CPE Catalog & Events

Leveraging Marketing Automation for Accounting Firm Growth

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Content - From generating content ideas to SEO research and creating content through its distribution we will look at tools to accomplish these goals efficiently and effectively.Lead Generation - Tools to determine the best offers and get them in front of the appropriate audiences.Lead Nurturing - Once you have a prospective client "raise their hand" virtually or physically, it is critical to design and implement campaigns and other tactics to keep them engaged and move them closer to being a client. We will cover this i-depth during the course.Sales - After you have a prospect ready to get to the next phase of the purchase journey, it is imperative to answer objections, explain the process of working with your firm and then close the sale. These tools will allow you to do this without an entire sales team!Onboarding - Once the prospect becomes a client leverage automation to make onboarding seamless, systematic and simple for your team.Referrals and Reviews - Instead of chasing clients for reviews or case studies, consider baking the ask right into your current or automated processes. This course will show you how!

QM Conversations: Peer Review

Ethics of AI: A CPA's Guide

The major subjects that will be covered in this course include:A primer on AI technology applications in the accounting professionEthical dilemmas that originate from the use of AI by CPAsPractical guidelines for using AI technology ethicallyStep by step guide for creating an AI usage policy for your organizationReview of a variety of reference materials to assist you in using AI ethically

Forensic Accounting: Finding Hidden Treasure in Tax Returns

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The rules of IRS disclosure of tax informationUnderstanding the role of IRS transcriptsInterpreting the actions of the IRS in transcriptsFOIA requestsAnalyzing tax information and returns for financial leads

Passive Activities & Rental Real Estate Income Tax Issues 25-26

Detailed coverage of the passive activity rules under IRC 469 (and related regulations), how the 3.8% net investment income tax under 1411 and qualified business income (QBI) deduction under 199A applies to rentals and passive activities, and what is a trade or business rental is under 162 How the PAL rules apply to rental real estate activities and investments in S corporations and partnerships Definition of activity and the activity grouping and disclosure rules Real estate professional exception to the PAL rules for investments in non-passive rentals Special $25,000 loss allowance for rental real estate with active participation Material participation safe harbor rules Events that trigger suspended PALs Limitations on tax credits generated by passive activities Special rules that re-characterize passive income to non-passive income What rentals are subject to self-employment tax under 1402

2025 Annual Update for Governmental Accountants & Auditors

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:GASB 100, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.GASB 101, Compensated Absences.Yellow Book and Single Audit engagements.Yellow Book independence requirements.Changes to the Uniform Guidance.2024 Compliance Supplement and the common deficiencies identified by the federal agencies and peer reviewers.

Surgent's Preparing Individual Tax Returns for New Staff and Paraprofessionals

New and expanded energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Preparation of various Form 1040 individual tax returns and schedules; provided answers include “filled-in” forms  Coverage of Form 7203  Coverage of §199A qualified business income, its calculation, limitations, and examples  Dividends and interest – Ordinary, return of capital, and capital gain distribution dividends; tax-exempt interest, original issue discount, etc.  Security transactions – From Form 1099-B to Form 8949 to Schedule D, plus mutual fund sales and related basis issues  Self-employed person issues  Schedule C deductions including depreciation  Sale and exchange of property – Understanding Form 4797 and depreciation recapture; capital gains  A working understanding of passive losses – How to handle rental property and how the passive loss rules flow to the tax forms  Itemized deductions – A thorough understanding of what’s deductible and what’s not  Interest deductions – Limitations and timing problems  Charitable contributions substituting for taxes, IRS says – No!  Retirement contributions and education credits and deductions  Tax computations – The Kiddie Tax, AMT, regular tax, tax credits  Individual problems illustrated by form preparation for various items, with numerous “practice tips”  Impact of recent legislation and forms changes on the 1040 

Surgent's Technical Business Practice Issues and Tax Forms for Experienced Practitioners

Schedules K-2 and K-3 and filing exceptions Form 7203  IRS Tax Pro Account  IRS modernization initiatives Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) Identity Theft warnings   IRS guidance for the marijuana industry  “Recycled” Form 1099-NEC to report nonemployee compensation  Form 1065 steps for reporting capital  Centralized audit regime; late filing penalties and small partnership relief  “Substance over Form” argument of shareholder loans  Advanced study of “At-Risk” loans  Employer W-2 correction requests  White House 2025 Budget Points  Don't get caught watching the paint dry -- What is hot and new  What is terminating S corporations today?  Special allocation issues of §704  Final regulations for allocating depreciation recapture to partners and members of LLCs 

Finding Errors in Excel Spreadsheets

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Understanding Common Excel Errors: Gain insights into the most common types of errors encountered in Excel, including formula errors, reference errors, and logic errors.Advanced Formulas and Functions: Learn to use advanced Excel functions and formulas that are crucial for error detection and data analysis.Data Validation Techniques: Master the art of data validation to prevent errors before they occur. This includes setting up data validation rules and using conditional formatting to highlight potential inaccuracies.Error Tracing and Auditing Tools: Delve into Excel's auditing tools to trace and fix errors. Learn to use Trace Precedents, Trace Dependents, and the Error Checking tool effectively.

Partnership/LLC Taxation: Tax Basis Capital Accounts

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Discuss the impact of the Section 199A flow-through entities deduction on partnerships and their partnersThe meaning of a "tax basis capital account"How the financial accounting and tax capital accounts differ from one anotherDetermine a partner's share of the partnership's liabilitiesDistinguish "recourse" loans from "nonrecourse" loansWhat are "qualified nonrecourse financing" loans and how they affect partnersSection 704 "built-in gain or loss" rules and how they impact Schedule K-1 reportingSection 4655 "at risk" rules and how they impact Schedule K-1 reporting

Coaching the Next Generation of CPAs

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Building a high-performing team comprised of multi-generational workers.How to effectively communicate with the millennial worker.Leveraging younger staff in business development opportunities.Measuring the productivity of a millennial workforce.

Surgent's Food, Beverage, and Entertainment Expensing

The 50% deduction for meals that are ordinary and necessary in carrying on a trade or business Elimination of the temporary rules that applied for 2021 and 2022 which allowed for 100% deductibility for ordinary and necessary business-related meals When meals are still 100% deductible IRS rules relating to the nondeducibility of activities considered entertainment or amusement What constitutes entertainment/amusement for tax purposes? When employers may deduct food and beverages provided to employees 50% deductibility for occasional employee meals and for overtime meals 50% deductibility for business meals during business meetings Business meals incurred during business travel Invoice meals separately from entertainment

Surgent's Hiring New Workers and Payroll Taxes

Form W-4 Form I-9 Form W-9 End-of-year compliance Payroll tax returns Unemployment insurance

Surgent's Key Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) Rules for Funding and Tax-free Distributions

Funding options for Roth accounts 529 plans to Roth IRAs Backdoor Roth strategies The new Roth SEP and Roth SIMPLE IRAs Roth 401(k) contribution rules The tax impact of rolling a 401(k) to a Roth IRA Who can start the Roth IRA 5-year clock? The 5-year rules for Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs Direct and indirect Roth conversions Direct and indirect rollovers from Roth 401(k) plans The risky recapture of the 10% penalty How the ordering rules work and when they apply FIFO rules for Roth IRAs Case studies and cheat sheets to reinforce concepts

Surgent's Schedules K-2 and K-3: Filing Requirements

Detailed discussion of the domestic filing exception  Filing requirements and exceptions for every part of Schedules K-2 and K-3 Examples based on common client situations encountered in practice

Surgent's Strategies for Maximizing Social Security Benefits

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

Surgent's Individual and Financial-Planning Tax Camp

Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE Act 2.0 Understanding the environment: what’s new, what’s expired or expiring, and what’s likely to change Reading a tax return for developing client-specific tax strategies Changes to the lifetime estate tax exemption in light of proposed regulations  The net investment income tax: planning for compliance Family income-splitting strategies that need to be considered Income tax issues: impact on timing of other income Selling a principal residence Two principal residences at the same time Use of life insurance to protect families: Whole Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance, Universal Life Insurance, and Variable Life Insurance Using Roth IRAs and Roth contribution programs to best advantage Conversions: do they still make sense? Taking distributions: matching timing to client requirements Qualified plan contributions to reduce current income and Social Security tax: implications for business owners and self-employed Social Security solvency issues Incentive Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan considerations What to do about itemized deductions Trans-generational planning: conversions, income, and gain-splitting Tax benefits of HSAs and other tax-advantaged accounts Identifying tax opportunities: reviewing the prior-year return to develop a plan for the future Planning for middle-income taxpayers: financial planning for the young, the working, and those approaching or in retirement Best financial planning ideas for young people

Retirement Planning: Next Stage for You or Your Client

The major topics covered in this class include:Welcome to Your Next Stage -- Developing a new perspective on what this next stage is really all aboutIt's About Time -- Discovering a new sense of purposeMoney Matters -- Assessing your financial conditionsRelationships Matter Too -- Addressing needed or potential changes in your relationshipsHealthy Habits -- Examining new or renewed ways to stay healthyWho I Am -- Creating a new identity, and answering "So what do you do?"My Master Plan -- Figuring out what to do next

Money Laundering Awareness for Accountants

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Money laundering overviewRole of tax examiners and auditorsTax return examinationPre-audit indicatorsAudit flagsReal estate issuesCash indicatorsInternational trade signalsLoan considerationsProfessional service provider concernsMoney laundering and ethics

Not-For-Profit Organizations: Financial Update 25-26

Financial entity IRS filing status Recent ASC updates affecting nonprofit entities