We know that this year has been tough on a lot of us, and many of us are now facing pretty major life changes — whether that’s working remote, socially distancing, or, for some of us, looking for a career change. Starting down a brand new career path can be scary, we know — especially […]
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Getting Ready for the New World of Peer Review
From those whose firms have recently gone through a peer review as part of the AICPA’s Peer Review Program (PRP), the feedback is consistent. Things have changed. While the underlying requirements of the PRP are the same, a review of a sample of an accounting firm’s engagement workpapers in order to assure compliance with applicable […]
Three Great Reasons to Join a Professional Association
I’m recently returned from a West coast trip—to the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum, to be more precise—where I had the opportunity to meet dozens of tax professionals, and to reconnect with many others who happen to be members of the association I have the privilege to lead. These events are opportunities to broadcast your value […]
Independent Contractor vs. Employee: The Tax Difference
Since the introduction of virtual marketplace companies (VMC’s) like Uber, there has been some confusion about what is means to be an independent contractor vs. an employee. The important distinctions between these two worker classifications can seriously affect a worker’s wages and what taxes are paid by the worker or by the business. Get to […]
IRS Offers Safe Harbor to Claim Rental Real Estate as QBI Deduction
The IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2019-38 on September 24th, 2019, finalizing a safe harbor under Section 199A for rental real estate owners to claim a qualified business income deduction of up to 20%. Defining “Rental Real Estate Enterprise” For the real estate business to qualify for the safe harbor, it must meet the definition of […]
IRS Finalizes New Bonus Depreciation Regulations
The IRS finalized a new law for depreciation under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), allowing businesses to immediately expense more qualified property. The final regulations put into effect the August 2018 proposed regulations but include some modifications. The final regulations include expensing of section 179 property, an increase in bonus depreciation from 50% […]
8 Common Tax Problems Every Tax Preparer Should Be Ready For in 2020
2018 had some major tax changes due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And while we’re still recovering from these changes (or still working through them with our extended filers), it’s time to start looking into what tax problems we’ll be working with for the 2019 tax year. Most of the changes to the […]
PRESS RELEASE: Surgent Launches ExamMatrix to Aid Throughout the Designation-Seeking Process
At the start of your credential-seeking journey, you may have experienced some confusion or lack of professional guidance regarding what steps you should take on your journey toward becoming an accounting professional. With the help of our fledgling website, ExamMatrix, up-and-coming finance professionals will be able to access a wealth of information and resources that […]
Surgent Partners with NAEA to Create Pathway to EA Program
Surgent Professional Education and the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) recently announced the Pathway to EATM Program. The goal of this partnership is to shine a light on this in-demand career. The Pathway to EA program is designed to increase the amount of enrolled agent candidates, and improve candidate’s Special Enrollment Exam (SEE) pass […]