TXCPA Dallas

December 2020 Newsletter

In This Issue…

Chairman’s Message

By Jason Freeman, CPA

December, historically the month of celebration, family, friends and fellowship, will likely be quite different for most of us this year, thanks to the effects of COVID. To help this month pass more easily, there are several Chapter events that we hope you’ll join us for.

On December 8, we are hosting a virtual Holiday Brown Bag Lunch event that will include games, prizes and the opportunity to network with your fellow TXCPA Dallas members. For those who prefer to party later, we hope you’ll join us for a Holiday Thirsty Thursday on December 17. More games, more prizes and the opportunity for more conversation with your friends all from the comfort of your home. We hope you’ll be there.

We have some great online CPE sessions on offer this month. On December 9, Lucas LaChance and Sara Godecke of Lane Gorman Trubitt will educate us regarding Auditing in the Time of COVID. On December 11, Freeman Law’s Edward Courts, Jr. and Matthew Roberts will present separate sessions on the DOJ and conservation easements, and the IRS’s renewed interest in civil and criminal tax fraud, respectively. Also on December 11, Professor Allison McLeod presents our monthly Ethics course. If this is the year you need to meet the State Board’s ethics requirement, Professor McLeod’s class is an excellent resource.

Yes, all that December has come to signify for us has changed this year, but that’s not altogether a bad thing. In addition to being the traditional time of closeness and festivity, December 2020 takes on an added meaning: the close to one of the most challenging years our country has endured – and will survive again – in more than a century. With the recent medical breakthroughs, there is reason to believe that an end to our national crisis is finally at hand, that soon we will be able to gather together again, that the world will be set right once more. December 2020 means a reason to hope.

Happy Holidays to all! May you enjoy all the blessings of this season and abundant good health, prosperity and happiness in the new year.

Jason Freeman, CPA

2020-21 Board Chairman

CPE

Online CPE Event:

Auditing in the Time of COVID

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

TXCPA Dallas
invites you to an
Online CPE Event

Auditing in the Time of COVID
presented by

Lucas LaChance
Partner, Lane Gorman Trubitt LLC
&
Sara Godecke
Partner, Lane Gorman Trubitt LLC

Wednesday, December 9, 2020
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This is an online event.

Course Description: Providing quality service and meeting deadlines while in the middle of a pandemic present some unique challenges, both in the physicality of completing audit and in looking critically at the results of an organization’s operations in the given environment. Planning the engagement becomes much more hands-on as you consider the impact on a company’s revenue streams, the in-flux and ultimate forgiveness of federal relief funds, going concern issues, and more. Prepare yourselves and your clients for enhanced disclosures, different types of testing, and longer lead times working in a remote environment.

Learning Objectives: In this course, we will:

• Consider key engagement planning pitfalls,
• Discuss enhanced disclosures, and
• Review potentially problematic areas of the audit during a pandemic.

To register for this event, click here.

Online Ethics Course

A CPA’s Guidebook for Ethical Behavior:

A CPE Ethics Course for Texas CPAs

Friday, December 11, 2020

You are invited to join us for our monthly, State-approved, four-hour Ethics course, A CPA’s Guidebook for Ethical Behavior: A CPE Ethics Course for Texas CPAs.  This course will be taught by Professor Allison McLeod.

Speaker and author, Allison M. McLeod, LL.M., CPA, will educate and inform CPAs not just on what is the right thing to do according to the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct but how to put your values into action!   As part of this course, we will also look at various schools of ethical thought and walk through real world examples of individuals and companies faced with moral dilemmas.

Description: A CPA is challenged in today’s work world to not only serve his/her client or employer but also to protect the public interest by ensuring that there is transparency in financial reporting or there is fair administration of the tax laws.  In balancing the two interests, a CPA may find him or herself in an ethical dilemma. This course covers not only basic ethical frameworks, but also specific rules governing CPA practice and responsibilities. It concludes with a section on how a CPA can put his or her ethics into action.

Objective:

1. To educate licensees in ethics of professional accounting as Texas CPAs.

1. To convey the intent of the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct in the performance of professional accounting services/work, not to adhere to the mere technical compliance of such rules.
2. To assist the Texas CPA in applying ethical judgment in interpreting the rules and determining public interest. Public interest should be placed ahead of self-interest, even if it means a loss of job or client.
3. To review and discuss the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct and their implications for persons in a variety of practices, including:
   1. CPAs in client practice of public accountancy who perform attest and non-attest services.
   2. CPAs employed in industry who provide internal accounting and auditing services.
   3. CPAs employed in education or in government accounting or auditing.

To register for this event, click here.

Online CPE Event:

Conservation Easements & Tax Fraud

Friday, December 11, 2020

TXCPA Dallas
invites you to an
Online CPE Event

Friday, December 11, 2020
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This is an online event.

F. Edward Courts, Jr.
Principal, Freeman Law PLLC
Presents

The DOJ Takes on Conservation Easements

Course Description: This session presents the history of conservation easements and the DOJ efforts to stop conservation easement promoters.

Learning Objective: To provide tax professionals with an update on the latest efforts by the DOJ and the IRS to stop promoters of conservation easements.

Matthew Roberts
Principal, Freeman Law PLLC
Presents

The IRS’ Renewed Interest on Civil and Criminal Tax Fraud:
What Tax Practitioners Should Know Now

Course Description: Recently, IRS top officials have made it known that a top IRS priority for the foreseeable future will be a renewed focus on tax fraud. This presentation will provide tax practitioners with an overview of the IRS’ recent efforts to curb tax fraud and also how to handle and assist clients with civil and criminal tax fraud issues.

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn how:

• To identify clients with potential IRS civil and criminal fraud risks; and
• To assist and provide guidance to clients with civil and criminal tax fraud risks.

To register for this event, click here.

Young Professionals Group Presents

Online CPE Event:

Introduction to State and Local Taxation

Thursday, January 21, 2021

TXCPA Dallas
Young Professionals Group
invites you to an
Online CPE Event

Introduction to State and Local Taxation
presented by

Tania Sederdahl
Senior Tax Associate, Bland Garvey PC

Thursday, January 21, 2021
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This is an online event.

Course Description: When do State and Local Taxes affect your clients? What questions should you be asking? This course is a brief introduction to State and Local Taxation (SALT) with an emphasis on state income tax. It is intended to make participants aware of various SALT issues clients encounter and enable participants to better research/comprehend SALT concepts.

Learning Objectives: This course will:

• Introduce various types of state taxation.
• What is nexus?
• Introduce factors and formulas
• Introduce common adjustments
• Introduce types of returns

To register for this event, click here.

Save the Dates for

These Upcoming CPE Opportunities

January 13, 2021

Financial Planning and Wealth Management

Trudy Turner

Vice President, Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management

January 18, 2021

Cost Segregation

Eddie Price

Director – Cost Segregation, KBKG

February 11, 2021

Business Interruption –

Calculations and Considerations

Madhu Ahuja

Founder & Managing Member, Ahuja & Clark PLLC

and

Jada Yarbrough

Forensic & Valuation Senior Staff Accountant, Ahuja & Clark PLLC

EVENTS

Holiday Brown Bag Lunch Event

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

And for those prefer an evening event…
Join us for a virtual

Holiday Thirsty Thursday

Thursday, December 17, 2020

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Network with your friends and colleagues,

play games and compete in an

Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest!

Prizes will be awarded.

There’s no charge to attend this event,

but please let us know you’re coming by clicking here.

Hope to see you there!

GIVING BACK

Serving our Community with

Financial Literacy Training

TXCPA Dallas has an ongoing effort to provide volunteer opportunities for our members through the CPA Involvement Committee. In addition, the state TXCPA’s Branding and Community Outreach Committee encourages the local chapters to focus extra resources each year during its annual Month of Service. In December of this year, TXCPA Dallas is excited to support the state’s goal to help Texans secure better financial foundations for the future.

The state has provided significant resources on this webpage, especially for those in public practice to engage their clients and communities through educational brochures and presentations on such topics as Budgeting and Managing Money, Planning and Saving for Retirement, and Protecting Yourself against Identify Theft. We encourage you to review and make plans now to support this effort.

All financial literacy volunteer activities should be reported to Laura McFadden by January 4, 2021, for tracking for the December state challenge.

TXCPA Dallas CPA Involvement Committee is also working with local non-profits to support existing financial literacy training. If you are interested in volunteering through this effort, please contact Dawn Hooper, Committee Chair.

Amazon Toy Drive Benefitting

Dallas Margarita Society/Dallas Children’s Charities

Since 1977, Dallas Margarita Society / Dallas Children’s Charities has contributed millions of dollars in grants, including over 200,000 toys, to organizations throughout DFW to help those who need it most in our community – at risk kids. This year normal fundraising efforts have been turned upside down and the Dallas Margarita Society was unable to host their signature charity event, the annual Dallas Margarita Ball. However, those who benefit from their mission still need help, maybe this year more than ever; we kindly ask that you take a moment to donate a toy for a child in need this holiday season at this link.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

D CEO Magazine Announces

2020 Financial Executives Award Winners

D CEO Magazine recently announced the winners of its 2019 Financial Executives Awards. Here is a list of those honorees:

Outstanding CEO, Large Public Company:

Bryan Miller, Tyler Technologies

Outstanding CFO, Large Public Company:

David Lancaster, Matador Resources Co.

Outstanding CFO, Large Private Company:

Tom Walker, Dallas Cowboys Football Club

Outstanding CFO, Large Private Company:

DeWayne Wilson, Texas Health Aetna

Outstanding CFO, Large Private Company:

John Doyle, Steward Healthcare

Outstanding CAO:

Shane Arledge, Learfield IMG College

Outstanding CFO, Midsize Private Company:

Gregg Branning, CSW Industrials

Outstanding CFO, Midsize Private Company:

Brian Poff, Addus HomeCare

Outstanding CFO, Midsize Private Company:

Carol Stuckley, Healthcare Payment Specialists

Outstanding CFO, Midsize Public Company:

Lance Philips, Capstead

Outstanding CFO, Midsize Private Company:

Ronald Herbert, Fastsigns International

Outstanding CFO, Midsize Private Company:

Karra Guess, ESRP

Outstanding Public Service:

George Purefoy, City of Frisco

Outstanding Public Service:

Eric Cannon, City of Allen

Most Innovative Financial Team – Public Company:

Jeff Chesnut, Alliance Data Systems

Most Innovative Financial Team – Private Company:

Sam Cheng, Earthbound Trading Co.

Outstanding CFO, Nonprofit:

Janice Harissis, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Outstanding CFO, Nonprofit:

Carla Brandt, The Real Estate Council

Outstanding CFO, Nonprofit:

Larry McCoy, Klyde Warren Park

Outstanding FP&A:

Joseph Loner, GridLiance

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Paul Willey

We offer special congratulations to TXCPA Dallas members

Eric Cannon, Sam Cheng, Bryan Miller, Tom Walker and Paul Willey

on their well-deserved recognition.

D CEO Magazine

2021 Financial Executives Award Nominees

Do you know an outstanding financial executive who deserves the special honor of becoming a D CEO Magazine Financial Executives Award winner? The magazine is now accepting nominations for its 2021 Financial Executives Awards. If someone you know has earned the honor of consideration for this prestigious recognition, click here to find out more about how you can nominate them.

MEMBERSHIP

TXCPA Dallas

Scholarship Winner Spotlight

Over the next few months, we will spotlight each of this year’s TXCPA Dallas Scholarship winners. Join us in getting to know Texas A&M University, Commerce (TAMU-Commerce) accounting student Brandon Bascue and welcoming him to TXCPA Dallas.

Giving back is important to Brandon Bascue. So much so that he credits it with being the reason he chose to pursue a degree in public accounting. As he sees it, his accounting career will be as much a benefit to others as to himself.

At TAMU-Commerce, Brandon played defensive tackle for the Lions football team. Aside from the football scholarships he received, he was also awarded the Chuck Arize Excellence Fund and Accounting Alumni Endowment Scholarships. Brandon was a Football Leadership Council member, Student Athlete Advisory Council Treasurer, President’s Athletic Council member and Team Impact Team Chair. While balancing all his other activities, he also managed to make both the President’s and Dean’s lists.

Upon receipt of his Bachelor of Business Administration degree this month, Brandon will begin an internship with Ernst & Young in the spring and start work on his Masters degree.

TXCPA Dallas welcomes and congratulates Brandon Bascue.

Welcome, New Members!

CLASSIFIEDS

Practices For Sale

Practices For Sale in North Texas: gross revenues shown: SW Arlington CPA $492K; N. Ft. Worth CPA $185K; Grandbury CPA $49K; DFW CPA $1.5M; North DFW $475K; Plano EA $170K; SE Dallas Tax & Bkkpg $40K; NW of Ft. Worth CPA $180: SW of Ft. Worth CPA $608K; Northern Collin Co CPA $575K; Abilene CPA $367K; Deep East Texas CPA $710; NW of Dallas CPA $705K; NE Texas CPA $209K; E/SE CPA $290K; Tyler/Longview Area CPA $780K. For additional listings/information, call us at 1-800-397-0249 or visit us online at www.APS.net and register for free email updates.

THINKING OF SELLING? Accounting Practice Sales is located in North Texas and is the leading marketer of accounting and tax practices here and nationwide. We have a large buyer pool as well as the experience to help you find the right fit for your firm and negotiate the best price and terms. To find out more about our risk-free and confidential services, call Ryan Pannell with The Holmes Group at 1-800-397-0249 or send an email to Ryan@APS.net.

TXCPA

TXCPA Chapter Tip Sheet

TXCPA MONTH OF SERVICE

We invite you to participate in TXCPA Month of Service this December. With a statewide focus on financial literacy education and service, TXCPA members and chapters are extending resources to various organizations across the state to help Texans build a stronger financial foundation. Contact your chapter to learn about volunteer opportunities close to home and visit the TXCPA website to see a full list of opportunities for the Month of Service and throughout the year.

TXCPA GROUP BILLING PROGRAM

The Texas Society of CPAs is committed to helping the organizations that employ our members leverage those membership investments to support organizational goals for success. We know each organization has unique needs. TXCPA’s Group Billing Program is tailored to meet those needs.

If you would like to participate in the Group Billing Program or ask any questions, please contact Stephanie King.

PAC FUNDRAISING CHAPTER CHALLENGE

Have you given your $10 to the CPA-PAC yet? Give now through December and help your chapter win the Chapter Challenge. Your contribution is more important than ever as we embark on the 2021 Texas legislative session. A PAC donation is the easiest, fastest way to protect the profession you worked so hard to join. Let Jesse Dominguez, CPA and Chair of the PAC, explain why it’s so important.

Questions? Contact Diane Joiner, Manager, TXCPA Governmental Affairs.

DEPRESSION KNOWS NO SEASON

“This is supposed to be a joyous time of year, yet I feel angry one minute and plunged into despair the next. What’s wrong with me?”

You might be suffering from depression. ACAN, the TXCPA Accountants Confidential Assistance Network, offers confidential assistance. Call us at 866-766-ACAN. All we want to do is help. All you need to do is call!

ADVOCACY DAY; MIDYEAR BOARD AND MEMBERS MEETING

All members are warmly welcome to participate in TXCPA’s virtual Advocacy Day on Jan. 26. An online meeting will be held that morning and there will be virtual legislative visits that afternoon.

The Midyear Board of Directors and Members Meeting will be online the morning of Jan. 27. The agenda will include updates on the new Strategic Plan and presentation of the 2021-2022 leadership slate.

Watch your weekly TXCPA Viewpoint for additional details and registration information.

TXCPA EXCHANGE

Have you visited TXCPA Exchange recently? Sign in with your TXCPA member login credentials, update your bio and add a profile photo. Then connect with colleagues through the member directory, join an interest-area community, ask a question on the main forum or provide feedback on a discussion thread. The ways to engage are endless and the more members who contribute, the more valuable the community becomes. Here are some helpful resources to get you started:

FAQ

Quick Start Guide