CPE Catalog & Events

Criminal Tax: How CPAs Bring Value to Defense Attorneys

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The common weaknesses in a criminal tax investigation.The key documents to review (In a sea of thousands of documents).Crafting questions to recommend in court proceeding.

Partnership Tax Updates (2025)

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Court decisions covering partnership issues such as TEFRA, Statute of Limitations, Economic Substance, and Sec. 754 Elections.IRS procedural updates on passthrough entities.New developments on conservation easements. 

Surgent's Ethics for Tax Professionals

What does practicing before the IRS mean? Who may practice before the IRS? What should a tax preparer do if he or she has knowledge of a client's omission of income from a tax return? May a tax preparer rely on the work of other tax return preparers? May a tax preparer rely on and use client-provided information? Standards associated with giving advice to clients Abolition of the disclaimer requirement When must a tax preparer examine a client’s books and records?

How Automation and AI are Enhancing Management Accountants

ChatGPT for Accountants: 50+ Use Cases

Major topics covered in this course include:Introduction to ChatGPT and artificial intelligence chatbot technologiesAutomating frequently asked questions and the onboarding processVerifying and reviewing financial recordsProviding real-time support to clientsGenerating financial reportsAutomating tax return preparation and financial planningProviding guidance on financial decision making

Surgent's Best Practices in Not-for-Profit Accounting and Reporting

The key requirements, options, and best practices seen in each of the basic financial statements Today’s core accounting and reporting requirements related to contributions and how to effectively and efficiently apply them How to analyze and incorporate the needs of financial statement users into a not-for-profit’s financial statements and disclosures

Surgent's Federal Tax Update

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 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 Advanced practice, reporting, and other issues intertwined with advanced planning and discussion ideas

Surgent's Four Tiers of Loss Limitations: A Guide to the Rules for Pass-Through Entities

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Tier 1: Basis limitations for S corporation shareholders and partners Tier 2: Section 465 at-risk limitations for S corporation shareholders and partners, including the impact of debt, indemnities, guarantees, and shareholder/partner agreements Tier 3: Section 469 passive loss limitations and exceptions to the limitations Tier 4: The excess business loss limitation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (new §461(l)), American Rescue Plan Act, and Inflation Reduction Act

Surgent's IRS Tax Examinations and Hot Issues

Criteria that the IRS uses to select returns for examination Substantiation requirements for travel, charitable contributions, vehicles, meals, virtual currency considerations and tax-related identity theft Understanding worker classification determinations on who is an employee and who is an independent contractor Distinguishing S corporation officer’s reasonable compensation issues How the IRS holds persons other than an employer liable for unpaid payroll taxes, a.k.a., the trust fund recovery penalty Tax-related identity theft procedures

Enterprise-Wide Risk Management in Accounting and Finance

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Enterprise-wide risk management best practices for identifying, evaluating, and determining how to respond to relevant risks.The importance of risk and uncertainty disclosures in the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements, including evolving risks with cybersecurity and ESG.Coordinating risk management efforts, including the required involvement of corporate governance.How to embed risk management into day-to-day accounting and finance activities.

Reasonable Compensation for S Corps

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Explain the payroll tax advantage of taking distributions over wagesReview key court cases that shape todays reasonable compensation landscapeHow to use court factors to stress test reasonable compensationBest practices for determining reasonable compensationReview of the IRS’s enforcement on reasonable compensation; past, present and future

Recruit. Retain. Engage. Mastering LinkedIn for HR Success

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:How to pro-actively find, identify, and connect with new candidates from various sources within LinkedIn.Best practices for organically attracting candidates to your company and team.Strategic talent networking opportunities.Essential considerations of employee advocacy and brand building using LinkedIn.Retention strategies such as promoting a positive work environment, and expanding employee recognition and engagement strategies.

Surgent's Employee vs. Independent Contractor: Achieving Success in a Worker Classification Audit

The 20 common law factors in a worker classification audit that are used to distinguish an employee from an independent contractor How disgruntled independent contractors can use IRS Form 8919 against a former employer When and how to use §530 as a defense in worker classification audits What is "industry practice" for §530 purposes Common sense steps that will avoid the recharacterization of workers treated as independent contractors to employees The IRS’s Voluntary Classification Settlement Program — advantages and disadvantages The DOL Final Rule

Surgent's Public Speaking and Presentation Skills

How experienced speakers manage presentation anxiety The elements of effective persuasion The three styles of speech Strategies to improve speech pace The importance of volume when presenting The art of the pause Methods for using visual aids Best practices for preparing for a presentation Components of an effective presentation

Surgent's Taking Advantage of Like-Kind Exchanges

Understanding the history of IRC Sec 1031 Who does and does not qualify for utilizing the like-kind provisions Which properties do and do not qualify for like-kind exchanges The differences between a “dealer” and a “non-dealer” regarding like-kind exchanges How to complete a like-kind exchange The different types of like-kind exchanges The definition of “boot” and how it applies to like-kind exchanges Rules concerning Revenue Ruling 72-456, and Form 8824

Talk This Way - Communication Skills for the CPA

The major topics covered in this course include:Pervasive best practices for effective communicationSpecific strategies for written materialsUnique considerations for verbal presentationsThe importance of recursive revisionTips for successPitfalls to avoid

Mastering Microsoft 365 Copilot for CPAs

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Overview of Microsoft 365 Copilot featuresAutomating tasks with AI assistanceEnhancing content creation and data analysisCollaboration tools powered by AIBest practices for maximizing Copilot's benefits

The 10 Must Know Excel Features

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Excel Tables: Master the use of Excel tables for efficient data management, including sorting, filtering, and structured references, to manage  data more effectively.Custom Sorting: Get to grips with custom sorting options to organize data in a way that best suits your needs, enhancing data readability and analysis.XLOOKUP: Discover the power of XLOOKUP for advanced data retrieval, a game-changer for complex analysis, allowing you to extract specific data from extensive datasets with ease.SUBTOTAL: Gain proficiency in using the SUBTOTAL function, a versatile tool for calculating data in visible cells, ideal for analyses that require dynamic calculations.SUMIF(S): Explore the functionality of SUMIF and SUMIFS functions for conditional summing, crucial for precise budgeting, expense tracking, and financial reporting.Array Formulas: Dive into array formulas to perform multiple calculations on one or more items in an array, enhancing the efficiency of complex accounting computations.Data Validations: Learn to implement data validations to ensure data integrity and prevent errors in financial data entry, a critical skill for maintaining accurate accounting records.Slicers: Learn to use slicers for interactive data segmentation in tables and PivotTables, enabling accountants to quickly filter and analyze specific subsets of financial data.Conditional Formatting: Understand how to apply conditional formatting to highlight critical financial data points, trends, and variances, making data analysis and interpretation more intuitive.PivotTables: An introduction to PivotTables, one of the most powerful Excel features, for summarizing, analyzing, and presenting large sets of financial data in a digestible format.

Mastering IRS Form 7217: Partnership Property Distributions

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

Implementing an AI-Enabled Marketing Strategy for Your Firm

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Module 1: Introduction to AI in Marketing   The Basics of AI – Concepts and TerminologyModule 2: Leveraging AI Tools and Technologies   Overview of AI Tools for MarketingModule 3: Practical Strategies for AI Integration   Integrating AI into Your Marketing WorkflowModule 4: Measuring AI-Driven Marketing Effectiveness   Key Metrics for Assessing AI-Driven CampaignsModule 5: Real-Life Case Studies and Success Stories   Case Studies of Firms Successfully Using AI in MarketingModule 6: Developing Your AI-Enabled Marketing Strategy   Creating a Custom AI Marketing Strategy