CPE Catalog & Events

What is ransomware? The growing threat of ransomware — statistics Remote working and COVID-19 Ransomware infection process Incident response protocol Business considerations Legal considerations Breach notification obligations Steps to protect against malware Tabletop exercise

Technology and workstation arrangements Maximizing productivity Establishing procedures that can be implemented throughout the organization Understanding the relationship between remote work and employee retention Effective communication strategies for staying connected with colleagues and clients The productivity challenges unique to working from home Time management The importance of distinguishing between the “home office” and “home” Data privacy concerns Other ethical considerations that arise when working from home

Procurement phases Fraud schemes Fraud red flags Fraud control activities and safeguards

Auditing Yellowbook

Study real-life misappropriations involving federal awards and how they were carried out The backgrounds, motivations and methodologies of the fraudsters Brainstorm where things went wrong that allowed the frauds to occur without prevention or detection

Hiring and firing issues – What questions cannot be asked in an interview; how to document employee performance; establishing an annual review system; when an employer may and may not fire an employee, and much more Employment contracts – An analysis of the legal and planning issues in structuring employment contracts; when noncompetition agreements will and will not work Employment issues in the economy – Telecommuters and other special situations Legal liability issues – Recognition of age discrimination, sex discrimination, FLSA issues, minimum wage, overtime, sexual harassment, and more Fringe benefit issues – COBRA, Family and Medical Leave Act, and new developments in health care Medical plans – Who is a full-time employee?

Classifying receipts between “income” and “corpus” under the Uniform Principal and Income Act Calculation of DNI utilizing three different methods, a “forms” method (Schedule B), a “code” method, and a “shortcut” method, utilizing a worksheet of common income and expenses Proper W-2 preparation and procedures in the year of death Taxpayer passes before taking a required minimum distribution; what must be done?  Forgetful fiduciaries of simple trusts Fluctuating trusts – Simple one year, complex the next Dividing income in the year of death Overview of Subchapter J Form preparation issues – Filing requirements and line-by-line explanations of Form 1041 Taxable income of estates and trusts and expense allocation issues Specific deductions and miscellaneous itemized deductions Income in respect of a decedent The income distribution deduction calculation Relation of principal and income law to DNI Understanding how to handle capital gains and losses Allocating tax items to beneficiaries: another K-1 Other considerations: excess deductions on termination Comprehensive DNI case study, with principal (cost and FMV) and income reconciliation Comprehensive trust and estate case studies, with filled-in forms

Key tools used by businesses and financial professionals across the globe to measure performance Detailed, real-world examples of businesses utilizing these tools

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 individual and business 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 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

1.    Why people behave as they do, and how you can effectively motivate anyone to cooperate with you How to judge if your communication is effective in motivating someone How to get someone to really hear you How to communicate so that someone will happily do what you want 2.    How to create trust and get people to like working with you The 3 most important keys for getting someone to feel rapport with you Why rapport is so important, and how to use it to profit in your work How to quickly solve problems with people once you have their rapport 3.    How to handle difficult people Why some people are difficult to deal with, and what you can do about it How you can turn a difficult employee or customer into a powerful asset How to easily solve problems with people who are upset at you 4.    Secret techniques that super-successful communicators use How Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton are similar, and how you can tap into their "magic abilities" The three most important keys all successful communicators use

Notice 2020-75: PTE elections What is a 754 election? What if a 754 election is not in effect? Tax implications of a partnership interest sale on the seller Look-through provisions

Extensive review of the partnership income tax laws with an emphasis on any new legislative changes Comparison of partnerships, LLCs and LLPs Overview the formation of a partnership/LLC and the §704(c) pre-contribution gain or loss rules Schedule K analysis– determine if income statement items are separately (i.e. schedule K) or non-separately stated income and expense items How schedule K items get allocated to partners on schedule K-1s Look at detailed Schedule K-1 information reporting to partners needed for the qualified business income (QBI) deduction, 3.8% net investment income tax and business interest expense limitations Learn the special tax treatment of fringe benefits paid on behalf of the partners and LLC members Comparing the tax and §704(b) book capital account computations Discuss partner guaranteed payments and self-employment tax issues Schedule M-1 – reconciliation of income or loss per books with income or loss per income tax return Schedule M-2 – analysis of partners’ capital accounts Review the importance and basics of calculating a partner/member’s outside tax basis. Overview of the tax treatment of distributions, recourse and nonrecourse debt allocations, §754 election for optional basis adjustments and §743/§734 mandatory basis adjustments

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

Why important things don’t get done on a timely basis, and what to do about it Five ways to increase productivity that almost no one ever uses The four proven ways to keep yourself and your staff motivated to consistently work at the highest level How to avoid feeling stressed out—even though your “to do” list is endless The three time management techniques that you’re not using that are critical to your success How to know and avoid what is a poor use or waste of your time How to set goals that excite you, and how to guarantee they actually get done Three ways to elicit help from others that ensure their cooperation and help The smart things to do with the extra time you’ll have when you’re on top of it all

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)

Guidance, related to "plain vanilla" interest rate swaps that convert variable into fixed rate debt and other derivatives Guidance related to amortization and impairment of goodwill Guidance related to separately recognizing intangible assets from goodwill in a business combination Guidance related to lease accounting and revenue recognition options

Recently issued FASB Accounting Standards Updates, PCC Update and items on the FASB’s Technical Agenda Recently issued ASUs covering common control leases, crypto assets (e.g., cryptocurrency), and income tax disclosures Statement on Quality Management Standards: SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3 Post-Implementation Review Report for revenue recognition under ASC 606 and best practices in applying ASC 606 Fraud case studies Recently issued SASs and other AICPA activity Recently issued PCAOB standards and SEC rulemaking activities Other important A&A practice matters

Trends in AI and machine learning Applications of quantum computing in accounting and finance The growing role of blockchain and digital currencies in accounting Innovations in software and hardware

Tax rules governing liquidation of a partnership or S corporation Tax treatment of the shareholder/partner/member receiving a liquidating distribution in an S corporation liquidation/partnership liquidation Tax impact on the pass-through entity when the entity is liquidated Receipt of corporate liabilities in an S corporation distribution Proportionate, liquidating partnership distributions to partners, and gains and losses to a partner on a liquidating partnership distribution Tax issues associated with a partnership distribution of noncash properties in a liquidation Compliance requirements on the occasion of a liquidation of a corporation or a partnership

Managing interruptions The role of activity logs, to-do lists and a priority matrix The psychology of time management Staying on track of your time management plan Controlling procrastination Blocking out time Creating an effective time management plan