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Dear Elizabeth:

While another tax season ended for many of you this week, a new membership year is upon all of us. Your 2015/2016 MSCPA membership year starts on May 1. I hope you will join us and help make this year the best one yet. This coming year will be all about providing the best service possible for each one of our members. Here are a few ways we're doing that:

• New education programs based on your feedback – topics you want, how you want it, where you want it and when you want it (plus, members save an average of $80 per seminar!);
• A revamped member benefits suite to help you and your business thrive;
• More networking opportunities than ever before; and
• Even more helpful and targeted content and information to keep you on the cutting edge of the profession.

Thank you for your continued support as we look to take this new membership year on by the horns.

Lastly, the MSCPA will be closed on Monday, April 20 for Patriot’s Day. Good luck to all members running the Boston Marathon!

Beth Lyons, CAE
Interim President & CEO

CPE:

Accounting & Auditing Conference (6/2)
This year’s conference features national and local speakers who are teaming up to share their knowledge to help you get ahead of the curve in 2015. Get the answers to frequently asked questions, the information you need to know on social media risks and go beyond the basics of revenue recognition at one of our most popular conferences.

View the digital brochure.



Choose Your Path: Western MA Conference (6/10)
You’re in charge of the agenda! Customize your schedule with our new, bundled sessions. Earn up to 8 credit hours by attending only the sessions you want – does it get better than that? Yes, it does. Get the profession’s hottest topics delivered to you in a half OR a full-day format. Choose from a host of taxation, accounting & auditing and ethics sessions – or select all three. This conference is all about YOU! What will you choose?

Members: Save More Before 5/1!
Members receive an additional discount on all local CPE programs: save $20 on all full-day programs and $10 on half-day programs. These discounts are already reflected on the website once you log in, but hurry: registration fees will go back to regular rates on 5/2!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

IRS Updates
- IRS Provides Relief for Form 1095-A Issues
- IRS Relying Heavily on Technology for Fraud Detection, Taxpayer Services

DOR Update
- Tell Us: How is the Corporate Tax Amnesty Program Doing?

MA House Unveils FY 16 Budget Plan
House lawmakers unveiled a $38 billion budget this week, increasing spending by just 2.8% over FY 15. The proposal omits the Governor’s plan to axe the film-tax credit while doubling the Earned Income Tax Credit and includes no new taxes or fees.

State Lawmakers Call for Tax Changes; Cite Off-Shore Haven Loophole
A bipartisan group of Massachusetts Legislators joined representatives from the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group in support of legislation aimed at amending the state’s tax code. The bill would close the so-called “water’s edge loophole” by requiring corporations to treat profits made in Massachusetts as domestic taxable income, regardless of where they are deposited.

NETWORKING:

Upcoming Committee Meetings
- Federal Taxation (4/21)
- Accounting & Auditing (4/22)

Sip & Socialize - Coming to Del Frisco's, Boston (5/7)
Spark new leads networking with like-minded CPAs and lawyers in a relaxed setting! Stop wasting your time networking that goes nowhere - connect with professionals who want to follow-up, and help you expand your business and advance your career. Sip & Socialize makes it easy to meet quality contacts and get to the next level.

MEMBERSHIP:

Speaking Opportunity at Mohegan Sun
The New England Collectors Association is looking for a CPA to speak on how the tax system benefits owners in the collection industry. The seminar will be held on Friday, June 5 at Mohegan Sun. If you are interested, please contact Elizabeth Emanuelson.

A Day in the Life of...You?
The MSCPA is looking for members in business and industry to profile in upcoming issues of SumNews magazine. "A Day in the Life" highlights members who have chosen careers outside of accounting firms. Read our most recent feature here. If you are interested in being highlighted or nominating another member, please contact Elizabeth Emanuelson.

NEWS & EVENTS:

4 Traits that Distinguish Successful Leaders
Leaders of organizations with strong shareholder returns have four traits in common, according to a global McKinsey study that looked at 20 distinct leadership behaviors known to drive performance.

The Secret to Retaining Top Talent? Development
Research shows that CPAs—young talent, in particular—will leave an organization if they don’t see opportunities to learn and grow.

What to Do After You Make Partner
Congratulations! You made partner. Now what? Becoming a partner requires a new perspective on leadership, goals and strategy.

What are the Chances of Your Clients Being Audited?
Tax Analysis has created an interactive bar graph to provide information on the chances of being audited by the IRS.