CPE Catalog & Events

Legislative developments A full chapter devoted to determining the best planning options for maximizing joint Social Security benefits Retirement benefits: Amount of benefits in various circumstances; how the amounts are distributed within the family unit Qualification: Has the client retired? How business entities may be used for Social Security advantage Income taxation of Social Security: avoidance tactics Spousal benefits: Should a spouse return to work? What benefits does a spouse have and when and how do they relate to benefits decisions by the client? When can hiring the spouse increase overall benefits?  Why should both spouses qualify for survivor benefits? Disability benefits When to start Social Security benefits: Advantages and disadvantages at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70 Coordinating benefits: Should you take Social Security first and higher-balance IRA distributions later, or take IRA balances first and enhanced Social Security benefits later? Pensions: Distribution strategies; how to use the minimum distribution rules in concert with Social Security benefits IRAs: Is it time to convert to a Roth? Medicare, Part D prescription drugs: what retirees need to know

Will Social Security be there for me? How is my benefit calculated? Can I claim my benefit and work too? When do I stop paying Social Security taxes? Why does my government pension cause my benefits to be reduced? Can I claim spousal benefits now and my own later? What is my breakeven? Can I claim benefits from my ex-spouse? What do you mean I may pay taxes on my income benefits? … and more!

Understanding the time commitment required to start and run a business Selecting a corporate structure to protect your personal assets Building your product or service Sales and marketing in your business Establishing your owners, investors, managers, and employees Accounting, recording-keeping, and other software programs Leases, contracts, and employee agreements Protecting intellectual property Insurance Business plans Financing Market position

Advantages and disadvantages to buyer and seller of an asset acquisition and a stock acquisition Tax treatment of consulting agreements and covenants not to compete Sale of personal goodwill associated with an asset acquisition Tax consequences associated with a stock acquisition and an asset acquisition Acquisitive reorganizations Non-tax issues that must be considered when a corporation is acquired

When is a person eligible to take Social Security benefits? Factors to consider when selecting an option for taking Social Security benefits Is there a best age to start taking Social Security benefits? How to maximize Social Security benefit payments for surviving spouses How can a divorced spouse collect Social Security benefits based on the work record of a former spouse? How minor children can collect Social Security benefits based on the work record of an older parent

Barriers to communication, especially when working remotely Modules and best practices for effective communication Keys to effective non-verbal communication Effective listening techniques

Taxpayers who do not file gift tax returns but should The annual exclusion rules for gifts to trusts including required Crummey notices What should be disclosed on the return for purposes of running the statute of limitations The reporting of installment sales and split-interest Valuations and valuation discounts for gifts of closely held businesses The utilization of Generation Skipping Transfer Tax and the related automatic allocation rules Reporting the use of a deceased spouse’s unused exclusion exemption amount (DSUEA) A line-by-line explanation of Form 709

Changes to the IRS Form 706 How to successfully navigate the form The ins and outs of the “portability” rules, including how the rules actually work using common examples Income tax consequences How to avoid malpractice traps Overlooked GST issues

Passive activity rules for trusts including the NIIT The different types of trusts for income tax purposes (e.g. simple, complex, grantor, charitable) The critical categorization of income (taxable income vs. fiduciary accounting income) Distributable net income (DNI) and how it works The “Tier” Rules The Separate Share Rule IRC 663(b) “65-Day” Rule IRC §691(c) Deduction QSST and EBST elections How to treat excess deductions on termination Grantor trust rules and how they impact planning and return preparation The income tax side of Domestic Asset Protection Trusts

How to find unrelated buyers of a business Maintaining control of the business succession process Turning over the reins to family members: when to give up control Finding the right team to sell a business Options for selling a business to an unrelated party Options for selling a business to family members Options for selling a business to employees Overcoming the emotional attachment to a business Selling to family members for a life annuity Using family partnerships and trusts to transfer a business

How to find unrelated buyers of a business Maintaining control of the business succession process Turning over the reins to family members: when to give up control Finding the right team to sell a business Options for selling a business to an unrelated party Options for selling a business to family members Options for selling a business to employees Overcoming the emotional attachment to a business Selling to family members for a life annuity Using family partnerships and trusts to transfer a business

The 15% corporate tax 1% tax on the repurchase of corporate stock Enhancement of IRS services Prescription drug pricing reform, including drug price negotiation Maximum out-of-pocket cap for Medicare beneficiaries Extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies for certain individuals whose household income exceeds 400% of the poverty line Clean energy and efficiency incentives for individuals Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit Energy efficient commercial buildings deduction (Section 179D) Extensions, increases, and modifications of the New Energy Efficient Home Credit Clean Vehicle Credit - now available at point of sale - and credit for previously owned clean vehicles Qualified commercial clean vehicles Transfers of certain credits to an unrelated transferee Increase in Research Credit against payroll tax for small businesses

The importance of proper documentation of workpapers Meeting firm-mandated ethical requirements  Independence issues related to client relationships Client engagement and entertainment Accurate and complete reporting of time

Refresher on understanding internal controls  When testing internal controls is required  When testing of internal controls is an effective strategy to reduce substantive testing   Designing tests of controls   Responses when deviations are discovered in the design or operating effectiveness of internal control 

Demonstrating professional skepticism Assessing audit evidence Responding to contradictory evidence Assessing the sufficiency of audit evidence

Application of ASC 606 to contractual situations Identifying key information necessary to apply ASC 606 Assessing compliance with the guidance of ASC 606

Optimal resource requests to support an appropriate search for unrecorded liabilities Tracing transactions to the detail to identify whether liabilities are properly recorded Evaluation of evidence to meet management’s assertions

Observation and professional skepticism Interviewing the client Performing test counts Evaluating the results obtained

Differentiating array formulas from regular Excel formulas and explaining their significance Practical application of array formulas: how to effectively implement and utilize these formulas in a variety of common Excel tasks and scenarios Utilization of dynamic arrays and spill functions, highlighting their role in modern Excel data handling Complex functions such as SUMPRODUCT, UNIQUE, SORT, and FILTER, focusing on multi-condition summing and data management How to simplify the use of static values called array constants

How does the IRC define an installment sale under IRC Sec 453? When can a taxpayer utilize the provisions of IRC Sec 453? When should a taxpayer utilize the provisions of an installment sale and when should it be avoided? How does the issue of a “dealer” vs. a “non-dealer” impact the use of the installment sale method? Reporting an installment sale when related parties are involved Calculating an installment sale How has the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impacted the use of the installment sale method?