Tax Practicing English As a Foreign Language is Fun

Transcription

1 ENROLLED AGENT September 2015 Editor: Dale Quelle, EA SEPTEMBER DINNER MEETING IRS Stakeholder Liaison Update with Dan Breece See Page 3 for Details

2 September 2015 Page 2 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE by John Kristianson I am sitting in the Frankfurt-am- Main airport at the Sheraton Hotel. Just spent three weeks in Poland. The first week was spent in Warsaw at the home of my Polish teacher trying to polish my Polish so that I could at least order a beer or find the Loo. I have never studied a Slavic language before, so it was interesting. Five hours a day trying to get my pronunciation down. My teacher would not let me go until I could pronounce the word properly. Sometimes, I just wanted to walk out. But it is amazing what five hours a day can teach you about 1) yourself and 2) the subject you are studying. The second two weeks were spent at a camp for Polish kids teaching English in a small village about 100 kilometers (75 miles) east of Warsaw. Well Teaching is probably the incorrect term. But having the kids learn from native speakers was more the program. Some of these kids have been studying English in their schools for years, but they cannot form sentences since the emphasis in the schools is on learning grammar and vocabulary. The teachers in the schools are Polish, so they really cannot help the kids speak. Rote memory? Of course. Not a lot of time is spent teaching how to speak. There were nine of us from the US. All volunteers, and from all kinds of backgrounds. One guy, from Atlanta is a CPA and he does seminars around the country on Quickbooks, with and emphasis on non-profit organizations. Hum... maybe I can write this trip off as a business expense. Just kidding. Most of the volunteers hailed from the Midwest. One lady had come from Anchorage Alaska. She won the prize for most miles traveled. Esther, from Minnesota, had taught English in China with this organization for nine years. A friend of hers, Jim from Milwaukee, had taught in China and Poland. Esther and Jim were the only professional teachers in the group. President John Kristianson, EA MBA 5030 Katella Blvd, #228 Los Alamitos, CA (562) , john@taxxmann.net First Vice President Joyce Cheng, EA 31 Woodleaf Irvine, CA 2614 (714) , dynasty53@gmail.com Second Vice President Joe Guccione, EA Daisy Ave Fountain Valley, CA (714) , gucci-one@msn.com Secretary Jean Krieger, EA 2100 Main St #106 Irvine, CA (949) , kriegerj@cox.net Treasurer Christine Davidson, EA Via Luisa Mission Viejo, CA (949) , chris@ocnumberz.com Directors Matthew Cooling, EA (949) , matthew@action-tax.com David Hilliard, EA 402 Red Cloud Dr Diamond Bar, CA (714) , dhilliard@gtbsonline.com Patti Kappen, EA Rancho Viejo Rd #215 San Juan Capistrano, CA (949) , patti@sanjuanfinancial.com David Shashoua, EA MacArthur Blvd #400 Irvine, CA (714) , dshasho1@dtt.net Ronald Schlegel, EA Mt Langley #200 Fountain Valley, CA (714) , rschlegel@ammrtax.com CSEA Director; Bill Stewart, EA Rancho Viejo Rd #215 San Juan Capistrano, CA (949) , bill@sanjuanfinancial.com Immediate Past President; Patricia Yeckel, EA Avenida Empresa #280 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (949) , pyeckel@canyontax.com The project has been on going for 25 years through a joint effort of Global Volunteers and the county of Siedlce, Poland. We spent the first four hours of the day Cont. on page 3

3 September 2015 Page 3 Cont. from page 2 in English Conversation. We would then spend the rest of the day, figuring out lesson plans for the next day. I came away from this experience with a WHOLE new respect for teachers and the work they do. During lunch, each person would share what they did with their classes that day and what worked and what did not. It provided a person like me with very little experience (read no experience) in teaching children a resource on what I could do in subsequent days to help my five kids learn English. SEPTEMBER DINNER MEETING Ethics in the Digital World with Russel Fox, EA At the end of the first week, four of us left Siedlce and de-camped to Warsaw on Friday. At that point, I was very discouraged by the results, or lack there of with my crew of five students. I was working harder than I do when I am in my office in Los Alamitos and the results were not as stellar as I had hoped. If someone had given me a ticket back to Southern California, I would have taken a taxi to the Chopin Airport and left. But a funny thing happened when we went back on Sunday. That second week, the kids started to open up, and while the results still were not stellar, the relationships that formed were awesome. So why am I telling you this? This is my monthly column and this is OCEA monthly newsletter, not National Geographic. But in the past, I have written about the need of all of us to give back. Also, if you want to put yourself out there, go to a country where you do not speak the language and do something that you do not do for a living. Is it hard? Sure. But is it rewarding? Definitely. And the other thing that I found, my focus in those three weeks was not on what I had to do at the office or the fast approaching deadline for entity returns. It was a focus on the business at hand. Learning Polish and teaching kids. It was a great experience. IRS Stakeholder Liaison Update with Dan Breece Dan Breece is a frequent guest speaker at our chapter and always provides useful information for practitioners. This month he will be speaking about IMRS (issue management resolution system) and hot topics. IMRS is a result of the IRS Communications and Stakeholder Outreach function and provides a streamlined and structured process to facilitate identification, resolution and feedback of stakeholder issues. IMRS functions at both the local and national levels and essentially analyzes, researches and responds to issues. IMRS also is involved in identifying nationwide trends in reporting, filing and payment requirements. This information is used to evaluate if any changes in IRS processes or procedures are warranted. Some of the issues addressed recently include penalty relief related to incorrect or delayed forms 1095-A, longer hold times for e-help desk, ID letters sent to taxpayers, and avoiding long lines and hold times. Tax practitioners are encouraged to forward significant issues of policy, practice and/or procedure to their local Stakeholder Liaison. If you have experienced significant issues that you feel need to be addressed, this is the meeting to attend! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Meetings are held at the Phoenix Club 1340 S Sanderson Ave Anaheim, CA (see last page for map) Agenda: Tues, Sept 15, :15 Board Meeting 5:30 Social Time 6:00 Dinner Hour 7:00 Presentation CPE 1 $40 /$45

4 September 2015 Page TaxBook/Quickfinder Order in October and get the OCEA discount The Tax Book Deluxe Edition Great for Individual, Small business, Estates & Trusts. Includes everything from the 1040 plus section on C corps, S coorps, partnerships and LLC s, estates and financial planning, plus much much more. The Tax Book All States Edition Returns for all 50 States plus District of Columbia. Reference for State e-filing. Summary of State tax rules, with special emphasis on preparing part-year and non-resident returns. Small Business QuickFinder Handbook Covers Partnerships, LLC s, LLP s, C corps, S corps, Fiduciaries, Payroll, Exempt Organizations, Gifts and Estates, and much, much more. All States QuickFinder Handbook Over 500 pages of info in easy-to-find tabbed sections. Complete, concise summary of each state s instructions for filling out individual income tax returns. Save hours downloading forms. A musthave for any tax library. Income Tax & Financial Planning QuickFinder Handbook Covers all aspects of preparing 1040 returns. Schedules A, B, C, D, F, E and SE. Forms 4797, 4562, Autos and listed property, Tax Credits, Estate & Financial Planning, Social Security and much much more. Look for the TaxBook/Quickfinder order form in the October OCEA newsletter to help you save money and benefit your Chapter at the same time!! THE LAW OFFICES OF BARNETT & RUBIN Jeffrey Corporation Centre Tel: Trabuco Road Fax: Irvine, CA rick@barnettrubin.com DISCHARGE TAXES BUSINESS LITIGATION AND TRANSACTIONS BUSINESS FORMATIONS MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS BANKRUPTCY & INSOLVENCY MATTERS CORPORATE REORGANIZATIONS MEDIATION OCEA is 375 Members Strong! Welcome New Members

5 September 2015 Page 5 SUMMIT ALLIED PROFESSIONALS 2015 September 29, :30 AM - 5:00 PM The Pacific Club Newport Beach Join us for the 8th Annual Allied Professionals Summit. Collaborate with other high-performing financial professionals in a cooperative learning atmosphere. You will gain strategies to grow your practice from top speakers, valuable networking, interactive panel discussions and more. Presented by: You will want to attend if you are a: Registered Investment Advisor Certified Financial Planner Financial Advisor Certified Public Accountant Chartered Financial Analyst Investment Adviser Representative Insurance Professional Attorney Trust Professional Real Estate Professional Enrolled Agent Bank Executive Professional Fiduciary Government Leader Keynote Speakers Cost: $60 Early Bird (ends September 1st) Passion, Profits, People and Priorities Glenn B. Stearns Founder and CEO, Stearns Lending NEW WORD ORDER: It s Not What You Say, It s What People Hear Scott West Head of Invesco Consulting $75 Online, $100 At the Door Cost includes lunch, wine reception and parking. FPA of Orange County (877) REGISTER NOW AT Cont. on page 6

6 September 2015 Page 6 Cont. from page 5 Cont. from page 4 Glenn Stearns, Founder and CEO, Stearns Lending Glenn Stearns was born and raised in a low-income housing project on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. The oldest of two children, his parents had modest careers, and both struggled with Drug and Alcohol dependency. Glenn's childhood struggles included dyslexia, failure of the 4th grade, divorce of his parents and becoming a father at the age of 14. Glenn worked his way through Towson University and became the first in his family to attend and graduate college. At 25, Glenn formed his own mortgage company after being a loan officer for only 10 months. Today Stearns Lending is the #1 wholesale lender in America and the 8th largest direct lender. The majority of his companies focus on financial services, but Glenn is a serial entrepreneur and has investments in many different areas, including land development and with an entertainment startup, Indi.com. Glenn is one of the youngest individuals inducted into the prestigious Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans and is the youngest member on the Association's Board of Directors. Glenn and his wife Mindy, who competed together (and won) the TBS reality game-show "The Real Gilligan's Island", are parents to six children and two grandchildren. They are friends and co-landowners with Sir Richard Branson, whom they partner with in many philanthropic causes. Glenn and Mindy and have won numerous awards for their charitable contributions. Scott West, Head of Invesco Consulting Scott West oversees one of the largest consulting divisions of its kind in the asset management industry. In this position, he works with and presents to financial advisors across North America. A Big Idea. Scott is a sought-after keynote speaker who brings nearly 30 years of industry experience coupled with a creativity that both educates and entertains. He is a coauthor of five books, including StorySelling for Financial Advisors: How Top Producers Sell, which was named a "must read" by financialplanning.com, and, most recently, Defining Conversations: A Little Book About Prior to joining Invesco in 2010, Scott was with Van Kampen Investments. In his 25+ years with the firm, he advanced from field sales to regional sales and finally to national sales positions. In addition, he served as Director of Marketing. Prior to his career in financial services, Scott worked in sales distribution with Procter & Gamble. Scott holds a B.A. in economics and communications from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Scott is an avid hockey enthusiast. He assumes full credit for his Texas-born wife's newfound love of the sport. Scott is the father of four children and resides in Wheaton, Illinois.

7 September 2015 Page 7 CLASSIFIEDS SEEKING ENROLLED AGENT/CPA TO JOIN OUR FIRM. Responsibilities include preparation of small business returns, preparation of moderate to advanced individual returns, response to IRS and state notices/ inquiries; representation of clients in IRS and state audits; communicating complex tax matters to clients. Requirements: Active CPA or EA license, 5+ years tax preparation experience, working knowledge of tax software; intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office tools, functional experience scanning, digital filing. Strong, clear communications skills are essential. Submit resume, salary history and cover letter to be considered to Ken Blake, CPA/EA at Ken@NCHWealth.com 09/15 LOOKING TO PURCHASE A TAX PRACTICE. Preferably in Orange County or North San Diego County. Have been practicing in South Orange County serving individuals, corporations, trusts, Clergy and non-profit organizations. Contact: Edward Daoud, EA, MBA at or edaoud@capstonetaxpros.com 08/15 SEEKING ENROLLED AGENT tax preparer, experienced, to work in Seal Beach location serving long term clients of financial advisory firm. Half time during tax season and part time throughout the year. Could work from home part of the time. Candidate should be a planning-oriented tax preparer who will be a fit with the company s philosophy, methodology and client-centered processes. This person will be successful by positively and warmly communicating with clients competence and tax minimization strategies in coordination with the senior financial advisor. Reply in confidence to: Howard Erman at (562) or to applications@ ErmanRetirementAdvisory.com 08/15 TAX AND ACCOUNTING PRACTICE FOR SALE in Huntington Beach. Call or Phil Boodman at (714) , hbtaxgroup@gmail.com 07/15 TAX PRACTICE WANTED: Looking to purchase a small to medium tax book of business. Currently practicing in Tustin serving individual, corporate, partnership and trust clients. Please contact John Rumbold, EA, CFP at or jrumbold@rfta.biz 07/15 Classifieds available for OCEA Members & associates to advertise items for sale or rent, want ads & employment opportunities. Ads run for 2 consecutive months free of charge (longer based on space available. Let us know when your ad is no longer needed). to 4quelle@ msn.com. Include your name & phone number or . We Find Solutions To IRS and State Tax Problems. FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION La Donna T. Kienitz Esq LadonnaKienitz@taxsolutionsite.com Appeals, Release of Levies, Offers in Compromise, Representation in US Tax Court A PLUS APPRAISALS Residential Real Estate Appraisals Historical Real Estate Appraisals Can determine Market Values from 1970 s to present. SFR s, 2-4 Units, Condos, Town Homes. 30 Yrs Experience State Certified $350 and up Fast, Reliable Service Expert Witness for Court John Rydell (562) jrrydell@aol.com

8 September 2015 Page 8 UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS DATE PROGRAM / EVENT CPE SUBJECT LOCATION Sept 25, 2015 Event - See Class Part lll National University Sept15, 2015 Dinner 1 IRS Stakeholder Liaison Update Phoenix Club Sept 16, 2015 Seminar 4 Partnership/LLC Mini Intensive Phoenix Club Oct 20, 2015 Seminar 4 Phoenix Club Oct 20, 2015 Dinner 1 Cash intensive Businesses Phoenix Club Nov 13, 2015 Seminar 4 ACE ing Schedules A, C, E National University Nov 17, 2015 Dinner 1 TDB Phoenix Clu Nov 17, 2015 Seminar Rep Series Nov 7, 2015 Seminar 8 The IRS Appeals Process National University Nov 14, 2015 Seminar 8 Tax Resolution Essentials National University Nov 20, 2015 Seminar 8 IRS Exam Case Studies National University Dec 15, 2015 Dinner 0 Meet and Greet CSEA President - no CE Phoenix Club Jan 19, 2016 Dinner 2 Quickfinder/Tax Book Fed Updates Phoenix Club Feb 16, 2016 Dinner - California Update Phoenix Club Mar 15, 2016 Dinner - TBD Phoenix Club May 17, 2016 Dinner - TBD Phoenix Club Jun 21, 2016 Dinner - TBD Phoenix Club PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION - we are a great source for continuing professional education (CPE)! If you re interested in becoming a member, please print and fill out our Membership Application. Our chapter is an approved CPE and CLE education provider through our chapter dinner meetings and seminars with the following: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), American Institute for CPAs (AICPA), California Bar Association - Taxation Section (CBA), and California Tax Education Council (CTEC). Dinner Menu For This Month Sonoma Garden Salad Cole Slaw Sliced Roast Tri Tip, Au Jus Rotisserie Half Chicken With Caramelized Onions Sliced Golden Beets With Honey Rosemary Red Bliss Roasted Potatoes Lemon Cake Red Velvet Cake The Vision of OCEA is to serve, to represent the best interests of Enrolled Agents in Orange County, and to emphasize and enlighten the general public that an Enrolled Agent is the premier tax professional. The Mission of OCEA is to encourage professionalism, personal growth, and educational growth, while providing member benefits and enhancing the role of Enrolled Agents among the local governmental agencies, other professionals, and the general public. HARBOR BLVD KATELLA AVE CHAPMAN AVE BALL RD STATE COLLEGE BLVD Ball Rd to Phoenix Club Dr Right on Sanderson Ave. MAIN ST Meetings are held at the Phoenix Club 1340 S Sanderson Ave, Anaheim, CA :15 Board Meeting, 5:30 Social Time, 6:00 Dinner Hour, 7:00 CPE Program $40 for Member pre-registration before midnight on the Thursday prior to the dinner meeting; $45 for late or on-site registration and for non-members for meetings with 1 hour of CPE credit. Meetings with 2 hours of CPE credit are $50 and $55 respectively. To make a reservation go online to our web site and select the sign up button next to the event you would like to attend and follow the prompts. If you incur any difficulties signing up, contact Joe Guccione, EA (714) , with a message including your name as it s registered at IRS and your phone number and your PTIN.