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In This Issue...
- From the President
- February Events
- 2021 Summer Symposium Schedule - Registration Coming Soon!
- Running Start
- A Message from the CSTC 2nd Vice President
- 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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From the President
Just Hang On!
Rick married Robin and after a while they welcomed their first son into the  world. He was perfect. While it’s true that most parents believe their kids are perfect, at least at first, this kid really was exceptional. He was good looking, tall for his age, learned to speak earlier than normal, and in preschool he excelled above his classmates. He was a pleasure to parent. Several years later, Robin gave birth to their second son who seemed to be just like his brother, until they noticed very early on that he wasn’t. He was a handful as a baby and as a toddler developed some behaviors that required a parent’s full time attention. He was diagnosed with autism. The pre-school couldn’t handle him and the school system could not meet his needs. He was constantly kicked out of organized activities due to uncontrollable behavior and the inability of his teachers and coaches to manage him. The couple struggled through some very difficult times that challenged everything they tried. Their third son was born with Aspergers and their fourth son with Down’s syndrome. They had their hands full.
Rick wrote a book called “Keep it Together Man - For Dads With A Special Kid”. I have known Rick and seen him at functions around town for years but have not had much close interaction with him. I always saw him as an easy going and happy guy who had a great attitude about everything. His wife Robin has always been a kind and loving person who I would see occasionally at service projects where we served together. For the past year I got to work with two of their sons in a youth group and to get to know Rick better. They are a lot of fun to be with. To learn more about him and his family, I decided to read his book “Keep it Together Man” and was totally blown away by his life story with his four sons and daughter. It is truly inspirational to know what they have gone through raising three special needs boys while remaining sane and happy. Nothing they did as a family was ordinary, it was extraordinary. Toward the end of his book Rick declares “I am the luckiest man alive”. His life exemplifies love, strength of character, and grit. He truly believes he is the luckiest man alive and the way he and Robin live proves it.
Why do some people seem happy despite hardship, illness, and loss while others who seem to have it all are miserable? How do some people keep pushing forward against what seem like impossible odds while others give up at the first sign of stress or strain? There are many books, articles, and podcasts available to tell us how to be happy and successful, but not all of them work for everyone. Each of us need to find what works for us and our special cases. The longer I stomp around on this planet, the more I feel the aches, pains, and limitations that seem to come with grey hair. Every time something else starts to hurt, I need to make a choice. Am I going to complain about it and stop trying, or am I going to look at what I can do and keep pushing forward perhaps using a different method? Through his book and his friendship, Rick taught me that it does not do any good to stop trying, because that does not make the problem go away. The only way to solve the problem is to work through it. Unfortunately, no one is going to sweep in and rescue me from my situation. That only happened in movies. Pushing forward requires effort and belief that you can solve it. The longer I live, the more I realize just how resourceful people can be when they put their mind to it.
During this year of tremendous change, it has thrilled me to see how creative people are in solving problems. The ways that people have changed their businesses and their personal and family practices to get through tough times is truly inspirational.
As an attorney I get to talk with people every day about their personal and business situations. I have found that no matter where we are in life – financially or otherwise – most of us live at or very near to the end of our ropes. It seems to me that no one has it easy and no one has it on cruise control.
A wise man once said that living at the end of our rope is not far from reality – the key is to tie a knot and hang on. To that I would add; while you are hanging on, take a look around at all the incredible, beautiful, and creative things that surround you and draw inspiration from them. As long as you have a knot tied at the end of your rope and are hanging on with one claw, you will be fine. But, you must hang on.
As members of CSTC we are enjoying the fruits of “hanging on” together and changing how things are done in new and better ways. We have provided awesome continuing education to thousands of people online and our membership is growing every month. This month we added 50 new members to our ranks! That’s fantastic! Welcome news members! Thanks for joining us on our journey to “improve the tax industry one professional at a time”.
Please take a few minutes every day to look around at all the incredible, beautiful, and creative things that surround you and get inspired.
Have a fantastic February!
Your friend, Gary Quackenbush, CSTC President
Calendar of Events
February 2021
February 2, 2021
Topic: Breakfast Meeting
North County San Diego Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hour (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
February 3, 2021
Topic: California Property Tax
San Francisco Bay Chapter Virtual Meeting
2 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
Click here to learn more and register
February 5, 2021
Topic: Federal Tax Update
Temecula Valley Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Update hour (Topics covering new tax laws)
Click here to learn more and register
February 7, 2021
Topic: Roundtable Discussion 2020 Tax Return Issues/Resolutions
Greater Long Beach Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hour (Topics covering existing tax law)
1 California hour (Topics covering California law issues)
1 Federal Update hour (Topics covering new tax laws)
Click here to learn more
Topic: Special Brunch Meeting And TaxBook
Central Valley Chapter Virtual Meeting
1 Federal Update hour (Topics covering new tax laws)
3 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more
February 9, 2021
Topic: IRS Due Diligence & TAS Appeals Process
Orange County South Chapter Virtual Meeting
1 Federal Law hour (Topics covering existing tax law)
1 Ethics hour (Topics meeting the ethics requirements under Cir 230)
Click here to learn more
February 17, 2021
Topic: Employee Retention Credit and Round Table Discussion
San Jose Chapter Virtual Meeting
2 Federal Update hours (Topics covering new tax laws)
Click here to learn more and register
Click here to view the CSTC calendar.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
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Tuesday, June 8, 2021
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| 8:30 AM to 10:10 AM |
Topic: California Property Taxes: How They Work and Post Prop 19 Strategies
Speaker: Frank Acuña, Attorney at Law
Hours: 2 California Hours
Knowledge Level: Intermediate |
| 10:45 AM to 12:25 PM |
Topic: Biden Tax Proposals
Speaker: Jane Ryder, EA, CPA
Hours: 2 Federal Update Hours
Knowledge Level: Update |
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Wednesday, June 9, 2021
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| 10:00 AM to 11:40 AM |
Topic: New Developments in Cryptocurrency - Reporting and Enforcement
Speaker: Michael Stein, Esq
Hours: 2 Federal Tax Law Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic |
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Thursday, June 10, 2021
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| 8:30 AM to 10:10 AM |
Topic: California Updates
Speaker: Karen Joyner, EA
Hours: 2 California Hours
Knowledge Level: Update
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| 10:45 AM to 12:25 PM |
Topic: The Impact of Tax Changes on Your Client's Real Estate Investments
Speaker: Steve Mecham
Hours: 2 Federal Tax Law Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic |
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Tuesday, June 15, 2021
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| 8:30 AM to 10:10 AM |
Topic: FATCA Rules for Foreign Retirement Account Reporting
Speaker: Monica Haven, EA, JD, LLM
Hours: 2 Federal Tax Law Hours
Knowledge Level: Advanced
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| 10:45 AM to 12:25 PM |
Topic: Releasing Levies on Paychecks, Bank Accounts and Assets
Speaker: Eva Rosenberg, MBA, EA
Hours: 2 Federal Tax Law Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic
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Wednesday, June 16, 2021
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| 10:00 AM to 11:40 AM |
Topic: Multistate Tax Issues
Speaker: Shannon Hall, EA
Hours: 2 California Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
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| 8:30 AM to 10:10 AM |
Topic: The Necessity of Preparing & Submitting a FOIA Request
Speaker: LG Brooks, EA, CTRS
Hours: 2 Federal Tax Law Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic
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| 10:45 AM to 12:25 PM |
Topic: Retirement Tax Planning Update
Speaker: Lawrence Pon, CPA, EA
Hours: 2 Federal Update Hours
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
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Tuesday, June 22, 2021
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| 8:30 AM to 10:10 AM |
Topic: Form 990 and Unrelated Business Income
Speaker: Louis Michelson, Esq
Hours: 2 Federal Tax Law Hours
Knowledge Level: Advanced
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| 10:45 AM to 12:25 PM |
Topic: Choice of Entity
Speaker: Jane Ryder, EA, CPA
Hours: 2 Federal Tax Law Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic
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Wednesday, June 23, 2021
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| 10:00 AM to 11:40 AM |
Topic: ABC's of Family Member Theft
Speaker: Cynthia Healy, CPA, CFE, CSA
Hours: 2 Ethics Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic
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Thursday, June 24, 2021
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| 8:30 AM to 10:10 AM |
Topic: California Collections - Start to Finish
Speaker: Veronica Marelli, EA
Hours: 2 California Hours
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
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| 10:45 AM to 12:25 PM |
Topic: Estate Planning - Funding and Maintaining Living Trusts - Tax Reduction Strategies
Speaker: Gary Quackenbush, Esq
Hours: 2 California Hours
Knowledge Level: Basic |
Registration coming very soon!
Register TODAY for Running Start
ON-DEMAND Webinar
Not just theory...Real-life application! All the latest news about how the CARES Act, the SECURE Act, the Disaster Act, and other recent legislation impact federal and CA tax returns, including new forms explained line-by-line.
Things you'll learn...
· Complete coverage of IRS & CA forms
· Latest news about the CARES Act, SECURE Act, Families First Relief Act, Disaster Act, and more...
· Reconciliation of advance payment (rebates) to stimulus credit
· How does PPP discharge affect tax return? Are expenses paid with loan proceeds deductible?
· New forms with real-life examples to show you how to complete them
· Line-by-line calculations on new forms & worksheets
· CA adjustments calculated and illustrated on Form 540 Sch CA
· Case studies – Client documents to completed tax return
· Court cases, revenue rulings, and more...
· Worksheets, flowcharts, and checklists to help you keep it all straight
· 400+ page manual mailed to you
· Free FAST FACTS reference card!
· NEW Free CA nonconformity reference card!
· Information you can use in the REAL WORLD!
This on-demand webinar will allow you to take the class whenever it is convenient for you, either all at once or a little bit each day. Attendees who register before December 1 will not receive their materials until December 1. Attendees who register after that date will receive their login information within three business days of registration. Books will be mailed to the address on the registration form within 7 business days of purchasing the course.
Available until March 31, 2021
A Message from the CSTC 2nd Vice President
Greetings from your 2nd VP. Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed this past holiday season; I was fortunate enough to have plenty of snow where I live! Alas, now it’s time to get back to work.
As 2nd VP Membership for CSTC, I want to acknowledge the 138 NEW MEMBERS who joined during 2020. Welcome! CSTC is ecstatic to have you with us!
Our membership really began to take off with the introduction of the CSTC Academy. The Academy was born out of necessity when our in-person Summer Symposium was canceled due to the pandemic situation – and IMHO The Academy has thrust CSTC well into the digital realm! All classes were held using our Zoom platform, and the event was an outstanding success!
Chapters jumped onto The Academy train and began hosting meetings via our Zoom platform. Those Chapters that embraced Zoom have been extremely successful. Where in-person meetings limit attendance based upon how far the attendee will travel, online education allows members to attend meetings anywhere. I happen to live in the San Bernardino County Mountains; for me, a trip to the bottom of the hill is 30 minutes of mountain driving – and I still need to drive to my destination point. With online education, I’ve attended events in San Diego and Los Angeles counties. I couldn’t be happier! I miss in-person networking – as no doubt do most of you – but I certainly don’t miss the driving nor the cost associated with travel to an event from where I live.
For 2021 our education committee has some fabulous events planned; The Academy – with its online platform – is here to stay so please watch this newsletter for announcements of education coming your way after tax season!
For our new members, I’d like to highlight a couple of benefits you might enjoy; these benefits are provided to CSTC members free-of-charge. There’s no reason NOT to take them for a test drive.
First – ADP offers free payroll services for a CSTC member’s own business. It’s true – most of us know how to do our own payroll, but… why spend precious time doing payroll when ADP is offering to do it free? Personally, I like free! The hours you save not doing payroll will now be available for billable work. ADP also offers an optional partnership program that may help you grow your practice… definitely a win/win.
Second – Verifyle is a cloud storage and sharing tool that offers powerful encryption technology for each individual item in storage. Verifyle is an extremely safe portal to use for exchanging and storing documents with your clients. Best of all, Verify Pro is free for all CSTC Members.
I’ve been using Verifyle for a few years now, but I decided to watch this tutorial (click here to watch) sent to me by Society…. and I’m glad I did. Verifyle is ever-improving their system, and there are some new features I wasn’t aware of. This one-hour tutorial is well worth the time to watch whether you’re new to Verifyle or a seasoned pro.
We all know how important security is to our practice; it’s our fiduciary duty to safeguard ALL of our client’s information. Yet many of us still use email to send documents back and forth; we may as well be handing those documents over to identity thieves if our eMail or the host server gets hacked. Please take the time to watch the tutorial and consider taking your FREE Verifyle Pro subscription for a test run; I think you’ll be very pleased with how easy it is to set up and use.
You can find out more information about ALL benefits for CSTC Members on our website: https://www.cstcsociety.org/member-benefits
Once again, Welcome to all our new members; and Thank You to all our renewing members. Without you, CSTC would not be the great organization that it is!
Respectfully submitted,
Jen Horton, 2nd VP Membership, Society Board of Directors
Welcome New CSTC Members!
Please help us in joining our newest CSTC Members!
Mellie Alfano
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Matthew Arba
San Jose Chapter
Frances Archer
San Jose Chapter
Barbara Hanson
North County San Deigo Chapter
Jonathan Cunningham
San Diego Chapter
Franklin Denis
Los Angeles Chapter
Keforie Dhie
Los Angeles Chapter
Claudia Espinoza
Greater Long Beach Chapter
Mariana Estupinan
Sacramento Chapter
Dennis Frankeberger
Inland Empire Chapter
Colleen Fry
Los Angeles Chapter
Ami Gilad
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Martha Gutierrez
Member-at-Large Chapter
Maria Luisa Hernandez
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Laura Hernandez
San Gabriel Valley Chapter
Jessica Hinh
Orange County Chapter
Phoenix Hsu
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Carol Johnson
San Diego Chapter
Yvonne Lane
Greater Long Beach Chapter
Terri Larry
Los Angeles Chapter
Vicki Madsen
Central Valley Chapter
Sandy Magid
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Abdul Mahmood
Central Valley Chapter
Hiren Majmudar
Inland Empire
Mosh Mehrnia
Central Valley
Mikalyn Mellby
San Diego Chapter
Vicki Merola
Orange County Chapter
Easton Miller
Orange County South Chapter
Wayne Mitsunaga
San Jose Chapter
John Nelson
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Mohamad Numair
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Rose O'Brien
San Diego Chapter
Gina Onishi
Central Valley Chapter
Richard Page
San Gabriel Valley Chapter
Linda Phipps
San Fraancisco Bay Chapter
Mary Quay
San Gabriel Valley Chapter
Veronica Salas
San Diego Chapter
Mohammadreza Sardar Farshchi
San Jose Chapter
Steven Schaze
San Jose Chapter
Robert Small
Member-at-Large Chapter
Larry Smith
South Orange County Chapter
Donna Stern
Orange County Chapter
Victoria Talamantes
Inland Empire Chapter
Lynn Thompson Kuhn
San Jose Chapter
Michael Tullio
East County San Diego Chapter
Ronzella Varnado
Greater Long Beach Chapter
Natalia Villalobos
Los Angeles Chapter
Steven Volpin
Los Angeles Chapter
Bing Zheng
Orange County Chapter
Katie Zollo
Wine Country Chapter
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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