CPE Catalog
Chronological events are listed below the Featured events.
We are pleased to offer live CPE seminars throughout the year. These are virtual presentations with a live instructor allowing for live interaction. These seminars are listed in the Seminars tab below.
OBBBA Rules Relating to Research and Experimental Expenditures
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $119
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made very favorable taxpayer changes to Section 174, which determines the tax treatment of research and experimental (R&E) expenses. OBBBA allowed for the immediate deduction of domestic R&E expenses through the introduction of a new Section 174A and provides mechanisms for transitioning from the recent five-year amortization schedule to an immediate deduction for domestic R&E expenditures. The OBBBA changes offer tax saving opportunities through these R&E expenditures.
The Best Individual Income Tax Update Course by Surgent
-
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $299
This highly informative course comprehensively covers all the latest tax law developments. The focus is on individual taxation and discussion of the planning opportunities practitioners need to understand to help clients respond effectively. You will come away from the course with the up-to-date knowledge to educate your individual tax clients and implement tax-saving ideas that will serve their ever-evolving needs. This course is continually updated to reflect enacted legislation. Please Note: Due to content overlap, it is recommended that this course NOT be taken together with BFTU.
Choosing the Right Business Entity
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
The business structure a client chooses influences virtually every tax and financial issue associated with the business, including the business's day-to-day operations, its tax liability, how much of the owners' personal assets are at risk, and much more. For this and many other reasons, it is critical that a client choose a business structure that gives the right balance of legal protections and tax benefits. From a tax perspective, in terms of selecting an entity to do business in, the universe shifted with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted at the end of 2017. The tax rate for C corporations was lowered to 21% and the §199A deduction offered pass-through entities the chance to significantly lower the rate at which they are taxed. But how do all these options work and which option is best for which business? Those questions are at the heart of this webinar. In this program, we discuss whether there is a "best entity" for our clients. Accounting and finance professionals know that re-examining choice of entity determination is at the top of the agenda for client meetings because clients continue to want reassurance that they have the most tax-efficient entity structure. This program will equip you with the knowledge and insights you need to lead those discussions.
Introduction to Trusts for Accounting and Finance Professionals
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
Trusts are widely used in personal and business planning, yet many professionals encounter them without formal training. This course explains how trusts function, who is involved, and why different trust structures are used. Participants will gain a working understanding of trust mechanics, basic tax and accounting considerations, and common trust arrangements seen in estate planning, along with an introduction to how irrevocable trusts may be modified when circumstances change.
Time Management for Professionals
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
The phrase "time management" is misleading. No one manages time. Instead, we manage events in our lives which consume time. Like money, time is both finite and valuable; it should be budgeted and used wisely. Those individuals who "manage" or budget their time wisely often are more productive, less stressed, and able to achieve their goals more effectively than others. Professionals by nature place a high value on their time. Still, successful time management strategies vary based upon the personality, motivation, and discipline of each individual. This course provides simple, practical, and powerful techniques that help professionals work efficiently and achieve better balance in their lives. Successful time management skills also reduce the risk of burnout, which in turn improves the likelihood of achieving success in any endeavor.
Unique Tax Attributes of Different Entity Types
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
When putting together a financial plan, it is important to remember that the tax situation of the business and the individual are often intertwined. Therefore, decisions about entity type are vitally important. Practitioners need to understand not only how different entities are taxed, but also which taxes will have the greatest impact on the individual owner. In this course, we will explore when self-employment taxes apply to business income, as well as some of the lesser-known taxes that apply to flow-through entities. We will even explore when a PTE election could be helpful to a small business owner.
Audit Skills Training Level 2: Preparing for Increasing Responsibilities in Public Accounting
-
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $279
As you rapidly gain experience in the auditing profession, the responsibilities of the staff accountant grow exponentially. Progressing from the base-line audit skills covered in Level 1 training that allow a new auditor to perform their roles, Level 2 training covers those skills that are required for experienced staff accountants who need to audit more complex and subjective areas, such as accounts receivable and investments, and to plan and appropriately perform sampling and analytical procedures. Redesigned to provide the relevant content to staff accountants when they need it, the Level 2 reviews the underlying accounting concepts of these often-complex areas and, through examples and exercises, discusses the relevant audit procedures required by professional standards. The course is designed to allow the staff auditor to capitalize on their prior experiences and apply them in new areas, as they continue their career advancement. IMPORTANT NOTE: This course takes place over two consecutive days. Registration for both days is required.
Forms 1120-S and 1065 Return Review Boot Camp for New and Experienced Reviewers
-
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $279
Most review techniques developed by professionals are self-taught and fine-tuned via experience. Yet how does one start? The purpose of this course is to give both new and seasoned reviewers additional and advanced procedures via a multitude of checklists to more thoroughly review S corporation and partnership tax returns. Its emphasis is not planning; rather, it is to develop a strategy to properly review a return effectively and thoroughly. The course includes dozens of "practice tips for new reviewers" and is updated for impacts of newly enacted legislation.
Tax Forms Boot Camp: LLCs, Partnerships, and S Corporations
-
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $279
The course provides a comprehensive, hands-on, pencil pushing understanding of the preparation of both S corporation and partnership/LLC tax returns, along with the underlying laws, regulations, etc. The course uses the basic concepts underlying the two main types of business returns: 1120S and 1065 as building blocks for more complex concepts tax preparers should be aware of. The theoretical concepts get illustrated in comprehensive examples that incorporate the most up-to-date law changes and provisions.
Today's Entrepreneur: Hiring and Recruiting With a Limited Budget
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $119
Recruiting talent in today's ultra-competitive market is extremely tough. Just simply out paying your competition usually isn't an option. For this reason, we have to be more strategic in how we recruit and maintain talent. We need to know what attracts talent and what doesn't. We need to know where our competitive advantages are. In this course, using surveys and academic research, we will examine what attributes of companies employees care about most. We will also look at what attracts employees to a company and what causes them to leave. Finally, we will see how your ethics and culture may be used to differentiate your company to applicants and the outside world.
Where To Live in Retirement
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $119
Deciding where to live in retirement is a challenge that involves a multitude of factors that differ for everyone. Each person and couple should evaluate their current living situation to see where their goals and lifestyles in retirement can best be met. The program covers the various factors that most people should consider when thinking about where to spend their retirement years.
Ethics for the Industry Accountant
-
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
While ethics training is required by many states, the true value of the CPA license is in understanding how critically important ethical behavior is to one another, our customers, our firms, and the public. This course will explore the basic tenets of ethical behavior and use case studies to explore ethical dilemmas in various companies and organizations with a focus on dilemmas that may face CPAs in the industry.
Top Ten Questions from Partnership Clients Regarding the Section 754 Election
-
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
This program is an in-depth analysis of the Section 754 election and the two adjustments associated with the election under Section 743(b) and Section 734(b). The 754 election is a highly technical provision that provides great tax benefits to the owners of the partnership, and particularly in the case of Section 743(b), a new partner. This course covers the most common questions encountered by practitioners in their daily practices. The program includes a number of examples that provide insights into the mechanics of the two adjustments that follow upon a Section 754 election.
Tax Policy Hour With Ken Kies
-
Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
This program features renowned tax attorney Ken Kies, who has extensive experience in both government and private practice. Drawing on firsthand experience working with the U.S. Treasury Department and as Acting Chief Counsel of the IRS, plus his years advising clients and practitioners in private practice, he provides a unique perspective on how tax legislation, Treasury regulations, IRS guidance, and tax policy translate into practical planning opportunities. Ken's program examines significant current tax developments and their implications for individuals, businesses, and their advisors. Particular attention will be given to emerging tax policy, recent legislative changes, IRS and Treasury guidance, and planning strategies that practitioners should consider in advising clients. Rather than simply reviewing the law, the program focuses on what the changes mean in practice, including how tax professionals can identify opportunities, anticipate potential developments, and incorporate new rules into their tax planning and compliance practices. Participants will benefit from the speaker's insider perspective on the development and administration of federal tax policy, combined with practical insights gained from representing taxpayers and advising businesses. This program provides an experienced insider's perspective on why the tax rules look the way they do, how Treasury and the IRS are likely to interpret them, and what practitioners should be doing about them now.
Nuts & Bolts of Cryptocurrency Taxation & 1099-DAs
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
With over 40 percent of Americans owning digital assets and a single bitcoin now valued at over $100K, cryptocurrency is no longer a niche subject, yet few tax professionals understand how to help individuals and businesses who are dealing with digital assets. This session walks you through the tax implications of common cryptocurrency-related transactions and how to successfully service clients dealing in digital assets. We will also cover current developments surrounding this topic, such as Form 1099-DAs, the updated version of the digital assets question on Form 1040, and a series of chief counsel memorandums related to digital assets and tax planning opportunities.
Federal Tax Update
-
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
Both businesses and individual clients face major changes as a result of new legislation, and tax professionals face the considerable challenge of delivering effective planning advice and services to address this myriad of recent developments. This course addresses this challenge and also encompasses the latest cases and rulings applicable to individual and business clients. Continually updated to reflect enacted legislation. Please Note: Due to content overlap, it is recommended that this course NOT be taken together with BIT4.
Preparing and Writing Findings in Yellow Book and Single Audits
-
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
Reporting findings under the Yellow Book and single audit standards comes with unique rules - but mastering them is easier than you think. This course gives you the tools and techniques to prepare, write, and present findings that meet the GAO and OMB requirements while sparking meaningful improvements for your clients. You'll learn exactly what to report, how to report it, and where to report it so you can deliver results with clarity, compliance, and impact.
The Best Federal Tax Update Course by Surgent
-
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $299
In this continually revised course, tax advisors will be fully updated on the most recent enacted legislation and IRS guidance, as well as major trends on the horizon with a view toward planning considerations. This update course is designed for all practitioners, both those working in public accounting as well as those in private industry, who need the latest information on tax changes. Please Note: Due to content overlap, it is recommended that this course NOT be taken together with BITU.
Food, Beverage, and Entertainment Expensing
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
The IRS has issued final regulations regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's (TCJA) elimination of the deduction for expenditures related to entertainment, amusement, or recreational activities and provided guidance to determine whether an activity is considered to be entertainment. The final regulations also address the 50% limitation on the deduction of food and beverage expenses and when the 50% limitation does not apply. To effectively advise clients, it is imperative for tax practitioners to understand these rules and be updated on the latest IRS guidance related to meals and entertainment.
Maximizing Health Savings Accounts for Retirement Planning
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $119
Health savings accounts (HSAs) offer unique tax advantages that make them well-suited as a supplement to traditional retirement planning. HSAs are actually more tax efficient than traditional retirement plans (401(k) plans, IRAs, etc.), making them the best way to plan for future health care expenses in retirement. Many Americans assume that Medicare is free and will cover all their health care expenses in retirement, but interactions between Social Security and Medicare can create additional challenges. In this two-hour program, we will provide insights into how to leverage the tax advantages of HSAs to plan for health care expenses in retirement.