CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
Surgent's Depreciation Rules for Bonus and Section 179 Expensing
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Online
2.00 Credits
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) has had a tremendous impact on commercial real estate, including liberalizing the depreciation provisions. Bonus depreciation was expanded and increased from 50 to 100 percent for qualifying assets placed in service beginning after September 27, 2017, through December 31, 2022. After December 31, 2022, the deduction percentage began decreasing by 20 percent per year, fully phasing out after 2026. Bonus depreciation is now available on new and used assets. President Trump favors a permanent extension of the 2017 tax provisions, and we anticipate legislative changes in 2025 that may make the changes in depreciation permanent or extend them beyond 2025. We will be watching legislative developments closely in 2025 to determine how 2025 legislative changes impact the tax depreciation rules.This course qualifies for IRS credit.
Surgent's Strategies for Maximizing Social Security Benefits
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Online
2.00 Credits
As the population of the United States ages, tax practitioners will be asked to advise their individual clients with respect to when they should begin to take Social Security benefits. This program will provide you with the background to knowledgeably discuss the benefit options available to Social Security beneficiaries and the alternative payment options available to married couples, dependents, a surviving spouse, and a divorced individual.
Surgent's Lessons Learned from Successful Companies
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Online
2.00 Credits
Why do some companies fail while others grow and succeed for generations? Common perceptions often attribute organizational success to great leadership, timing, or unique ideas. Although these traits certainly play a role in helping companies grow, research shows that corporate success often hinges on whether a company is value driven. Such companies have core ideologies that drive almost every major decision. In this course, we look at empirical data on why some companies succeed while others fail. By looking at companies that were created prior to 1950 (e.g., Disney, Marriott, or 3M), we can understand why certain organizations have been able to grow and achieve exceptional success through many different eras in the American economy. The lessons learned from these visionary companies can be broadly applied to organizations of all sizes, including accounting and financial service firms.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update: Risk Management
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Online
2.00 Credits
The most recent recession and its fallout, weather (look at 2017), process and product failures, and unethical behavior have again highlighted failures by numerous organizations in identifying and managing risk. The size and reputation of organizations proved not to be the key to success. Again, we saw that failures can result in areas/industries thought to be "under control" through their policies, practices and/or regulations. A core activity of financial management is to effectively protect the assets of their organizations, without significantly reducing new ideas and growth. This brief program provides insights and approaches to identify risk and manage the above noted trade-off. The course is designed for financial managers looking to quickly build upon their existing knowledge and experience, as well as to help to start the less experienced individual. It offers ideas that can be used immediately, as well as longer term approaches. Updated to include new information particularly in the areas of disaster planning, business continuity, and ethics, as well as a sample group exercise to test your current risk management systems.
Surgent's Where To Live in Retirement
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Online
2.00 Credits
Deciding where to live in retirement is a challenge that involves a multitude of factors that differ for everyone. Each person and couple should evaluate their current living situation to see where their goals and lifestyles in retirement can best be met. The program covers the various factors that most people should consider when thinking about where to spend their retirement years.
Surgent's Government and Nonprofit Frauds and Controls to Stop Them
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Online
4.00 Credits
George Washington once wrote, "We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought experience." The cost of fraud, dearly paid by governments and nonprofits, is too severe not to learn and profit from. In this course, we will look back at real-world government and nonprofit frauds and derive useful controls to stop them. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format. Over 15 focused exercises are included to provide an enhanced working knowledge of fraud and anti-fraud controls to both auditors and industry professionals.This course qualifies for yellow book credit.
Surgent's What Practitioners Need to Know About Estate Planning and Administering a Client's Estate
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Online
3.00 Credits
Even though the current transfer tax exemption is extremely high to the point that few decedents have a federal estate tax liability, administering an estate is a burden for many family members. In many cases, the family members will look to their professional advisors for help in estate planning and administering an estate. The purpose of this program is to discuss those issues that practitioners with clients involved in estate planning administration need to know to advise those clients. Lack of planning and preparedness in estate issues can cost the heirs time and money upon a decedent's death.This course qualifies for IRS credit.
Surgent's Applying the Yellow Book to a Financial Statement Audit
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Online
4.00 Credits
Knowing just a little about the Yellow Book can hurt you! It is important to have a thorough understanding of the standards. This course covers the Yellow Book financial auditing requirements and prepares you to excel in applying the standards. You will learn precisely what the Yellow Book does and does not require auditors to do. Updated for the 2024 Yellow Book revision, the course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format. Over 15 focused exercises are included to provide an enhanced knowledge of the Yellow Book.This course qualifies for yellow book credit.
Surgent's Internal Controls and COSO in a Post-COVID Landscape
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Online
4.00 Credits
Companies that fall victim to fraud schemes need to reassess internal controls in order to prevent future fraudulent activity. In this course, we will review the 18 most prevalent internal controls present as well as designed and operating effectively according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners' Occupational Fraud 2022: A Report to the Nations. Then we will tie these controls to the 17 internal control principles offered by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), the framework used by virtually all entities and auditors to assess the design and operational effectiveness of internal controls. Lastly, we will consider the impact of the 2020 pandemic on the internal control environment in the post-COVID pandemic era.
Surgent's Audits of 401(k) Plans: New Developments and Critical Issues
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Online
8.00 Credits
One of the most favored employee benefit plans, the 401(k) plan, provides unique challenges for auditors. Through this course, auditors will obtain an understanding of the rules and regulations unique to employee benefit plans and obtain practical guidance on applying them. Auditors will enhance their knowledge of the performance and reporting requirements through real-world examples, best practices, and efficient audit techniques that can be utilized in various audit engagements. Make sure your audits don't trigger a DOL inspection by conforming to all applicable rules and regulations.
Surgent's Key Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) Rules for Funding and Tax-free Distributions
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Online
2.00 Credits
How much can you contribute to a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), SEP Roth IRA, or SIMPLE Roth IRA? How will a Roth distribution qualify to be tax-free? How did SECURE Act 1.0 and SECURE Act 2.0 change the Roth rules? These are only some of the key Roth questions advisors must know the answers to. Plus, as Roth accounts have increasingly become an essential component of retirement savings portfolios, with one-third of IRA owners owning Roth IRAs, advisors have even more reasons to be Roth-proficient. To that end, the instructor will simplify critical rules that govern Roth funding and Roth distributions for Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s, and sister plans.This course qualifies for IRS credit.
Surgent's Use the Data Model to Build More Powerful PivotTables
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Online
2.00 Credits
Do you love PivotTables? Of course, we all do! Traditional PivotTables are incredible, but they do have limitations. If you have ever encountered one of these limitations, you'll be excited to learn that by using the Data Model as the source for PivotTables, you'll be able to bypass many of the restrictions that exist with traditional PivotTables. The data model (also referred to as Power Pivot) is included in Excel 2016+ for Windows and available as a free download for previous versions (excluding Excel for Mac). Using the data model enables you to build PivotTables that were previously not practical. If you frequently build PivotTables and would like to do more with them, you'll want to understand how to use the data model (Power Pivot) to enhance your reports. Note about Excel versions: Power Pivot is not available in all versions of Excel, including Excel for Mac. If you would like to see if Power Pivot is available in your version of Excel, visit the Microsoft site.
The Best Federal Tax Update Course by Surgent
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Online
8.00 Credits
In this continually revised course, tax advisors will be fully updated on the most recent enacted legislation and IRS guidance, as well as major trends on the horizon with a view toward planning considerations. This update course is designed for all practitioners, both those working in public accounting as well as those in private industry, who need the latest information on tax changes. Please Note: Due to content overlap, it is recommended that this course NOT be taken together with BITU.
Surgent's Excel Shortcuts for Accountants
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Online
2.00 Credits
This webinar presents a variety of time-saving ideas, shortcuts, and tips that are sure to boost personal productivity. We discuss better summing, address one of the biggest pitfalls that Excel users have faced over the past 25 years, present the most important keyboard shortcuts, demonstrate a better alternative to hiding rows or columns, illustrate how to quickly navigate to other workbooks and files, and demonstrate using Excel with styles.
Surgent's The Essential Multistate Tax Update
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Online
4.00 Credits
With the largest overhaul of the federal income tax code in 30 years and the repeal of the physical presence nexus standards for sales tax in the Wayfair case, the states are working fast and furious to overhaul their tax laws. As some states scramble to fund their budgets, they continue to look for additional forms of revenue. Plan to attend this fast-paced class that covers developing topics in state taxation, ranging from individuals to pass-through entities to corporate taxpayers. This class will focus on issues of small and middle-market companies and offer guidance for minimizing tax liability and negotiating the treacherous waters of compliance.
Surgent's Top Ten Questions from Partnership Clients Regarding the Section 754 Election
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Online
4.00 Credits
This program is an in-depth analysis of the Section 754 election and the two adjustments associated with the election under Section 743(b) and Section 734(b). The 754 election is a highly technical provision that provides great tax benefits to the owners of the partnership, and particularly in the case of Section 743(b), a new partner. This course covers the most common questions encountered by practitioners in their daily practices. The program includes a number of examples that provide insights into the mechanics of the two adjustments that follow upon a Section 754 election.This course qualifies for IRS credit.
Surgent's Introduction to AI in Accounting
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Online
2.00 Credits
This course introduces the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI's relevance to accounting. Participants will explore various AI applications and understand the benefits, challenges, and future trends associated with AI integration in accounting. Case studies of successful AI implementation in accounting firms are included to enhance learning.
Surgent's Introduction to Forensic Accounting
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Online
4.00 Credits
Forensic accounting encompasses fraud investigation and prevention, as well as a wide variety of functions in litigation. Forensic accountants provide services ranging from serving as an expert witness, to litigation consultant and bankruptcy trustee. As our economy grows more complex, the need for forensic accountants grows as well. One critical role of the forensic accountant is exposing and examining financial fraud. Technology expands the way companies conduct business; however, technology also provides greater opportunities for those willing to commit fraud. Forensic accountants rely on their skills in accounting, coupled with their investigative skills, to explain to clients, courts, and jurors how fraudulent schemes occur and the effect caused by fraud. Forensic accountants also provide expert opinions in calculating damages in litigation and administering bankruptcy estates, as well as a host of other services.
Surgent's Simply Auditing Not-for-Profits Efficiently
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Online
4.00 Credits
It's crazy to try to audit not-for-profits in the same manner that you do for-profits! The sane approach to auditing not-for-profits is to incorporate what makes them unique into the planning and performance of the audit. This course is designed to help you do just that! Obtain a superior working knowledge of auditing not-for-profit entities effectively and efficiently.This course qualifies for yellow book credit.
Surgent's Top Individual Tax Planning Strategies
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Online
2.00 Credits
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and SECURE Act 2.0 both contained tax law changes that impact many individuals in 2025 and in later years. This program covers many of these changes as well as other tax topics that continue to impact individual income taxpayers.This course qualifies for IRS credit.