CPE & Event Calendar

This is the second in a four-part series. One of the basic rules in fiduciary taxation is that the person or entity that receives the taxable income from the trust or estate is taxed on that income. The calculation of Distributable Net Income (DNI) and the Distribution Deduction determine the allocation of the tax burden between the fiduciary entity and the beneficiary. Therefore, when distributions are made that "carry out" DNI, the fiduciary entity operates as a conduit and the beneficiaries are taxed on the amounts reflected on the Schedule K-1. The fiduciary entity receives a corresponding distribution deduction. When taxable income is accumulated by the entity, the fiduciary pays the tax. We will explore the various distributions made to beneficiaries and their impact on the entity's taxation.

Please join us for a discussion on like-kind exchanges (LKE), known as one of the last great tax legal "shelters" available to those buying and selling real property. We cover the basic structure of a LKE, and ways a taxpayer can utilize qualified third-party intermediaries (QI), and tenancy-in-common structures including Delaware Statutory Trusts (DST). We also explore creative solutions to sticky situations a taxpayer may find itself in obtaining replacement property. This course is ideal for CPAs, EAs, lawyers, real estate professionals, accountants or other tax professionals. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The role of financial professionals has and continues to change in organizations. The stereotype of collecting and reporting data has been replaced by a broader vision, which focuses on improving an organization's results today and preparing it for the future. This brief program offers specific actions that can be implemented by financial personnel to expand their role through improving their organization. The actions and techniques provided build upon and improve activities that exist in many organizations (measuring, budgeting, hiring, risk management, etc.), as well as providing insights into capital allocation, cash management, valuation techniques, variables that influence capacity levels, M&A activity and actions to increase efficiency and innovation. Updated to include the impact of regulations, additional examples of M&A, alliances and strategic spin-offs/splits, methods to improve efficiency from existing activities, the impact of COVID-19, as well as current organizational changes employed to manage and accelerate growth.

A multitude of tax changes have are currently taking place, challenging tax practitioner to stay well-informed. This 4 hour program will cover tax developments specific to business, including new court decisions, recent IRS publications, and the latest tax legislation that will impact individuals.  The remaining time will be spent on IRS procedure and other issues. This course will provide a concise look at the hottest topics affecting every tax practitioner.  **Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com.  

Did you know Excel has 400-500 functions depending on your version? Did you know there are 12 different function categories? Did you know you could create your own functions? After you attend this class, you will be in the know! In this webinar, we will focus on proofing and auditing your spreadsheets. You will learn how to build spreadsheets that validate the accuracy of your calculations and techniques to use the Data Validation feature to validate data entry. You will also learn techniques to cross-foot your data to ensure accuracy as well as how to use the various Excel Auditing Tools. This session is presented using Excel 2013. Regardless of the version you are using, ALL concepts covered in this course apply to ALL versions of Excel. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Most of our clients are pass-through entities for which many of the general business strategies are subject to additional limitations. To provide the tax planning strategies for closely held business clients that will bring more revenue, this course focuses on the special concerns and techniques the practitioner needs to thrive in this market.

Professionals often require the ability to utilize professional skepticism, due care and independence when executing their corporate role. Corporate politics can be a combating factor when attempting to comply with those requirements. Leaders must be vigilant about nipping “political” problems in the bud, before they spiral out of control and/or impede those whose job it is to see through political agendas.   Dealing with corporate politics can be one of the most frustrating and confusing experiences for any professional. Unfortunately, selfishness, greed, bickering, lust for power, etc. can creep into your company's culture and impede productivity.   Learning to understand and deal with corporate politics is a prerequisite to being able to maintain an effective career. This course discusses the basics of corporate politics and provides you with alternatives to managing and handling dilemmas that you may face.   This course focuses on the core concepts that impact corporate politics and discusses methods for better understanding when, how, and why the issues occur. This enables professionals to better execute their professional skepticism, due care and independence responsibilities.

Award winning discussion leader, former AICPA Council Member, and former state accountancy board member Mark Hugh will review the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretations; discuss new developments in regulation at the national and state level; and discuss examples of best practices, case studies, and disciplinary actions.

Audit Reporting Fundamentals - Introducing Core Concepts in the Audited Financial Statement Drafting and Issuance Process will provide tips and techniques necessary for issuing and reporting on high-quality financial statements prepared under any applicable financial reporting framework. The ultimate objective of a financial statement audit is to issue an auditor's report. Note: This course is recommended as a part of a 16-hour audit skills curriculum for experienced staff auditors, while it is also appropriate for anyone who has responsibilities for drafting and issuing audit reports. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Second, in a four-part series, new and experienced leaders dive deeper into the keys to becoming more effective. This course explores the delicate balance leaders face: How do I get results from my team without burning them out or being an unpopular leader? We'll explore reactive leadership tendencies and how they show up for leaders, especially under pressure. We'll identify what is driving these behaviors, including the desire to be liked by your team, and explore how they impact your ability to produce results. Finally, explore the role of building trust and relationships with team members in order to gain influence and generate better results. Be sure to register for each course in this series: New Manager Series: Making the Shift from Individual Contributor to Supervisor 2024 New Manager Series: Balancing Leadership & Likeability 2024 New Manager Series: Making the Shift from Individual Contributor to Supervisor 2024 New Manager Series: The How To's of Leading 2024

Even after we complete our work at an institution, the question sometimes lingers: "Did I pick the right major?" Major program determination is difficult in a single audit and sometimes we feel ill prepared to make the best decision. This course will give you the counseling and assistance you need to feel confident in your major program selection under the Uniform Guidance for Federal Awards requirements.

In the past talking about mental issues in the workplace was taboo. Not anymore!!! So many of us suffer with mental health issues at some point in our lives. Poor mental health impacts, from a work perspective, productivity, absenteeism, retention and more. On a personal level it often causes personal distress and hopelessness. The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) is addressing mental illness as a critical factor for the wellbeing of organizations. Additionally, the EEOC is cracking down on mental health discrimination. It is a very important topic for any functional business! This ethics-based webinar will bring awareness to this issue and offer suggestions on managing mental health issues in ethical, compassionate and healthy ways. It will offer suggestions on managing mental health issues for leaders, managers and all staff to create and environment of safety and belonging. This webinar will also address the topic of suicide talking about warning signs and resources. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

One of the important roles of any member of the financial team. Including the controller, may be involvement in the preparation of the company’s financial statements. Even if that responsibility falls within the office of the CFO, the controller and other finance personnel must understand how their transitions recorded impact the financial statements. Financial statements (or financial reports) are formal records of the financial activities and position of a business, person, or other entity. Relevant financial information is presented in a structured manner and in a form which is easy to understand. They typically include four basic financial statements accompanied by a management discussion and analysis: A balance sheet or statement of financial position reports on a company's assets, liabilities and owners’ equity at a given point in time. An income statement may have varying names including profit and loss report (P&L report), statement of comprehensive income, or statement of revenue & expenses. These report on a company's income, expenses, and profits over a stated period. A profit and loss statement provides information on the operation of the enterprise. These include sales and the various expenses incurred during the stated period. A statement of changes in equity or “statement of equity” also called “statement of retained earnings” reports on the changes in equity of the company over a stated period. A cash flow statement reports on a company's cash flow, particularly its operating, investing and financing activities over a stated period. A balance sheet represents a single point in time, where the income statement, the statement of changes in equity, and the cash flow statement each represent activities over a stated period. For large corporations, these statements may be complex and may include an extensive set of footnotes to the financial statements, management discussion and analysis and supplementary information. The notes typically describe each item on the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement in further detail. Notes to financial statements are considered an integral part of the financial statements.  

This webinar will show you how to use Excel's charting and formatting features to present financial data to a non-financial audience. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." People tend to better understand your point when visuals are used. We will explore the many capabilities of presenting your data without showing rows and rows or columns and columns of data. Help your audience visualize the meaning of the data, whether it is a trend, an exception, a distribution or a good vs. bad relationship. This session is presented using Excel 2013. Regardless of the version you are using, ALL concepts covered in this course apply to ALL versions of Excel. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

With proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) salary exemption pending, knowledge of employee classification becomes crucial, especially for practitioners working with small businesses. This session will provide updates and best practices to stay compliant with laws regarding exempt employees for both your practice and for your clients.

This session will expand on methodologies to employ when owner-employee compensation is at issue. The session will focus on determinations of reasonable replacement compensation for individuals who both provide services to a closely held business or professional practice and also have an ownership stake in the enterprise. Executive Compensation in the form of options and restricted stock will also be covered in the context of marital dissolution proceedings. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Don't miss out! Join fellow MassCPAs members at The Harp in Boston on Tuesday, November 12, for a fun night of networking before heading to the TD Garden to watch the Boston Celtics take on the Atlanta Hawks. This is a member-only event and you can only register 4 members per transaction. Tickets are limited, so secure your spot today!

Tax rates, personal liability, operations – these are all factors to be weighed when advising clients about their choice of entity decision.  This session provides a comparison of the multiple entity choices to start the discussion with clients and selecting the best tax efficient option for them. **Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com.

Award winning discussion leader Mark Hugh discusses both nexus basics and new developments in the dynamic, ever changing world of state income and sales tax nexus. This valuable course answers your frequently asked questions, reviews key factors in examining potential nexus consequences, takes a tour through the rules in states comprising 50% of the US, and identifies free, online multistate resources. 

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which provides new guidelines that change the accounting for leasing arrangements. To be able to properly account for leases, financial professionals must understand ASU 2016-02 (also referred to as Topic 842). This guidance covers information on how leases should be accounted for. The previous leasing standard (ASC 840) had been in existence for almost 40 years. Under ASC Topic 842, lessors continue to classify leases as operating, direct financing, or sales-type. While lessees now classify leases as operating or financing leases. Previous guidance only required capital leases to be reflected on the BS. The new guidance requires all leases to be reflected on the BS. This is a major change for organizations and will cause their balance sheets to swell as leases must now be disclosed on the balance sheet. The standards original effective dates were prior to 2019. In April 2020, due to COVID-19, FASB voted to defer the effective date for ASC 842 for private companies and certain not-for-profit's for one year. For private companies and private not-for-profits, the leasing standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. For public companies the leasing standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The course covers elements of lease classification for both lessees and lessors. Also, numerous examples are incorporated as reference.