Far Northern California Chapter of Enrolled Agents July 2014 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: NEWSLETTER It's hard to believe that the year is already half over! I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July Holiday weekend. Congratulations to Allan Fulton, E.A. and Rose Hablitzel, E.A. on their wedding!! I saw pictures on Facebook and it looked like a lovely country western celebration. I wish you many happy years together. Just a reminder that the minimum wage increased to $9.00 per hour as of July 1.Some of you may have clients that will be impacted by this. CSEA dues also increased $15 on July 1st and all of us will be impacted by this. I am happy to report that the FNCC online virtual SEE is up and running!! At last report the class was running smoothly. According to Rose and Jenny they have students in the classroom as well as online. Anyone interested in joining the class for part 2 please go to our website for more information. Respectfully Submitted Michele Williams, E.A. President Board Meetings and Roundtable Schedules Aug 06, 2014 - Board Meeting - 9:30am Holiday Inn Express 2810 Main St, Red Bluff Redding Roundtable: 12:00p.m. Lulu’s Restaurant 2230 Pine St, Rdg Subject: To Be Announced Aug 07, 2014 - Chico Roundtable: 8:00a.m. Cozy Diner 1695 Mangrove Ave., Chico Subject: Health Insurance Premium tax Credit - Anita Towslee Sept 03, 2014 - Board Meeting - 9:30am via conference call Redding Roundtable: 12:00p.m. Lulu’s Restaurant 2230 Pine St, Rdg Subject: Affordable Health Care Act - Deb Black Sept 04, 2014 - Chico Roundtable: 8:00a.m. Cozy Diner 1695 Mangrove Ave., Chico Subject: To Be Announced 1 Upcoming CONTINUING EDUCATION SCHEDULE ****Note: You MUST give your PTIN number when registering or you will NOT receive your CE Certificate. YOUR OPINION COUNTS!!! TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT FNCC’S SEMINARS. 1) Do you think they should be held elsewhere? 2) Do you think we should use different speakers? 3) Should we split the two day into one day each in order to accommodate those only wanting one day? 4) How’s the menu? Should we have more variety on the menu? ETHICS SEMINAR to be announced…… NEW! NATP Two Day Seminar 1040 Update & S Corporations October 30th and October 31st Earn 16 hours of CPE in Two Days 2 2014 The Essential 1040 Day One: For 29 years NATP has been providing the best tax update in the country to prepare professionals for the coming tax season. This tradition of excellence will continue in 2014. This course covers the standard features of the inflation-indexed updates for preparing individuals’ 2014 tax returns, new tax laws applicable to 2014 and recent developments. This course satisfies 8 hours of CPE including 3 hours of tax updates. Objectives include: Apply inflation-adjusted amounts to 2014 individual tax returns Identify expired tax provisions Summarize new federal tax laws that have passed since 2013 Identify federal tax provisions first taking effect in 2014 Apple the latest court and IRS rulings to taxpayers’ current situations Provide tax advice for clients in light of new developments Describe the current IRS hands-on initiative to improve the accuracy and quality of filed tax returns and to heighten awareness of preparer responsibilities Explain the Circular 230 rules governing individuals eligible to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Identify the various penalties that can be assessed on a tax return preparer and how to avoid them Explain due diligence requirements for earned income tax credit (EIC) 2014 Intermediate S Corporations Day Two: This hands-on course is ideal for tax professionals who have prepared S corporation returns and are looking to improve their skills to assist clients with their continuing needs. Topics covered include reasonable compensation, book to taxable income reconciliation, distributions and shareholder basis, shareholder loss limitations, and ownership changes. Objectives include: Compute the shareholder’s stock and debt basis in the S corporation Determine the timing and ordering rules for basis adjustments Explain how distributions from an S corporation are taxed Report the repayment of reduced-basis debt Distinguish between basis for regular tax and AMT purposes Calculate a shareholder’s at-risk basis Explain the passive loss limitations that apply to S corporation shareholders Identify when Schedule M-3 (Form 1120S) Complete Form 8916-A, Supplemental Attachment to Schedule M-3 Explain the taxation of an S corporation stock sale Explain how income and losses are allocated when there is an ownership change Identify an inadvertent termination of the S election and explain how to fix it Explain how to report a property foreclosure and summarize the tax consequences Determine if an S corporation has cancellation of debt income List several ways an S corporation can exclude canceled debt from gross income Determine if an S corporation is bankrupt or insolvent Explain the taxation of an S corporation stock sale 3 Explain the tax consequences and reporting requirements for stock redemption Allocate shareholders’ income and losses when there is an ownership change Explain how to fix an inadvertent termination of S election Determine if an S corporation is paying a reasonable salary to its shareholder-employees Identify an S corporation’s course of action when the S corporation does not have available funds to pay its shareholder-employees Report the compensation of shareholder-employees, including certain fringe benefits, on Forms 1120S and W-2 The Seminar will be at the Holiday Inn, 1900 Hilltop Dr., Redding. Lunch is included with registration. Seminar hours 8am to 5pm, Early Bird registration and fees to be announced. Cal Fed Last Chance Update » January 08, 2015 Back by popular demand....This is your last chance! Important planning for 2014! NATP speaker(s) present this course for the busy tax professional that needs to know the essentials of important changes from the previous year, including recent tax law changes, court cases and IRS rulings. The federal government continues to be very active with regard to changes in the tax law and this has a major impact on preparing California tax returns. In addition, California will have several of its own. Total CPE hours include 4 hours Federal Tax Update and 5 hours California Tax Update. The Seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn, 1900 Hilltop Dr., Redding, Lunch is included. Registration and fees to be announced. SEE CLASSES GOING ON NOW! STUDENTS WANTED Gleim and the Far Northern Chapter of the California Society of Enrolled Agents (CSEA) have partnered to offer a live Enrolled Agent (EA) review course in northern California beginning June 3, 2014. This comprehensive EA exam preparation review course provides live, weekly sessions designed to help you pass each part of the EA exam quickly and efficiently. 4 This offering is unique in terms of its affordability and the one-on-one attention you will receive. Candidates can engage in live classroom discussions with classmates and the instructor while also taking advantage of the online components from the comfort of their own home. If you are a candidate who wants to pass the EA exam this year and appreciates the added value of a live instructor, contact Rose Hablitzel at 530.527.8225 or roseea@lassentax.com for more information and to register. You can also visit fncc.org. Class size is limited! Register NOW to reserve your seat. Already an Enrolled Agent? Please forward this opportunity to other tax preparers, as we want to help them excel as Enrolled Agents in 2014 as well. Thanks, and have a great day! Courtney Craft Professor Relations Coordinator Courtney.Craft@gleim.com Gleim Publications, Inc. 4201 NW 95th Blvd 800.874.5346 Ext.421 FAX 352.375.6940 Gainesville, FL 32606 Students can also sign up for online courses at NAEA’s website. Class details contact Rose Hablitzel @ 530-527-8225 or email rose.hablitzel@gmail.com. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE NAEA, CSEA and FNCC all have Scholarship funds set aside to financially help cover a portion of the education costs for those wishing to become an Enrolled Agent. Check out the following websites and telephone numbers for more information or copy the following links to access Scholarship applications: FNCC: 530-547-4474 Contact William Reilly, EA OR Jenny Wettemann, EA 530-347-3395 NAEA.Org: 202-822-6232 http://www.naea.org/NR/rdonlyres/800C71BF-8AD5-4858-B508C89C508CD5D9/0/2008_SEE_Scholarship_Application.doc CSEA.Org: 800-777-2732 http://www.csea.org/Portals/0/S-1%20Final%20non-EAs..pdf 5 CSEA Education Foundation The primary purpose of the Foundation is to foster, improve and provide access to tax related information and services available to the general public through education programs and scholarships aimed at increasing the knowledge of current Enrolled Agents and potential EA candidates. There are two types of scholarships available. 1) California residents not currently or previously licensed as EAs are eligible to apply for a scholarship for tuition, including registration fees and books, for courses in the field of taxation, finance, or accounting, particularly courses specifically designed for Special Enrollment Examination (SEE) preparation. 2) Current California EAs who wish to broaden their knowledge in the field of taxation are eligible to apply for a scholarship for appropriate courses. Scholarships are NOT awarded for courses necessary to maintain Continuing Professional Education hour requirements, but are specifically intended for courses that expand the field of knowledge and expertise. Examples of appropriate courses include Tax Court, NTPI, C Star, etc. More information and Scholarship applications can be found at www.cseaeducationfoundation.org. Scholarship Awards and Foundation operating expenses are funded through the generosity of the Members of the California Society of Enrolled Agents and by sponsors, donors, and bidders of the Foundation’s annual Auction. Contributions to the CSEA Education Foundation are deductible for tax purposes. Donations of cash and merchandise can be made year round. For more information contact CSEA at 800-777-2732 or 916-366-6646. CSEA/NAEA POLITICAL ACTION COMMTTEE: (pictured right, Senator Ted Gaines, Rose Hablitzel, EA, center and William Reilly, EA, left) The PAC has contributed too many legislators such as Senator Ted Gaines, (Redding Area), who are either on tax or budget committees. These legislators know what Enrolled Agents do and are interested in working with us. We are spending our budgeted amount and are in need to generate more funds to keep this action going. We are developing great relationships with these legislators that are in turn working with us on relevant and significant concerns of Enrolled Agents. Please donate and give generously to the NAEA PAC. Your dollars are working for you! Any contributions over $50 will receive a lapel pin from the NAEA PAC. Please make your contributions out to "NAEA PAC". Or, you may contribute to CSEA’s PAC for any amount and receive a CSEA pin. All members are encouraged to contribute since the PAC works for all Enrolled Agents and their Affiliates! Contact Rose Hablitzel, EA for further questions: 530-527-8225. 6 REVISED CIRCULAR 230 by Robert Seymour, EA When Karen Hawkins, Dir., OPR, spoke at the recent Super Seminar, she provided an update on their disciplinary action and success at enforcement of Circular 230 rules, and noted that EAs are too often for their expertise and professional standards – subject to disciplinary action. She also stated that an updated Circular 230 was still pending and almost ready to publish someday soon. Pictured center, Karen Hawkins, OPR, left, Jenny Wettemann, EA and right, Rose Hablitzel, EA The Finals Regs revising Circular 230 became effective on June 12. One of the major areas of change is elimination of the former Section 10.35 on covered opinions, and clarification of rules on written advice in Section 10.37. The background information provided by the Treasury Department devotes 15 pages on the subject. Until recently, the old rules led to use of broad disclaimers in any written communication, which did not please the Treasury Department. In recent speeches, Karen Hawkins was quoted by BNA as saying, “I’m here to tell you to get that jurat, that disclaimer, off your e-mails. It’s no longer necessary.” William J. Wilkins, IRS Chief Counsel, stated strongly that the “Circular 230 legend is not merely dead, it’s really most sincerely dead. So please omit.” However, the background info with release of the new Regs notes, “The rules do not, however, prohibit the use of an appropriate statement describing any reasonable and accurate limitations of the advice rendered to the client.” This is an area we will hear more about, but caution is urged in using disclaimers. Resources: IRS materials – search for Revenue Procedures http://www.legalbitstream.com/irs_materials.asp?p1=i3 Law Research Internet Law – Library – Payroll Tax Rules by State and Department http://www.lawresearchservices.com/firms/practice/ct-tax-state-department.htm ADVERTISE YOUR NAME FOR FREE: Would you like your name advertised as an Enrolled Agent in your area? Let us know and we will list your name, address, phone number and specialty on your chapter’s website. Contact Karol Read, CRTP at karol@chicotaxpro.com. 7 M EMBERSHIP Benefits NAEA and CSEA are YOUR advocates in Congress and your personal representative in all facets of your profession! Below are some of the numerous benefits that NAEA/CSEA and your local chapter offer our members. ►discounts on tax/education materials ►discounted Quickfinder or Tax Book(s) ►member to member mentoring & networking ►redesigned website with the latest E Tools on CSEA’s website ►FREE CE at monthly roundtables ►NAEA $65 membership discount for a ►discounted seminar fees (savings up to $75) ►discounted 2 hours of Ethics including lunch ►CSEA magazine / EA Journal ►safe harbor disclosures/disclaimer sample letters & much more on the website ►extensive representation/liaison federal & State ►reduced annual member dinner Our Organization: Michele Williams, EA President Rex Cerro, Vice President Sandra Lamberson, EA Secretary and Newsletter Mary Ann Beguin, EA Treasurer William Reilly, EA Director, Redding Area Tracie Hannick, EA Director, Chico Area Ardis Smith, EA State Director Rose Hablitzel, EA Immediate Past President Karol Read PIA Redding/Chico & Website 221-7960 527-8225 547-4474 242-6278 547-4474 893-0859 824-1040 527-8225 894-4041 Fax 221-5736 Fax 527-1006 Fax 547-3004 Fax 242-6935 Fax 547-3004 Fax 893-2643 Fax 824-0594 Fax 527-1006 Fax 894-5622 Editor: Sandra Lamberson, EA P.O. Box 1040 Palo Cedro, CA 96073 Office: 530-547-4474 Fax: 530-547-3004 Email: SLamberson@citlink.net 8