In This Issue...

1. From the President
2. March Events
3. Register Now for the 2021 Summer Symposium!
4. Last Month to Register for Running Start
5. Tax Season & Identity Theft - A Message from the CSTC 2nd Vice President
6. Welcome New CSTC Members
7. Legislative Advocacy
8. News from the IRS
9. 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

From the President
Man's Search for Meaning - and Starfish

This afternoon the low tide was -1.14 feet below the average low tide. It was very low. Very low tide means that more awesome tide pools would be exposed for exploration. My wife Cheryl and I met some friends at the tide pools North of the UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography pier. It was awesome! We found dozens of Sea Anemone, Hermit crabs, and rock crabs. We even saw an Octopus and a huge Starfish. In tide pool hunting terms, we had a great day.

As we moved from rock to rock and from one shallow area to another I noticed dozens of other people wandering around apparently doing the same thing we were. Searching for cool sea life. Some just stood and looked out at the ocean, some looked down as they walked along, others got down on hands and knees and looked in every nook and cranny. We heard parents explaining to their kids why they were there and saw others were right in the water with them showing them things. When our friend Scott announced that he found an octopus, a bunch of people quickly gathered around to see it waving its tentacles from under a big rock. When I announced that I found a large Starfish, many people made their way out to my location to see. Both the octopus and the Starfish were treasurers to behold. They seemed to be what people were hoping to see during their exploration.

The one thing that everyone there seemed to have in common was that they were there at the tide pools to observe, search, and find. Everyone had their own way of searching, their own expectations, and their own idea of what they might find. At the tide pools there are some basic rules like “don’t destroy the natural habitat”, “don’t move big rocks to find things”, and “don’t take anything home”.But, other than that, people pretty much do their own thing.

In Viktor Frankl’s awesome book, Man’s Search for Meaning, he thoughtfully established that people are here on earth to search for and to find meaning in what they do. When they find meaning in what they do or in what they suffer, they can tolerate and push through more challenges and suffering than they could ever imagine. He states, “In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.” This statement gives me hope during challenges. One of my very favorite quotes, “be cool with the sacrifices you are making” is a kind of shorthand version of Frankl’s quote. If I understand why I am making the sacrifices I am making, I am OK with them. If I fail to understand why I am making them, I will be unhappy or even miserable.

Looking back on your life, you will likely find that it is the sacrifices you have made that make you the most proud. It is doubtful, however, that people will be envious of your sacrifices, but they will probably envy the result of those sacrifices. Think about it this way. Let’s say that you work very hard to build and operate your small business. For a while, perhaps even a long while, you work very long hours six or seven days a week. You sacrifice recreation, family, and personal time and perhaps your health, to make the business work. Then, when things are going well, you have the freedom to do what you want to and the time to do it. Will people envy the long hard hours you sacrificed or will they envy the rewards you reap? Obviously the rewards. In Frankl’s words "My sufferings are the things of which I am most proud, though they are things which do not inspire envy."

Looking back to the tide pool searchers, who found the coolest things? The guy on his hands and knees getting wet, cold, and sandy. Many others got to enjoy the fruits of his sacrifice, but I doubt they would envy the cold, wet, and sandy sacrifice required to make the find. Yet, the guy who found the awesome things would not consider his searching a sacrifice at all because he knew why he was getting wet and sandy. His sacrifice had meaning. He was “cool” with his sacrifice.

Whether you sacrifice your time for your clients, your family, your friends, or an organization you belong to, as you find meaning in the sacrifice, you will find satisfaction.

As you sacrifice for your clients and your family this tax season, remember why you chose to be a tax professional and “be cool with the sacrifices you are making”.

Thank you for all you do to make the tax profession great. Thank you for all you do to make CSTC great.

Your friend, Gary Quackenbush, CSTC President

Calendar of Events
March 2021

March 2, 2021

Topic: Breakfast Meeting
North County San Diego Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register

March 3, 2021

Topic: IRS Updates from Communications & Liaison
San Francisco Bay Chapter Virtual Meeting
2 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register

March 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

March 7, 2021

Topic: Special Brunch Meeting
Central Valley Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Tax Law hour (Topics covering existing tax law)
1 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
2 Ethics hours (Topics meeting the ethics requirements under Cir 230)
Click here to learn more and register

Topic: Roundtable Discussion 2020 Tax Return Issues/Resolutions
Greater Long Beach Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
1 California hours (Topics covering California law issues)
1 Federal Update hours (Topics covering new tax laws)
Click here to learn more and register

March 9, 2021

Topic: Breakfast Meeting
North County San Diego Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 California Law hour (Topics covering California tax law)
Click here to learn more and register

March 12, 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

March 16, 2021

Topic: Breakfast Meeting
North County San Diego Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register

March 19, 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

March 23, 2021

Topic: Breakfast Meeting
North County San Diego Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register

March 26, 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

March 30, 2021

Topic: Breakfast Meeting
North County San Diego Chapter In-Person Meeting
1 Federal Law hours (Topics covering existing tax law)
Click here to learn more and register

Click here to view the CSTC calendar.

Schedule-at-a-Glance

Registration Information and Fees

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER!

Last Month to Register 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

TAX SEASON & IDENTITY THEFT

A Message from the 2nd Vice President

Tax season is a great time of year to remind your clients to routinely check their credit report. I pulled the following information from https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/get-my-free-credit-report.

“You're entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies.

Order online from annualcreditreport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports, or call 1-877-322-8228.

You will need to provide your name, address, social security number, and date of birth to verify your identity.”

Respectfully submitted,

Jen Horton, 2nd VP Membership, Society Board of Directors

Welcome New CSTC Members!

Please help us in joining our newest CSTC Members!

Gaurav Bajaj
Greater Long Beach Chapter

Michael Bishop Sr
Greater Long Beach Chapter

Robert Cantu
San Diego Chapter

Claudia Duran
Greater Long Beach Chapter

Paul Fritch
Member-at-Large Chapter

Laurelle Giberson
Central Valley Chapter

Gerald Glazer
Orange County South Chapter 

Susan Hanley
San Francisco Bay Chapter

Earl Harris
Greater Long Beach Chapter

Bonnie Harwick
Member-at-Large Chapter

Michelle Lang Payne
Wine County Chapter

William Lopez
Orange County Chapter

Lori Norman
Central Valley Chapter

Eileen JW Peternoushek
East County San Diego 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

California Society of Tax Consultants | 320 Pine Ave, Suite #1050, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone (949) 715-4192 | [email protected]