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In This Issue...
- From the CSTC President
- Welcome Letter From Your Board of Directors, 2nd VP
- Register today for the 2022 Summer Symposium
- CSTC Academy: Wednesday Webinar Series - Five Steps to Protect Your Firm from Catastrophic Cyber Attacks
- Is Your Firm's Website and Social Media ADA Compliant?
- January Events
- 2022 Running Start
- 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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Ring in the New!
I love the new year! It’s a fresh start, a clean slate. A time to contemplate what I want this year to be.
The default, of course, is SALY – Same As Last Year. But that’s the one thing I’m resisting. I don’t want to just slip into a default mode; I want to make intentional choices. It’s funny…even though the last two years have been difficult and unusual, even unprecedented, yet we still default to SALY. If I were designing a year, I surely would not design it to be SALY, yet that’s our tendency.
So how do we overcome SALY? First, we have to recognize and acknowledge it. And decide we don’t want to go there again. Next, we need to envision where we want to be. What kind of practice do we want to have in five years? What will our focus be? How about our personal life? Where do we want to be in five or ten years?
And then we need to step out of our comfort zone and embrace some amount of change. What enhancements can we make now to lead us in that direction? Even small steps will result in significant changes over time.
Our new year starts with a new tax season, making this is the perfect time to implement some of those enhancements to move us towards our business goals. So consider what worked last year. Can I make it better? What didn’t work? Can I improve on it? During the year, and especially during tax season, I take note of any problem areas, such as bottlenecks, or things that got overlooked. Then I look for ways to tweak my procedures so it won’t happen again. Now it’s time to implement those tweaks.
But this year I want to go beyond office procedures and think about bigger changes. Last year I didn’t have any in-person appointments because of the pandemic. My clients mailed or uploaded or dropped off their information, and it worked out fine. If fact, I liked it better; it was a much more efficient use of time. This year, with the Omicron variant and continuing restrictions, I once again will not have in-person appointments. And now I have the thought that I could make this my new business model – appointments by phone or zoom only; no in-person appointments. Too radical? Fewer than 25% of my clients requested appointments in pre-pandemic years. And last year every one of them learned they could get their taxes prepared without having an appointment. So do I make this change permanent? It’s definitely worth considering….
As we enter the new year, I encourage you all to envisage the road ahead.
Where do you want your practice to go? Where do you want to go in your personal life? And, of course, where do we want CSTC to go? Let’s all leave SALY behind and move forward in this new year!
I wish you all a successful and advancing new year!
Linda Dong
CSTC President
Welcome Letter From Your Board Of Directors, 2nd VP
Volume 1 / Issue 1 (January 2022)
 DEAR CSTC MEMBERS & LEADERS,
My name is Sophia Ahmad, and I serve as the CSTC Board of Directors, 2nd VP. I am also a tax and immigration attorney in Fremont, CA and member of the San Jose Chapter. As such, I encourage you to expand your local chapter involvement, take advantage of all your CTSC benefits, and help us grow our membership.
Active membership and Associate membership both cost $175 plus a one-time $25 processing fee. Student membership is just $50. Inactive membership is $50. Link to online applications: https://cstc.memberclicks.net/membership-information
What’s Included in your CTSC Membership?
- Access to bi-monthly CSTC Newsletter, Chapter Newsletters, Listserv
- Savings on ADP services - free payroll processing services for your tax practice, and the opportunity to earn new revenue through their flexible partnership options.
- VeriFyle ProTM premium secure online document and message sharing service
- Wolters Kluwer: Discounts on Tax, Accounting & Audit Resources, Software, Information & Services.
- TaxBook WebLibrary at a special price.
- Savings with E&O Insurance, plus specialty coverage
- Savings on most purchases and all printing with Office Depot!
- Savings on Contact, Correspondence & Self Study Education
- Savings on all Society Educational Events
- Savings on Contact, Correspondence & Self Study Education
- Monthly live virtual courses offered via Zoom covering both State and Federal tax matters
 What’s New?
- In-person meetings and events: several chapters are back to in-person
- Covid Waivers: look out for these from CSTC!
- Hybrid Meetings: Contact Jenn Baker to learn more if your chapter wants to host. [email protected]
- Holiday Parties and incentives: What is your local chapter doing? We want to know.
- ADA website and social media compliance: we urge you to register for our free program on 1/18/22 at 12:00 pm via Zoom to learn more about your obligations and avoid potential lawsuits
- Regional Directors: We urge local chapters to connect with their Regional Directors and Board of Directors. We want to hear from you! https://cstc.memberclicks.net/board-of-directors
- Membership Drive: The club with the newest members (based on percentage) during our membership drive in Fall 2022 will win awesome prizes and discounts. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Contact local community colleges and CTEC students and promote the discounted student rate
- Start a local Mentor Program for your new/younger members
- Tax Talk/Stump the Experts – we will be hosting a monthly 30-minute Zoom for you to hop on and share your knowledge and help answer live tax questions from our members
Tap into Our Network – Follow us for the latest news and updates
As you become more involved with CSTC, you’ll make connections from coast to coast. CSTC prides itself on being the go-to network for tax advisors and preparers.
Website: https://cstc.memberclicks.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cstcorg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaSocietyOfTaxConsultants
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cstcsociety/
I’m Here to Help You
The CSTC is a big organization with 15 chapters, but I’m here to welcome you and help you navigate your path and maximize your membership! Please feel free to reach out to me via email, phone, and or schedule a Zoom call. I am here to help you and your local chapters in anyway I can. I want your feedback, recommendations, and ideas.
Best Regards,
Sophia Ahmad
CSTC 2nd VP
P: 510-421-6188
E: [email protected]
Register Today for the 2022 Summer Symposium!
June 12-15, 2022
Silver Legacy Resort and Casino
Reno, Nevada
The California Society of Tax Consultants, Inc (CSTC), has been a nonprofit organization for the benefit of tax professionals throughout California since 1966 (formerly known as ISTC), and delivers quality education and unique member benefits. As a bookkeeper, accountant, Enrolled Agent, or CPA, you can take advantage of everything CSTC has to offer. Programs cover a wide spectrum of tax topics that are approved for CTEC, EA & CPA credit.
The CSTC Summer Tax Symposium is an event not to miss!
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Sunday, June 12, 2022
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| 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Registration Open; Exhibitor Set-up |
| 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
Welcome Registration for First-Time Attendees |
| 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
Welcome Dinner
This event is family-friendly.
(Included with full registration. Guest registration is $50)
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Monday, June 13, 2022
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| 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Registration and Exhibits |
| 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM |
Breakfast Keynote Session
IRS Discussion
Speaker: TBA |
| 9:15 AM to 10:05 AM |
Breakout Sessions: |
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Track One: Getting Back to Basics. A Start to Finish Individual 1040 Review. Without Your Tax Software!
Speaker: Michael Tullio, EA |
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Track Two: Current Developments in Federal Estate and Gift Tax and California Trusts and Estates
Speaker: Jennifer Scharre, Attorney at Law
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Track Three: Anatomy of a No Records Audit
Speaker: LG Brooks, EA, CTRS |
| 10:05 AM to 10:20 AM |
Coffee Break / Break with Exhibitors |
| 10:20 AM to 12:00 PM |
Breakout Sessions: |
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(CONTINUED) Track One: Getting Back to Basics. A Start to Finish Individual 1040 Review. Without Your Tax Software!
Speaker: Michael Tullio, EA |
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Track Two: Forms of Ownership in California
Speaker: David Eastis, CRTP |
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(CONTINUED) Track Three: Anatomy of a No Records Audit
Speaker: LG Brooks, EA, CTRS |
| 12:00 PM to 1:20 PM |
Lunch and Learn
Processes and Procedures
Speaker: Demi Woodson, CRTP |
| 1:20 PM to 3:00 PM |
Breakout Sessions: |
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Track One: CA Update
Speaker: Claudia Stanley, EA |
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Track Two: Cutting Edge Strategies and Reporting for Limited Liability Companies
Speaker: Frank Acuña, Attorney |
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Track Three: Data Security for Tax Professionals
Speaker: Lawrence Pon, CPA/PFS, CFP, EA, USTCP, AEP |
| 3:00 PM to 3:20 PM |
Break with Exhibitors |
| 3:20 PM to 5:00 PM |
General Session
Federal Tax Update
Speaker: Jane Ryder, EA, CPA |
| 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM |
Reception with Exhibitors |
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Tuesday, June 14, 2022
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| 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Registration and Exhibits |
| 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM |
Breakfast Keynote Session
FTB Discussion
Speaker: TBA |
| 9:15 AM to 10:05 AM |
Breakout Sessions: |
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Track One: Schedule C - Line by Line
Speaker: Chuck Woodson, EA |
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Track Two: Retirement Accounts After the SECURE Act
Speaker: Frank Acuña, Attorney at Law
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Track Three: Practitioner Privilege / POA
Speaker: LG Brooks, EA, CTRS |
| 10:05 AM to 10:20 AM |
Coffee Break / Break with Exhibitors |
| 10:20 AM to 12:00 PM |
Breakout Sessions: |
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(CONTINUED) Track One: Schedule C - Line by Line
Speaker: Chuck Woodson, EA |
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Track Two: Basics of COD
Speaker: Ryan Reichert, EA |
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(CONTINUED) Track Three: Practitioner Privilege / POA
Speaker: LG Brooks, EA, CTRS |
| 12:00 PM to 1:20 PM |
Lunch and Learn
Engagement Agreements
Speaker: Frank Acuña, Attorney at Law |
| 1:20 PM to 3:00 PM |
Breakout Sessions: |
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Track One: Interest & Dividends - 1040 Schedule B
Speaker: Michael Tullio, EA |
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Track Two: CA Update
Speaker: Claudia Stanley, EA, CPA |
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Track Three: You CAN Fix the IRS
Speaker: Eva Rosenberg, EA |
| 3:00 PM to 3:20 PM |
Break with Exhibitors |
| 3:20 PM to 5:00 PM |
General Session
Business Tax Update
Speaker: Jane Ryder, EA, CPA |
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Wednesday, June 15, 2022
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| 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Registration and Exhibits |
| 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM |
Breakfast Keynote Session
Tax Stuff you Thought you Knew
Speaker: Ryan Reichert, EA |
| 9:00 AM to 9:15 AM |
Break with Exhibitors |
| 9:15 AM to 10:05 AM |
(CONTINUED) Keynote Session
Tax Stuff you Thought you Knew
Speaker: Ryan Reichert, EA |
| 10:05 AM to 10:20 AM |
Coffee Break / Break with Exhibitors |
| 10:20 AM to 12:00 PM |
Breakout Sessions: |
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Track One: Basics of Depreciation
Speaker: Chuck Woodson, EA |
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Track Two: Lifecycle of a Non-Profit
Speaker: David Eastis, CRTP |
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Track Three: Tax Aspects of Gifting a Home
Speaker: Lawrence Pon, CPA/PFS, CFP, EA, USTCP, AEP |
| 12:00 PM to 1:20 PM |
Lunch and Learn
Becoming an EA
Speaker: Eva Rosenberg, EA |
| 1:20 PM to 3:00 PM |
General Session
Stump the Tax Experts
Speaker: All speakers are invited to join this panel |
| 3:00 PM to 3:20 PM |
Break with Exhibitors |
| 3:20 PM to 5:00 PM |
General Session
Ethics
Speaker: Shannon Hall, EA |
| 5:15 PM |
Grand Prize Drawing |
Registration Information and Fees
| Category |
Fee by March 31, 2022 |
Fee by April 29, 2022 |
Fee After April 29, 2022 |
| Members |
$500 |
$550 |
$600 |
| Staff of Members |
$525 |
$575 |
$625 |
| Non-Members |
$600 |
$650 |
$675 |
| Sunday Social Event Guest Tickets |
$50 |
$50 |
$50 |
Registration fees include: Educational sessions and materials, Daily Breakfasts, Daily Lunches, Sunday Evening Social & Buffet, and Refreshment Breaks.
Cancellation policy: Written/emailed requests for a registration fee refund will be accepted until May 20, 2022. A $100 administrative fee will be deducted from all refunds. No refund of any kind will be given if a written cancellation notice is received after May 20, 2022. There are no refunds for no-show registrants.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER!
CSTC Academy: Wednesday Webinar Series - Five Steps to Protect Your Firm from Catastrophic Cyber Attacks
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Cost: Member: $0 / Non-Member: $30
Speaker: Tom Kirkham, founder and CEO of IronTech Security
1 Federal Tax Law Hour
CTEC: 1000-CE-5011
IRS: 18QC1-T-01606-22-O
Location:
Online Meeting via Zoom
This will be Zoom Meeting. Once you register and pay, the Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email for you to log in at the designated meeting time. Zoom does require registration before entering the meeting.
Description:
In this webinar, you will learn how a single cyber attack can put you out of business and the 5 critical steps to protect your business. These 5 crucial steps will dramatically increase your overall security stance and will lessen the chances of being hit by a malicious cyber attack. Cyber attacks are on the rise and continue to destroy businesses and reputations. This webinar’s for you if you want to make sure you are doing the most to protect your business and client information.
Presenter:
Tom Kirkham, founder and CEO of IronTech Security provides cybersecurity defense systems and focuses on educating and encouraging organizations to establish a security-first environment with cybersecurity.
Is Your Firm's Website and Social Media ADA Compliant?
While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has existed since 1991, the past 5 years have seen an explosion of litigation surrounding the accessibility of websites. These lawsuits, which tend to be predatory in nature, can be complex given the unclear standards for website accessibility set forth by the Department of Justice. In addition to the lack of clear standards, there are divisions amongst the courts over issues related to the nexus between a business and having a physical location, or being purely e-Commerce. It is important for clients (accountants, lawyers, business owners, etc.) not only to understand their exposure in an ADA litigation, but also methods to mitigate their risks on an ongoing basis. This program will explore the current status of the law, WCAG, and what clients can do to minimize their exposure to future litigation.
The Alameda County Bar Association has invited our CSTC members to join this lunch hour webinar for FREE!
Speakers: Michael Karlin and L. Scott Karlin of The Karlin Law Firm, LLP
Host: Alameda County Bar Association
Date: 1/18/2022
Time: 12-1:30pm
Registration: https://www.acbanet.org/event/?backcaltype=g&month=1&yr=2022&eventid=15771
CSTC members will receive the discount code via e-mail for free registration to this webinar!
Calendar of Events
January 2022
January 7, 2022
Topic: IRS & California Update
San Francisco Bay Chapter Meeting
2 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
2 Federal Tax Update hours (Topics covering new tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
January 8, 2022
Topic: Tax Year 2021 Update Workshop Federal & California (Part Two on January 10)
Inland Empire Chapter Virtual Two-Part Seminar
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
5 Federal Tax Update hours (Topics covering new tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
January 10, 2022
Topic: Tax Year 2021 Update Workshop Federal & California (Continued from January 8)
Inland Empire Chapter Virtual Two-Part Seminar
2 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
Click here to learn more and register
January 11, 2022
Topic: TaxBook & Ethics
Central Valley Chapter Hybrid Meeting
6 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
2 Ethics hours (Topics meeting the ethics requirements under Cir 230)
Click here to learn more and register
January 13, 2022
Topic: Individual & Business Update Forum
Orange County Chapter In-Person Seminar
4 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
4 Federal Tax Update hours (Topics covering new tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
January 22, 2022
Topic: Fed/CA Update
San Jose Chapter Virtual Meeting
2 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
4 Federal Tax Update hours (Topics covering new tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
January 26, 2022
Topic: Final 2021 Tax Update
Wine Country Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
1 Federal Tax Update hours (Topics covering new tax law)
Click here to learn more and register
Click here to view the CSTC calendar.
CSTC’s 45th Annual Running Start Seminar
January 6, 7, and 8 2022
Hosted by the CSTC Region 4 Chapters:
San Diego, San Diego East County and San Diego North County
Presented by Lisa Ihm and Ryan Reichert of Brass Tax Presentations
(once again Lisa will graciously present her 2022 Update materials to our Members at the CSTC Running Start)
CLICK HERE to learn more and register!
Event Information:
| Hosting Chapter |
Date |
Time |
Location |
| San Diego |
Thursday, January 6, 2022 |
Registration: 7:30 AM
Seminar: 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM |
Handlery Hotel
950 Hotel Circle North
Mission Valley, CA 92108 |
| East County San Diego |
Friday, January 7, 2022 |
Registration: 7:30 AM
Seminar: 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM |
Sycuan Resort
3007 Dehesa Road
El Cajon, CA 92019 |
| North County San Diego |
Saturday, January 8, 2022 |
Registration: 7:30 AM
Seminar: 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM |
California Center for the Arts
340 N. Escondido Blvd
Escondido, CA 92025 |
Description:
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!
Education materials and reporting provided by Brass Tax Presentations, LLC.
Pricing:
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Fee Description
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Member Fee
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Non-Member Fee
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Last Day to Register at This Fee
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Priority Registration
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$220
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$255
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November 30, 2021
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Regular Registration
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$240
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$270
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Day before the seminar
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Late Registration
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$285
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$315
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Day of seminar
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CLICK HERE to learn more and register!
Welcome New CSTC Members!
Please help us in joining our newest CSTC Members!
Shirley Abbott
San Francisco Bay Chapter
Maria Iniguez
Los Angeles Chapter
Susan Preheim
Member-at-Large Chapter
Mary Jane Shilling
Greater Long Beach Chapter
Carey Thomas
Inland Empire
Danielle Carter Tripp
Temecula Valley Chapter
Nara Velicky
Los Angeles 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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