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In This Issue...
- From the CSTC President
- Don't Be Scammed!
- August Events
- Welcome New CSTC Members
- Legislative Advocacy
- News from the IRS
- Join CSTC!
CSTC Member Benefits
CSTC members have access to benefits such as free payroll processing services for your tax practice, and the opportunity to earn new revenue through their flexible partnership options.
CSTC is pleased to include the VeriFyle ProTM premium secure online document and message sharing service at no cost to CSTC members!
Wolters Kluwer: Discounts on Tax, Accounting & Audit Resources, Software, Information & Services.
CSTC members receive the TaxBook WebLibrary at a special price
Other Member Benefits Include:
$ Savings on all Society Educational Events
$ Savings on Contact, Correspondence & Self Study Education
$ Savings with member specialty CSTC Connects (previouslyYellow Pages) list
$ Savings with E & O Insurance, plus specialty coverage relevant to your profession
$ Online CSTC Find-a-Tax Consultant search to help promote your business!
$ CSTC Member Listserv
Office Depot has partnered with us to provide exclusive savings in-store and online, plus fantastic additional benefits. This program is all about providing preferred pricing to our clubs, and the savings extend to almost every item.
Savings include 20% to 55% off item office supply core list, 20% to 55% off retail on cleaning & break room items, 10% off branded; 20% off private brand ink & toner core list, Average 10% off retail on 200 technology core items, Free next-day shipping on orders of $50 or more, and SIGNIFICANT savings on copy & print. Become a CSTC member to sign up for our Office Depot Small Business Savings Program, administered by Excelerate America.
We are a professional full-service tax advisory firm in San Diego. Our goal is to provide a level of service for our clients that will exceed expectations in every possible way. We strive to offer a diverse level of services to meet the needs of the diverse community we have been working in for more than 30 years.
TaxMama's® EA Exam Course prepares tax professionals to do so much more than just pass the IRS' Special Enrollment Examination. This is an in-depth course that teaches tax law from the ground up. It explains how tax returns work, with examples of basic 1040s, Schedule Cs, 1065s, 1120s, and 1120Ss; you learn tax law, tax research, client representation for audits, appeals and collections.
If you are interested in buying or selling a practice, contact us today! ATB is operated by Enrolled Agents ensuring a complete understanding of our profession. Please give us a call at (855) 428-2225 or visit us online at www.ATBCAL.com for more information and to view our current listings.
CA DRE 02002824
CSTC Mission Statement
CSTC advances professionalism within the tax industry by:
- Providing quality education
- Creating networking opportunities
- Advocating professional standards
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President's Column
A Glimmer of Hope?
The most frustrating thing right now for many tax professionals is the inability to get hold of the IRS. Remember how we used to be able to call the Practitioners Priority Service, fax in a Power of Attorney (POA), and get our client’s problem solved. Now they’re not even answering the phone! We’re sorry but due to extremely high volume, we are unable to handle your call. Please try again later or on our next business day. And of course, the next business day we get the same result. I tried calling at 7:00 am, when they first open, on a Wednesday, which is their least busy day, but they already had too many calls to answer! Please try again. So calling is currently not a viable option.
Next, I tried to get though using the fax line. I reasoned that if I faxed my POA – and I knew it would take longer than usual to be entered into the system – then I could use e-services to get the Wage and Income report I wanted. But alas! It’s two months later, and my POA is still not in the system.
But now I have a new idea to get around the inaccessibility – Client Online Accounts. With an Online Account, taxpayers can view their tax information, such as Economic Impact Payments and Advanced Child Tax Credit payments. They can see their balance due, make payments and set up a payment plan. They can see copies of notices or letters from the IRS. And they can electronically sign a POA from their tax professional! Those last two items – copies of letters from the IRS and POAs – are what has me excited.
So now I’m trying having my clients set up an account. They go to www.irs.gov, then to Sign in to your account. Click on Sign in to your Online Account then Create an account (ID.me). Then they follow the directions to authenticate their identity and set up an account.
The ID.me is the IRS’ new sign-in authorization program. The IRS is asking those who have an existing IRS username to create a new ID.me account as soon as possible. So far, we can still sign in with our existing username to access e-services, but at some point, I suspect we’ll all have to have an ID.me account. And we’re going to want to have an account so we can interact with our clients.
I tried ID.me self-service option twice. Both times I was told they needed more information so I would have to use the video call. I didn’t want to wait, so I saved and exited. They sent me regular emails about how to rejoin. Today, I tried it again, and again was told I’d have to do the video call. As I write this, I’m waiting for my video call – just 46 minutes to go. No, now it’s 51 minutes. Now it’s 39 minutes….
Still, I’m hopeful that this tool will be useful in helping our clients with their IRS issues. I’ve already asked one client to sign up for his online account, so we’ll see how it goes. At least it’s nice to finally have a glimmer of hope of getting through to the IRS!
Linda Dong
CSTC President
Don't Be Scammed!
The CSTC officers and board members will never ask you for money for any cause.
Any request for gift cards should be immediately suspect.
If you’re not sure if an email is legitimate, call the person who supposedly sent it and ask.
Report phishing:
- Forward the emails to [email protected] and to the organization or person(s) impersonated. Your report is most effective when you include the full email header, but most email programs hide this information. To ensure the header is included, search the name of your email service with a "full email header" into your favorite search engine.
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
- Visit identitytheft.gov. Victims of phishing can become victims of identity theft.
- Report phishing email to [email protected], an anti-phishing workgroup.
Stay safe!
Calendar of Events
August 2022
August 3, 2022
Topic: Aspects of Retirement and Succession Planning
San Francisco Bay Chapter In-Person Meeting
2 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
August 4, 2022
Topic: Ethics
San Gabriel Valley Chapter In-Person Meeting
2 Ethics hours (Topics meeting the ethics requirements under Cir 230)
Click here to learn more and register
August 9, 2022
Topic: Ethics & Practice for Tax Professionals
East County San Diego Virtual Chapter Meeting
2 Ethics hours (Topics meeting the ethics requirements under Cir 230)
Click here to learn more and register
August 10, 2022
Topic: Choosing or Changing A Business Entity
Temecula Valley Chapter In-Person Meeting
2 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
Topic: Spin the Wheel of California Tax Update
Orange County Chapter In-Person Meeting
2 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
Click here to learn more and register
August 17, 2022
Topic: Franchise Tax Board Taxpayers' Rights Advocate's Office
San Jose Chapter Virtual Meeting
2 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
Click here to learn more and register
Topic: Understanding Schedule K-1, Schedule K-2, and Schedule K-3
Inland Empire Chapter In-Person Meeting
2 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
August 19, 2022
Topic: Round Table
Temecula Valley Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
August 22, 2022
Topic: Federal General Business Credits and CA Business Credits
Orange County South Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
1 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
Click here to learn more and register
August 25, 2022
Topic: The Taxman Always Rings Twice
San Diego Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
1 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
Click here to learn more and register
Click here to view the CSTC calendar.
Welcome New CSTC Members!
Please help us in joining our newest CSTC Members!
Nicole Albrecht
Temecula Valley Chapter
Lilia Alcala
San Gabriel Valley Chapter
Francisco Amador
San Gabriel Valley Chapter
Maria Castillo
San Jose Chapter
Monica Cunningham
San Diego-North County Chapter
Lewis Da Silva
Inland Empire Chapter
Taylor Gale
Orange County Chapter
Sylvia Guzman
Orange County Chapter
Kelly MacArthur
Temecula Valley Chapter
Rene Medina
Greater Long Beach Chapter
Samantha Mokma
Orange County- South Chapter
Bennet Perera
San Jose Chapter
Imelda Pulido
Inland Empire Chapter
Congratulations to our new CSTC members!
Legislative Advocacy
CSTC has been the leading Association in supporting legislation to provide protection for our profession, to support our profession, and to enhance our profession. CSTC continuously leads our industry through legislative advocacy, educational opportunities, and professional inclusion.
CSTC works closely with a Legislative Consultant to keep an eye on important bills that would affect taxpayers and small business owners.
Please click here to view the bills that CSTC is currently monitoring.
Join the California Society of Tax Consultants!
Click here to fill out an online application.
CSTC advances professionalism within the tax industry by:
- Providing quality education
- Creating networking opportunities
- Advocating professional standards
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