffic" issues, this program enables participants to discuss and handle individual tax essentials. The course examines and explains the practical aspects of return preparation and individual planning, bridging the gap between theory and application. Significant new developments are summarized with emphasis on tax savings ideas. Practical applications and illustrations are used to systematically explore tax deferral, reduction, and elimination opportunities accompanying return preparation. For example, the analysis of gross income is discussed together with income splitting techniques; property transactions are examined alongside like-kind exchanges and involuntary conversions. The result is an extraordinary blend of the latest developments affecting individual returns and related planning ideas.

Fulfill your four-hour ethics education requirement. You'll review case studies and engage in discussion questions that cover fair positions in tax returns, ethical issues in tax practice, fairness in financial reporting, and integrity and materiality judgments. *CalCPA members are eligible to receive a 4-hour ethics course at no cost. See details .

Serving on a nonprofit board can be exciting and fulfilling. However, unique FASB standards for nonprofits can make reading financial statements a frustrating task. Learn about accounting errors and risk management. Being a board member can also lead to personal liability if the organization's policies and procedures are not set up properly and monitored effectively. Examine the core principles and practices of nonprofit accounting and what questions to ask your organization to protect leadership.

This interactive, two-hour seminar will address how to make the most of the vital time immediately following your promotion into management. This includes how to quickly engage your learning curve, getting to know your boss and their expectations, building rapport with your team and the importance of securing initial small wins. Note: There is a minimum passing rate of 70% for this course. The webcast was originally broadcast on August 8, 2015.

Is it time to begin adding personal financial planning services to your existing practice? Gain the necessary skills to assess whether adding these services to your practice makes sense. This course examines the benefits and potential pitfalls of creating this type of entity; the skills of how to develop the appropriate infrastructure; and the appropriate type of entity and licensing requirements. We'll take a look at associating with appropriate financial services companies and professionals, staffing, technology, networking and other features of launching this new service, as well as the six steps of the financial planning process and how to apply them to each planning discipline. The webcast was originally broadcast on June 30, 2016. Note: There is a minimum passing rate of 70% for this course.

The current litigation explosion has created tremendous Interest in asset protection. Not only does this area have financial and estate aspects but it directly impacts tax planning. This course is designed to survey opportunities for asset protection that can arise during tax planning and to determine how to properly report such transactions.

This course integrates federal taxation with overall financial planning. The course explores tax strategies relating to the central financial tactics of wealth building, capital preservation, and estate distribution. The result is a unified explanation of tax-economics that will permit the tax professional to locate, analyze, and solve financial concerns. Designed to improve the quality of services to clients and the profitability of engagements, this program projects the accountant into the world of financial planning.

This course integrates federal taxation with overall financial planning. The course explores tax strategies relating to the central financial tactics of wealth building, capital preservation, and estate distribution. The result is a unified explanation of tax economics that will permit the tax professional to locate, analyze, and solve financial concerns. Designed to improve the quality of services to clients and the profitability of engagements, this program projects the accountant into the world of financial planning.

Regulatory, reporting and disclosure requirements surrounding employee benefit plan auditing are growing and changing. Audit deficiencies are more common than firms care to see. The risk of plan failures or fraud is always present for plan sponsors. Learn about the complexities, trending issues and steps you can take to be up to date on regulatory, audit and accounting requirements, perform quality audits and serve your clients with timely and accurate advice.

Operating costs for vehicles used in a taxpayer's business are deductible. Thus, when taxpayers use their automobiles in their businesses or employment, they can deduct that portion of the cost of operating their vehicle. Vehicle property taxes can be deducted if they are itemized on Schedule A. This course reviews personal and business use apportionment, the actual cost method, the standard mileage method and expensing. Moreover, this presentation informs practitioners about the benefits and costs of leasing versus owning and working condition fringe benefits.

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act was enacted to minimize abuse of the bankruptcy system. Included in this Act were tax law changes and other changes that individuals, partnerships, and corporations will see in the bankruptcy procedures and qualifications. This mini-course examines these changes that debtors face when filing for federal bankruptcy and explores the many tax issues of bankruptcy. Practitioners will also learn about other issues such as homesteading and garnishment by creditors.

This course overviews basic fringe benefits and examines their mechanics, compensation methods, valuation, withholding, and accounting. Achievement awards, term life insurance, medical reimbursement, meals & lodging, educational assistance, dependent care, employer-provided automobiles, interest-free loans, etc., are identified. Employer and employee economic and tax considerations are recognized. Fringe benefit requirements and limits are specified and ERISA compliance requirements are determined.

In this course, initial marital tax matters such as living together, property rights, premarital agreements, filing status, exemptions and dependents are explored. The detailed support test for children of divorced or separated parents, the tax treatment of back child support, the deduction of divorce costs, and estimated tax payments are reviewed. Emphasis is given to marital property rules, married versus unmarried tax rate comparison, head of household status, and treatment of refunds and deficiencies.

Risk oversight by the board of directors is a key component of a firm's enterprise risk management framework, and recently, boards have paid more attention to their firm's tax-planning activities. In this study, we use a hand-collected sample of proxy statement disclosures about the board's role in risk oversight and provide evidence that risk oversight is negatively associated with both tax uncertainty and overall tax burdens. We find that risk oversight is most strongly associated with positions that yield permanent tax benefits and also with less risky tax-planning activities. Overall, the evidence suggests that board risk oversight is associated with more effective tax-planning practices.

Americans who want to be their own boss are not entirely on their own. They have a rich uncle - Uncle Sam - who is there to help, as well as to make demands. The nation's tax laws are intended to encourage people to start new businesses and are chock full of incentives and tax breaks, as well as sometimes onerous reporting requirements. This course is a fast-paced and entertaining guide through tax issues affecting business entities and their owners. The focus of this class is on tax devices and techniques available to the small-business owner. Emphasis will be given to operational deductions, fringe benefits, compensation, family income splitting, retirement plans, and estate planning.

Taxpayers are once again looking to CPAs for guidance and planning related to travel and entertainment expenses. This comprehensive mini-course examines and explains the practical aspects of business travel and entertainment deductions. To determine the expenses that taxpayers are able to deduct, fundamentals are reviewed and planning opportunities are identified. Practitioners will learn to master the proper administration of these complex and often cumbersome provisions.

This comprehensive course describes and compares sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, C corporations, and S corporations. It examines the advantages and disadvantages of each, helping you properly select the right business entity for your clients' specific tax and liability needs. Perhaps most importantly, this course emphasizes the maximization of tax benefits in each business format. Fringe benefits, retirement plan alternatives, and nonqualified deferred compensation are also discussed in detail.

This course compares sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, C corporations and S corporations. It examines their advantages and disadvantages, giving you the knowledge to properly select the correct business entity for tax and liability needs.

We'll make the case that all professionals-and leaders in particular-must make developing others a top priority. The course will address the difference between coaching and mentoring as methods of developing others and will offer several specific tips for effective coaching and successful mentoring programs. Originally presented June 6, 2015. Note: There is a minimum passing rate of 70% for this course.

Today's competitive and complex business environment requires the CPA to be a strong communicator. Attend this proactive seminar and learn how to effectively communicate your position. Topics will emphasize the "communication" process and explore techniques to improve oral communications, including telephone techniques and written communications. Explore communications and personality types while considering the importance of the "human" side, including "empathy," "ego" and "needs." Summarized topics covered through a series of mini-case studies. The webcast was originally broadcast on May 3, 2017. Note: There is a minimum passing rate of 70% for this course.