CPE Catalog & Events

Surgent's Section 754 Step-Up in Basis: Understanding the Tax Issues for Partnerships and LLCs

How and why a partnership makes a 754 election The effect of the 754 election when an interest in a partnership is sold or inherited How the 754 election applies when a partnership makes a distribution of property to one or more of its partners How to make the 754 basis adjustment

Surgent's The CMA's Guide to Project Management

Establishing a system: identifying forces that support the status quo; setting milestones and goals; the role of the CMA Necessary first steps: set a framework for the project’s activities; identify needed resources; obtain support; decide on a structure; establish a team for a specific project; identify necessary team skill sets Project evaluation: analytical tools, strategic evaluation; sources of risk Maintaining focus: monitoring and measuring results; keeping to the project’s scope Avoiding frequent traps: sunk costs; financing pitfalls; project creep; tunnel vision; failure to integrate the team’s work internally and/or the final project with the remaining organization Introduction and examples of analytical tools throughout the session: mapping; CPM; Gantt charts; benchmarking; Pareto analysis; PESTLE analysis; valuation techniques; post-completion evaluations

Surgent's Form 1040 Return Review Boot Camp for New and Experienced Reviewers

Review an error-prone "staff-prepared" Form 1040 from client-provided information. Where do you start? Get to know your client and ask the questions Several new reporting issues for the reviewer to consider, including the main credit provisions as enacted under the American Rescue Plan What are common errors preparers make and what are the areas generating malpractice claims? The importance of engagement letters, questionnaires, and §7216 permission statement Initial administrative groundwork Identifying organizing issues in the tax return to be reviewed Avoiding “willful blindness.” Handling ethical and moral dilemmas Efficient review of certain advanced issues for income, adjustments, deductions, and credits Effective procedures for delinquent clients, filing past-due tax returns First-time client issues requiring extra scrutiny Multiple checklists of efficient procedures to identify potential issues on a 1040 return Listing of schedules for staff to prepare to make a review easier, including basis issues for 1040 clients Reconciling time pressure with thoroughness and quality control Professionals acting professionally

Tax Depreciation: Review and Update

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Recent tax legislation and developments related to capitalizationEligible property for Section 179 and Section 168(k)Discussion of the Section 179 deduction and its use to depreciate real propertyThe Section 168(k) deduction and its use to depreciate real propertyDisposition of segments of real propertyExchanges of tangible personal property after repeal of the like-kind exchange rulesOther related topics

Ethics and Civility in the Workplace

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:What is civility and how it is tied to the bottom line?Principles of CivilityGiving the Benefit of the DoubtInclusivityCommunication Review of ethical values and principles with an emphasis on:RespectCourageCompassionHonor Accountability 

2025 A&A Update With Technology Implementation

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Deep dive into the Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) effective in 2025.Insights from the FAF's 2024 PCC Review.Overview of FASB's Invitation to Comment - Agenda Consultation.The essential changes in quality management standards that firms must implement by the end of 2025. Common deficiencies identified by the DOL in EBP (Employee Benefit Plan) engagements and provide a peek at upcoming projects from the Auditing Standards Board (ASB).

Basic Staff Tax Training: Individual 25-26

Emphasize form 1040 and the accompanying reporting schedules for a basic individual income tax return Identify and be able to implement basic individual income tax planning ideas for clients Familiarity with several source documents utilized in the preparation of an individual income tax return Identify common errors made in the preparation of an individual income tax return and understand how to avoid the errors in the future

Comprehensive Update: FASB, AICPA (SAS, SQMS, SSARS & Ethics) 25-26

ASU effective in 2024 and beyond Recent SAS Selected ethics interpretations

IRAs: Traditional, Roth, SEP & SIMPLE 25-26

An emphasis on newly enacted tax legislation affecting IRAs., including the NEW final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations Contribution limits to and tax treatment of distributions from Traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Deductible phase-out limits for Traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers who are active participants in qualified retirement plans Roth IRA contribution phase-out limits, as well as tax-free qualified distributions Planning opportunities for conversions to ROTH IRAs Rollover rules to/from different retirement accounts and the one-rollover-per-year limitation The different options of receiving IRA distributions before age 59 « and avoiding the 10% early distribution penalty (including substantially equal periodic payments) The required minimum distribution (RMD) rules from IRAs needed to avoid the 50% penalty after the account owner turns age 72 or dies The tax ramifications of spouse and non-spouse beneficiaries and how this affects the RMD calculation after the account owner s death Overview of health savings account (HSA) eligibility rules, contribution limits and distribution rules

Surgent's Key Current Financial and Economic Issues Facing the Financial Executive

Taking a strategic perspective relative to risk management and crisis management Reviewing the impact uncertainty and risk at the operational level relative to short- and intermediate-term decision making Determining the safety and soundness of the financial plans for your organization in an uncertain economic climate specifically as it relates to capital adequacy and strategic direction Managing the debt and equity mix for your organization in a rapidly changing economic landscape Determining the impact that competing in a global marketplace has on an organization and how to take steps to become more competitive globally Evaluating the impact of federal, state, and municipal deficits and unfunded mandates as it relates to tax planning Evaluating retirement programs with Social Security funding for your employees Determining the safety and soundness of your credit and collections processes and selection of customers in an uncertain environment Influencing growth through acquisition of distressed organizations The economic way ahead for the CFO/Controller 

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

The Best Individual Income Tax Update Course by Surgent

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 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 Real Estate professional requirements Review of pertinent cases and rulings affecting taxpayers 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

Ethics and Technology for CPAs

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:The foundational ethical principles CPAs are required to follow and how these principles apply to audit quality, data privacy and security, and the use of emerging technologies.The profession's need to change to meet its ethics standard in a technology-centric environment.Changes being considered by the AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy that could impact the profession.

Comprehensive Audit & SSARS Update

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee standards update and new practice aidAICPA Auditing Standards Board standards update including recent changes to the audit and attestation standardsAICPA’s new Quality Management Standards - Overview, implementation considerations, timeline, and AICPA implementation resourcesPCAOB, IAASB standard-setting agenda and potential future AICPA ASB standards changesUpdate on AICPA’s Enhancing Audit Quality InitiativeTrends in audit quality including the DOL’s audit quality studyFrequent peer review findings and practice tips for achieving high practice qualityLatest on the DOL’s audit quality study

Crypto Tax Planning - Beyond The Basics & What Practitioners Need To Know Going Forward

Steps to Stop External Fraud

The major topics covered in this course include:Types of external fraudConsiderations as organizations work to reduce fraud riskExternal fraud and known parties/External fraud unknown perpetrators

Ethical AI Practices for CPAs: Ensuring Responsible Use

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Understanding ethical implications of AIData privacy and security considerationsCompliance with regulations and professional standardsDeveloping ethical AI policies and procedures

Surgent's Engagement and Client Retention Best Practices

Managing client expectations How automation improves client engagement Understanding the role of feedback systems Seeking referrals Building client loyalty Customer retention marketing Expanding services offered to clients Knowing when it is appropriate to enter new markets

Surgent's The Essential Multistate Tax Update

Employees working in multiple states: Withholding issues (when to start and where to withhold) special issues depending on type of tax assessed in the state or locality Emerging sales tax topics: Elimination of the physical presence standard in determining nexus (Wayfair case); economic nexus for remote sellers; assisting remote sellers in determining a plan of action in states that enforce economic nexus Emerging compliance issues in the new sales tax economy Income Tax (and other forms of tax): Economic nexus (taxation without physical presence) Will states shift away from income tax and increase reliance on sales tax after Wayfair? Treatment of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by the states: presence of intangible property; is P.L. 86-272 still valid? Pass-through problems: Nexus issues for interest owners Treatment of the 199A deduction for pass through entities by states: Withholding issues Practical considerations in dealing with multistate taxation: Dealing with state nexus questionnaires When to consider voluntary compliance: Responsibility of officers, members, partners, and shareholders; planning ideas and opportunities; updates on pending federal legislation relative to state tax

SEC Case Studies: Ethical Dilemmas in Finance and Accounting

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction to Ethics and Ethical DilemmasEthical Codes and Professional StandardsFraud and the Fraud TriangleEthical Decision-Making ModelsFinancial Statement Manipulation TacticsCash Flow and Key Metrics Misrepresentations