CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
Surgent's Guide to Payroll Taxes and 1099 Issues
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4.00 Credits
Employment taxes are often overlooked as an area where more planning may be effective. Payroll taxes have become an increasing burden for the average business and IRS penalties for noncompliance have risen dramatically in recent years. As a result, they have also been subject to employer incentives. The Service has announced that uncovering noncompliance by employers ranks high on its audit list. This course presents an overview of employee versus independent contractor criteria, the federal payroll taxes form, Form 1099, and related compliance issues.
Surgent's Guide to Understanding the At-Risk Basis Rules and Forms 6198 and 7203
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2.00 Credits
Many tax clients with losses from their S corporations, partnerships, and multiple-member LLCs treated as partnerships will want to use these losses to offset their other income from other sources. This program explains when, why, and how the at-risk rules apply to allow or to prevent the owner of a pass-through entity from taking a loss from a pass-through entity and using it to offset other income. This program is extremely helpful for anyone with pass-through entity clients.
Surgent's Guide to the AICPA Quality Management Standards
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2.00 Credits
With only a few months to go before the AICPA's Statement on Quality Management Standards 1, 2, and 3 (SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3, respectively), SSARS No. 26, SAS 146, and SSAE 23 are required to be implemented, this course can help you meet the deadline. It focuses not simply on theory but on HOW to perform the steps involved. The Quality Management Suite of Standards must be implemented by December 15, 2025. The standards modernize the firm's approach to quality to reflect an increased focus on risk assessment, technology use, and the presence of outside experts on many engagements. Beginning with performing a risk-based approach, the standards provide accounting firms with the ability to enhance their quality control by shifting their focus to a proactive approach (management) from a reactive approach (control). The results of the firm's risk assessment will form the basis of its new Quality Management document. This is not just a tweak of the old document but a more robust document that adds new requirements from the new standards. We will cover how to perform a risk assessment, including the key provisions of the standards, and how to effectively implement a monitoring plan. We will also review how the firm will evaluate its System of Quality Management beginning in 2026.
Surgent's Guide to the Topic 606 Revenue Recognition Model for All CPAs
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4.00 Credits
While the effective date of Topic 606 has passed for companies, there will always be a need for a comprehensive review of the accounting related to revenue recognition, including recently issued changes to this guidance. Whether you are looking to improve your revenue recognition processes, benchmark your financial statement disclosures against your peer group, or assess the impact of changes to your revenue recognition processes due to COVID-19, this course will provide you with the information you need to apply Topic 606 in this current environment. This course will review the basic Topic 606 five-step model and provide specific implementation guidance and examples. It will cover the presentation and disclosure requirements for Topic 606, including the private company disclosure relief available under Topic 606, and provide disclosure examples. Lastly, the course will discuss best practices, lessons learned, and ways to improve the business process when recognizing revenue going forward. Even though implementing Topic 606 is behind us, it is still possible to improve the processes that drive revenue recognition and this course will assist you in doing that.
Surgent's Guide to the Topic 606 Revenue Recognition Model for All CPAs
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4.00 Credits
ASC 606 is now just revenue recognition. Its time as a new standard has passed. Given the importance of revenue to all entities, investors, and capital markets, there will always be a need for a comprehensive review of the accounting related to revenue recognition, including recently issued changes to this guidance. Whether you are looking to improve your revenue recognition processes, benchmark your financial statement disclosures against your peer group, or assess the impact of changes to your revenue recognition processes due to geopolitical events, this course will provide you with the information you need to apply Topic 606 in this current environment. This course will review the basic Topic 606 five-step model and provide specific implementation guidance and examples. It will cover the presentation and disclosure requirements for Topic 606, including the private company disclosure relief available under Topic 606, and provide disclosure examples. It will also cover the results of the final stage of the FASB's Post-Implementation Review (PIR) process related to ASC 606. Lastly, the course will discuss best practices, lessons learned, and ways to improve the business process when recognizing revenue going forward. Even though implementing Topic 606 is behind us, it is still possible to improve the processes that drive revenue recognition, and this course will assist you in doing that.
Surgent's HIPAA: What Accountants and Other Practitioners Need to Know
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1.00 Credits
In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly referred to as HIPAA. HIPAA's stated purpose was to provide Americans with privacy measures designed to protect personal healthcare-related information. Yet soon after it became law, critics argued that HIPAA "lacked teeth", noting that the only remedy for violations of the law was to report the wrongdoer to the Department of Health and Human Services. Congress strengthened HIPAA in 2009 when it passed the Health Information Technology for Economic Clinical Health Act ("HITECH"). Under HITECH, entities subject to HIPAA are now required to maintain specific physical, administrative, and digital protection procedures. HIPAA now imposed many other requirements for those affected by the law, such as requiring breaches of patient information be reported to affected parties in a timely manner. Further, the law substantially increased the fines that HIPAA-covered entities must pay for violations. It is imperative that accountants and financial professionals familiarize themselves with HIPAA's requirements. Under HITECH, businesses must comply with HIPAA's data privacy guidelines if they work with HIPAA-covered businesses; that is, any business in the healthcare industry. Professionals who are not familiar with HIPAA fundamentals run the risk of subjecting themselves and their company to civil liability and severe penalties.
Surgent's Handbook for Mastering Basis, Distributions, and Loss Limitation Issues for S Corporations, LLCs, and Partnerships
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8.00 Credits
The most difficult concepts to master when dealing with flow-through business entities are the basis and distribution concepts. Major error and malpractice issues occur if the CPA does not fully understand the impact of these rules. This course is designed to focus on the practical applications of these rules.
Surgent's Handbook for Mastering Basis, Distributions, and Loss Limitation Issues for S Corporations, LLCs, and Partnerships
Available Until
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8.00 Credits
The most difficult concepts to master when dealing with flow-through business entities are the basis and distribution concepts. Major error and malpractice issues occur if the CPA does not fully understand the impact of these rules. This course is designed to focus on the practical applications of these rules.
Surgent's Handling Difficult People
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2.00 Credits
This professional development course equips you with practical strategies to manage challenging interactions in the workplace. Although difficult individuals may represent a small segment of the workforce, their impact can be significant, often leading to time lost and decreased productivity. In this course, you will gain essential skills to address and navigate these situations effectively. Additionally, you'll identify specific challenges and develop a personalized action plan for implementing the strategies learned back in your workplace.
Surgent's Hiring and Firing of Employees - What You Can and Cannot Do
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2.00 Credits
There are numerous federal laws that restrict what businesses can do in terms of hiring and firing employees. Many of these laws impose significant penalties if employers violate them. Accordingly, it is crucial that all employers and their professional advisors understand these laws and apply them to their employment practices.
Surgent's Home Office Rules
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2.00 Credits
Since 2017, employees have not been eligible to take an itemized deduction for a home office. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended all miscellaneous itemized deductions for tax years 2018 through 2025. That deduction is scheduled to go into effect in 2026. Self-employed individuals can deduct office expenses on Schedule C, Form 1040. The home office deduction includes typical office-connected expenditures such as supplies, postage, computers, printers, and all the other ordinary and necessary expenses a person would have in connection with running a home office. The home office tax deduction for the self-employed would cover expenses for the business use of a home, which includes mortgage interest, rent, insurance, utilities, repairs, and depreciation. This program discusses many of the most important issues relating to the deductibility of home office-related expenses.
Surgent's Hot IRS Tax Examination Issues for Individuals and Businesses
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8.00 Credits
The IRS began replenishing its workforce with the additional funding from the Inflation Reduction Act only to have to terminate workers or lay them off due to mandated federal workforce reductions. The IRS trains its audit workforce by examining the tax returns of individuals and small businesses. As the IRS continues to examine tax returns, Accounting, Tax, and Financial Professionals need clients to understand the need for documentation and procedures to substantiate what IRS examiners are pursuing. Learn the high audit risk areas and ways to help clients survive an IRS audit with little or no change. It is critical for Accounting, Tax, and Financial Professionals in public accounting to understand the risk to clients and to themselves in tax return preparation and planning since the IRS continues to increase its audit coverage and is examining more taxpayers than it has in the recent past.
Surgent's How Can I Spot Fraud? A Review of Fraud Detection and Prevention Techniques
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2.00 Credits
This course will discuss what to do if you suspect fraud within your organization. The HealthSouth fraud case is presented as a means of understanding how the fraud was committed, and ways in which it could have been prevented. This is the second of five 2-hour courses in Surgent's Fraud Certificate Program. This program includes a combination of lectures, animated videos, and live interviews with white-collar offenders and whistle-blowers. Each course is designed to be engaging and informative and will enhance your understanding of fraud.
Surgent's How to Account for Internal-Use Software Arrangements
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1.00 Credits
This course provides an overview of the accounting for internal-use software. The accounting and reporting requirements related to internal-use software can be found within ASC Topic 350-40. The primary information addressed within this ASC Topic relates to the development costs that should and should not be capitalized, how those costs are amortized, how they are tested for impairment, as well as presentation and disclosure requirements.
Surgent's How to Effectively Represent Clients Under IRS Audit
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2.00 Credits
Increased funding resulting from the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act will allow the IRS to target many more wealthy individuals and large businesses for audit. These efforts will become more intense over the next several years as the IRS employs artificial intelligence in more of its audits. This program discusses how and when the IRS's energized audit efforts will result in more audits of taxpayers and what attendees need to know to effectively represent clients that the IRS audits.
Surgent's How to Settle a Client's Estate
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10.00 Credits
Federal estate and gift taxes currently affect few clients, but there are many other issues involved in settling an estate or administering a trust. Clients who are beneficiaries of a trust or estate often turn to their financial advisors to understand the administrative process and its effect on their interests. This course enables the accountant to cut through the jargon to understand the legal concepts, communicate a real-world explanation to clients, and serve, in some instances, as an advisor to them. After taking this course, practitioners will feel more confident to serve in a fiduciary capacity. Updated for developments relative to estate taxation.
Surgent's How to Settle an Estate – An Overview
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2.00 Credits
This course discusses the legal issues in probating and contesting a will, plus the practical issues involved when settling an estate - marshaling of assets, payment of creditors, and distribution and accounting to beneficiaries. Inventory of estate assets is also discussed.
Surgent's IRS Tax Examinations and Hot Issues
Available Until
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4.00 Credits
Although the Inflation Reduction Act increased the IRS budget, Congress continues to battle about whether this funding will be continued. The IRS began replenishing its workforce with the additional funding only to have to terminate workers or lay them off due to mandated federal workforce reductions. The IRS trains its audit workforce by examining the tax returns of individuals and small businesses. As the IRS continues to examine tax returns, Accounting, Tax, and Financial Professionals need clients to understand the need for documentation and procedures to substantiate what IRS examiners are pursuing. Learn the high audit risk areas and ways to help clients survive an IRS audit with little or no change. It is critical for Accounting, Tax, and Financial Professionals in public accounting to understand the risk to clients and to themselves in tax return preparation and planning since the IRS continues to increase its audit coverage and is examining more taxpayers than it has in the recent past.
Surgent's IRS Tax Examinations and Hot Issues
Available Until
Download
4.00 Credits
The IRS began replenishing its workforce with the additional funding only to have to terminate workers or lay them off due to mandated federal workforce reductions. The IRS trains its audit workforce by examining the tax returns of individuals and small businesses. As the IRS continues to examine tax returns, Accounting, Tax, and Financial Professionals need clients to understand the need for documentation and procedures to substantiate what IRS examiners are pursuing. Learn the high audit risk areas and ways to help clients survive an IRS audit with little or no change. It is critical for Accounting, Tax, and Financial Professionals in public accounting to understand the risk to clients and to themselves in tax return preparation and planning since the IRS continues to increase its audit coverage and is examining more taxpayers than it has in the recent past.
Surgent's IT Governance and Risk Management
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2.00 Credits
This course covers the key components of IT governance and risk management through interactive discussions and hands-on activities. By the end of the course, participants will have a thorough understanding of the function of IT governance within an organization, including roles and responsibilities and key frameworks. In addition, participants will learn about IT risk identification and assessment methods and IT general and application controls. Business process management and change management will also be discussed.