CPE Catalog & Events

Leveraging ChatGPT: Unleash the Power

Surgent's Elder Fraud

Common elder fraud schemes How to recognize scam attempts What to do when you think you are being scammed Where and how to report a scam What you should do now to prevent being scammed How to avoid being scammed on the internet Why older Americans are disproportionately impacted by scams and fraud Technical support scams How to avoid giving money to scammers What to do if you or someone you know is targeted by fraud The National Elder Fraud Hotline How to get your money back after being scammed Types of elder law financial exploitation

Surgent's Tax Research - Intermediate Concepts

Tax code hierarchy Organization of an Internal Revenue Code section Special rules for IRC citation Citing other primary authorities Private letter rulings Primary vs. secondary authority Secondary sources of authority Steps in the tax research process Research memoranda

Surgent's Current Issues in Accounting and Auditing: An Annual Update

Recently issued but newly implemented Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs), the PCC Update, and items on the FASB’s Technical Agenda New ASUs covering disaggregated expenses, crypto assets (e.g., cryptocurrency), and business combinations Results and findings of the FASB’s Final (Stage 3) Post-Implementation Review (PIR) Report on Topic 606 Recently issued SASs and other AICPA activity through SAS No. 149 Detailed review of the three new Statement on Quality Management Standards (SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3) Other important A&A practice matters

Surgent's Simply Auditing Not-for-Profits Efficiently

How distinctive funding sources, different operating purposes, and lack of ownership interests affect risk assessment and planning in the audit of a not-for-profit Key considerations and auditing procedures applied in auditing contributions, functional expenses, net assets, etc. Frequent issues arising in audits of not-for-profits (e.g., independence concerns, communicating with those charged with governance, Yellow Book audits, single audits, etc.)

Surgent's Navigating AI Compliance: The EU AI Act for U.S. Finance and Accounting Leaders

Introduction to the EU AI Act: background, objectives, global relevance, and extraterritorial scope Key provisions and risk classifications: prohibited, high-risk, limited-risk, and general-purpose AI systems; prohibited AI practices Compliance requirements for high-risk AI systems: technical documentation, data governance, and human oversight requirements; importance of risk management and transparency obligations Practical steps for U.S. professionals: strategies to align with EU compliance standards; anticipating future regulatory developments

Surgent's The AI-augmented Professional: Practical Tools, Real Risks, and Immediate Use Cases

Explore from the history of automation to the current landscape of large language models (LLMs) and generative tools to demystify the technology Free, accessible apps to enterprise-grade solutions and specialized accounting software tailored for tax, audit, and advisory workflows Ethical obligations and professional standards that govern AI use, including data privacy, client confidentiality, and the management of "hallucinations" or inaccuracies Through specific use cases and prompting demonstrations, understand how to use AI to draft complex communications, summarize research, optimize Excel workflows, and enhance client advisory services

Surgent's Working Remotely: Best Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities

Technology and workstation arrangements Maximizing productivity Establishing procedures that can be implemented throughout the organization Understanding the relationship between remote work and employee retention Effective communication strategies for staying connected with colleagues and clients The productivity challenges unique to working from home Time management The importance of distinguishing between the “home office” and “home” Data privacy concerns Other ethical considerations that arise when working from home

Surgent's Gaining a Competitive Advantage: Critical Skills for CFOs and Controllers

Latest state of the economy Expense control that works Understanding our changing workforce and working environment Artificial intelligence Financial risk analysis Enterprise risk management, including looking at AI Improving bank relationships

Surgent's Preparing and Writing Findings in Yellow Book and Single Audits

The types of audit findings reported in Yellow Book and single audit engagements The finding elements required by the GAO and OMB standards Where audit findings get communicated in the reporting process

Comprehensive Update: FASB, AICPA (SAS, SQMS, SSARS & Ethics) 26-27

ASU effective in 2024 and beyond  Recent SAS  Selected ethics interpretations 

Surgent's Fiduciary Income Tax Returns – Form 1041 Workshop with Filled-in Forms

Classifying receipts between “income” and “corpus” under the Uniform Principal and Income Act Calculation of DNI utilizing three different methods, a “forms” method (Schedule B), a “code” method, and a “shortcut” method, utilizing a worksheet of common income and expenses Proper W-2 preparation and procedures in the year of death Taxpayer passes before taking a required minimum distribution; what must be done?  Forgetful fiduciaries of simple trusts Fluctuating trusts – Simple one year, complex the next Dividing income in the year of death Overview of Subchapter J Form preparation issues – Filing requirements and line-by-line explanations of Form 1041 Taxable income of estates and trusts and expense allocation issues Specific deductions and miscellaneous itemized deductions Income in respect of a decedent The income distribution deduction calculation Relation of principal and income law to DNI Understanding how to handle capital gains and losses Allocating tax items to beneficiaries: another K-1 Other considerations: excess deductions on termination Comprehensive DNI case study, with principal (cost and FMV) and income reconciliation Comprehensive trust and estate case studies, with filled-in forms

Surgent's Predicting Future Financial Issues Facing the Financial Executive

CPA becoming attuned to broad based business knowledge, professional skepticism, and subordination of judgment The future of medical care in the United States in a post COVID-19 environment Future of social security and impact on retirement planning and employee retention Impact on financial executive if the dollar is no longer the world currency “Fate of the States” – will the location of your business make you less competitive Future of workmen’s compensation and unemployment compensation Future of interest rates Impact of greater reliance on technology AICPA top 10 trends and technologies National infrastructure ESG and DEI trends in the global economy Impact of continuing uncertainty in markets

Surgent's S Corporation Core Tax Issues From Formation Through Liquidation

What exactly is terminating S corporations, including recent rulings Schedules K-2 and K-3 reporting requirements and filing exceptions Form 7203, S Corporation Shareholder Stock and Debt Basis Limitations Shareholder changes Living Trust and causes S termination LLCs electing S status, changing agreement could terminate election Inherited a new client with reporting errors? What are my options? Debt vs. equity and §385; Federal Express battled and won, how do we? Are we to expect SECA tax on pass-through entities? Shareholders losing “substance over form” argument Basis neither increased by phantom income, nor reduced by non-deducted pass-through losses Can I accrue expenses payable to a shareholder? Sure, but can I deduct them? How §179 limitations affect S corp. basis Comparison of liquidation of a C corporation vs. the liquidation of an S corporation Did not timely file Form 2553? A simple method to correct Is there a “flexible standard of law” in regard to closely held entities?

The Best Individual Income Tax Update Course by Surgent

Comprehensive coverage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Review of key components of President Trump's tax bill, 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 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

Surgent's Review and Analysis of Crucial OBBBA Changes

Changes to the standard deduction Senior deduction Deduction for auto loan interest Estate tax changes and the portability option Tax consequences associated with investing in revised opportunity zones Full expensing of domestic R&E Individual and corporate charitable contributions Wagering losses Student loan discharges Taking advantage of scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) Dependent care assistance program Other crucial OBBBA provisions

Surgent's Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations: Engagement Performance and Annual Update

SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services -- 2018 SSARS No. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions  SSARS No. 26, Quality Management for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation and review engagements Reporting and disclosure illustrations for each level of service, including attesting on personal financial statements, prescribed form, special purpose framework and other engagement variations Other communication requirements, such as sample engagement letters and management representation letters

World Class Cost Accounting: A Practical Application—Part 2 26-27

Classification of MFG overhead into the five cost types Selecting the bases for tracing or assigning overhead to products Period Manufacturing Inefficiencies'categories and costing

Comprehensive Update: FASB, AICPA (SAS, SQMS, SSARS & Ethics) 26-27

ASU effective in 2024 and beyond  Recent SAS  Selected ethics interpretations 

Surgent's Establishing State Residency and Saving Your Clients Money

Typical provisions in state statutes regarding domicile and residency In depth analysis of domicile and residency definitions Issues regarding one’s permanent abode Analysis of jurisdiction where taxpayer has the greatest connections Detailed discussion of criteria used to establish domicile and residency