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CSTC Newsletter

January 2020

In This Issue...

  1. From the President
  2. Save the date for the 2020 Summer Symposium
  3. January 2020 Chapter Events
  4. Running Start 2020 - San Diego County Chapters
  5. Welcome New CSTC Members
  6. January 2020 Board Meeting
  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.

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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

CSTC advances professionalism within the tax industry by:

  • Providing quality education
  • Creating networking opportunities
  • Advocating professional standards

 

From the President

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May 2020 be filled with all the success you are looking forward to!

******

BEING PATIENT WITH OTHERS

Ever been rock climbing?

To get to the top of the rock  . . . you have to climb. (Obvious, I know!) You need to place your hands and feet on the rock in a particular way to grip it and pull and push your way up. For your hands you try to find crimps, jugs, pinches, jambs, finger locks, and underclings. Basically anything you can hold onto with hands, fingers, and fingertips. For your feet you need to find ledges, foot holds, jibs, dime edges, smears, jambs, and heel hooks. Basically, anything that you can get your foot to stick to so you can put weight on your feet. On the hard climbs, it really matters where you put your fingers, hands, and feet.  The sequence in which you do things also matters. You can’t just grab and go or you won’t be able to do the climb.

A few years ago, my son Tyler and I went to Mission Trails climbing area in San Diego to climb a very fun moderate climb called ”Monkey Dance”. This climb requires precise hand and foot placement. You start by climbing out and around an over-hanging ledge. Once on top of the ledge, you need to “bear hug” the rock while reaching into a high crack with your Right hand, then carefully moving your Left hand into the same crack. Continuing up the crack and the rock face you find various chunks of rock to hang onto and stand up on.

When it was Tyler’s turn, I tried to get him to do it like I did. I gave him lots of instructions; "hug the rock", "move your hand more to the Left", "reach further to the Right", etc., etc., but no matter how hard he tried, he could not climb up the rock face the way I was telling him to. Tyler kept falling and was getting really frustrated. I was getting frustrated too. He just could not do it the way I knew he should be able to. But, then he started to do it his own way, and to find different hand holds and foot holds that worked better for him. He completed the climb with no problem. What a great lesson for me!

You see, each of us is unique and different. We are not built the same way. My arms are longer than Tyler’s and I’m a little taller. He has different strengths and his body has a different center of gravity. He uses his hands and fingers differently than I do and he sees things differently than I do. Is he wrong and I am right? Not at all. We are simply different and do things differently. Our goal was the same - to get up the rock - but our method was different and ultimately using the same method did not matter.

THE LESSON

The lesson I learned that day on Monkey Dance was that when Tyler was climbing, my job was to be a good belayer, not a move-by-move instructor. As belayer, my job was to make sure his safety gear was functioning, to catch him each time he fell, and to make sure to give him enough slack. I needed to be patient and let him work out the problem on his own and in his own way. My job as his climbing partner and dad was to teach him the techniques of climbing, and let him figure out how to apply what he learned.

As parents, employers, leaders, and friends, we can relate to this story because we are called upon to teach, train, and lead others. Years of practice have taught us how to do many things and we each have our own way of doing things. As we have practiced and produced work we get pretty set in our ways and sometimes we think our way is the only right way. It is not. By expecting others to act and to do things the same way we do, we will only get frustrated. Perhaps the reason someone acts or does things differently is because of their background, upbringing, past experiences, or even because of trouble they are currently facing. Perhaps they are having trouble due to lack of confidence, fear of doing it wrong, or simply not understanding how to do something. Perhaps if we let them do it ”their way” we might be happy with the results and can learn from them.

BEING PATIENT WITH OTHERS

Here are a few tips I have picked up in my study of this topic:

When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.  – Henry Eyring

Give everyone more slack. - L. Whitney Clayton

Be generous. Apply the most generous interpretation to people's thoughts, words, and actions. - Brené Brown

Give people the benefit of the doubt. - Cindy Pollard

I hope that as we move together through 2020, we will be more patient with others and with ourselves. How wonderful would it be if we could see the best in people and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Thanks for all you do!

Your friend,
Gary Quackenbush, CSTC President

Save the Date for the 2020 Summer Symposium!

 

More Information Coming Soon!

January 2020 Chapter Events

January 4, 2020
Topic: Tax year 2019 Update Workshop
Inland Empire Chapter Meeting
4 Federal Update Hours
2 Ethics Hours
2 California Hours

January 5, 2020
Topic: Round Table Discussion
San Gabriel Valley Chapter Meeting
2 Federal Law Hours

January 9, 2020
Topic: Running Start
Hosted by the San Diego County Chapters
6 Federal Update Hours
2California Hours

January 10, 2020
Topic: Running Start
Hosted by the San Diego County Chapters
6 Federal Update Hours
2California Hours

Topic: Business Tax Law Updates & Individual Tax Law Updates
Orange County Chapter Meeting
4 Federal Tax Law Hours
4 Federal Update Hours

January 11, 2020
Topic: Running Start
Hosted by the San Diego County Chapters
6 Federal Update Hours
2California Hours

January 14, 2020
Topic: Taxbooks, Ethics, and New Federal Updates
Central Valley Chapter Meeting
5 Federal Law Hours
2 Ethics Hours
1 Federal Update Hour

January 15, 2020
Topic: Plan Designs for Small Businesses
San Diego Chapter Meeting
1 Federal Tax Law Hour
1 California Hour

Topic: Cost Segregation - What is It? / New California Employment Law on AB5
San Jose Chapter Meeting
1 Federal Update Hour
2 California Hours

January 18, 2020
Topic: 2019 Federal and California Update
San Francisco Bay Chapter Meeting
4 Federal Update Hours
2 California Hours

January 25, 2020
Topic: Federal & California 2019 Updates
San Jose Chapter Meeting
4 Federal Update Hours
2 California Hours

January 28, 2020
Topic: The Sharing Economy Including Cryptocurrency
Orange County South Chapter Meeting
2 Federal Law Hours

Click here to view the CSTC calendar.

Running Start 2020 - San Diego County Chapters 

Description:

A comprehensive 1-day tax update for 2019 tax returns
• Overview of new tax laws
•Complete coverage of new IRS and CA forms
• Real-life examples of how to complete new forms
• 199A 20% business income deduction - examples for sole proprietors, S-corps & partnerships
• CA adjustments calculated and illustrated on 540 Sch CA
• Limitations on mortgage interest deductions
• Learn how to quickly and easily reconstruct acquisition/equity debt
• Line-by-line calculations on new IRS forms & worksheets
• Find out why many entertainment expenses are still deductible
• Determine which sales of business or rental property qualify for 199A deduction
• Case studies - client documents to completed tax return

Dates and Locations:

Thursday, January 9, 2020
Registration: 7:30 AM
Seminar: 8:00 AM to 4:50 PM

Friday, January 10, 2020
Registration: 7:30 AM
Seminar: 8:00 AM to 4:50 PM

Saturday, January 11, 2020
Registration: 7:30 AM
Seminar: 8:00 AM to 4:50 PM

Handlery Hotel
950 Hotel Circle North
Mission Valley, CA  92108

Sycuan Resort
3007 Dehesa Road
El Cajon, CA  92019

California Center for the Arts
340 N. Escondido Blvd.
Escondido, CA  92025


CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Welcome New CSTC Members!

Please help us in joining our newest CSTC Members!

Helen Hobbs
East County San Diego Chapter

Guadalupe Lozano
Inland Empire Chapter

Erica Martinez
San Diego Chapter

Anne McCaleb
Sacramento Chapter

Raul Mendoza
Greater Long Beach Chapter

Jessica OConnell
San Francisco Bay Chapter

Sandra Stolich
Central Valley Chapter 

January 2020 Board of Directors Meeting

Date: Monday, January 13 and 14, 2020

Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm both days

Location: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Ana, 1600 E First St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

*CSTC Members only*

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 Advocate 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.

   

 News from the IRS 

October 15 filing extension deadline 

Taxpayers who requested an extension to file their 2018 tax return have until Tuesday, October 15 to file.
Taxpayers can file their tax return electronically for free through IRS Free File. The program is available on IRS.gov through Oct. 15. 

The fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund is to file electronically and use direct deposit. 

See IRS Tax Tip 2019-132. 

Tax Relief in Disaster Situations 

The IRS extended deadlines that apply to filing returns, paying taxes, and performing certain other time-sensitive acts for certain taxpayers affected by Hurricane Florence. The federally declared disaster areas include hurricane victims in certain counties in North Carolina and South Carolina. The extension applies to deadlines - either an original or extended due date - that occurred on or after September 7, 2018 and before January 31, 2019. 

The IRS often updates its information on disaster relief efforts. For the latest news, see the IRS disaster relief page frequently. 

Where's My Refund? 

Taxpayers who filed their tax returns should know that the easiest way to check on their tax refund is to use "Where’s My Refund?" This tool is available on IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go app. The fastest way to get that tax refund is to use IRS e-file and direct deposit. 

Taxpayers can use Where’s My Refund? to start checking on the status of their tax return within 24 hours after the IRS receives an e-filed return. For a paper return, it’s four weeks after the taxpayer mailed it. 

See:  Online tool lets taxpayers check the status of their refund for more information. 

Tax Reform 

The IRS is working on implementing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This new law includes major tax legislation that will affect both individuals and businesses. Check the Tax Reform page for the latest updates. 

Tax Withholding 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the way tax is calculated. The IRS encourages taxpayers to perform a quick “paycheck checkup” by using the Withholding Estimator to check if they have the right amount of withholding for their personal situation. 

Consumer Alerts on Tax Scams 

‪Note that the IRS will never: 

  • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
  • Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. 

For more information on tax scams, please see Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts. For more information on phishing scams, please see Suspicious emails and Identity Theft. 

Is it Really the IRS Calling? 

The IRS wants you to understand how and when we contact taxpayers and help you determine whether a contact you may have received is truly from an IRS employee. 

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service. 

However, there are special circumstances in which the IRS will call or come to a home or business, such as when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, to secure a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax payment, or to tour a business as part of an audit or during criminal investigations. 

See Avoid scams: Know the facts on how the IRS contacts taxpayers for more information. 

Private Debt Collection 

The IRS began a new private collection program of certain overdue federal tax debts selecting four contractors to implement it. The groups are: CBE Group of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Conserve of Fairport, N.Y.; Performant of Livermore, Calif.; and Pioneer of Horseheads, N.Y. The taxpayer’s account will only be assigned to one of these agencies, never to all four. No other private group is authorized to represent the IRS. 

The IRS will always notify a taxpayer before transferring their account to a private collection agency (PCA). The IRS will send a letter to the taxpayer and their tax representative informing them that their account is being assigned to a PCA and giving the name and contact information for the PCA. This mailing will include a copy of Publication 4518, What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency (PDF). 

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) 

FATCA refers to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act that requires reporting on specified foreign accounts by U.S. taxpayers and foreign financial institutions. In general, federal law requires U.S. citizens to report worldwide income, including income from foreign trusts and foreign bank and securities accounts.

Click here for more news from the IRS

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]