December 2007 | Los Angeles Chapter Bulletin
At our December meeting, Andy Katzenstein will be sharing with us some recent cases and revenue rulings crucial to estate planning practices, including PLRs, cases and rulings.
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 12
Time: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location: Olympic Collection; 11301 Olympic Blvd.; West Los Angeles
Cost: $30/members; $40/nonmembers (after Dec. 7: add $10)
RSVP: Online
SAS Nos. 104–111, designed to eliminate the connect-the-dots methodology of checklist auditing, are intended to put the thought process back into auditing. But are they really all that different? This course will provide an overview of these seemingly sweeping changes to audit practice.
Speaker: Thomas Noce, CPA, CFE
Date: Monday, Dec 3, 2007
Time: 8–8:30 a.m./registration; 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m./program
Location: Luxe Summit Hotel; 11461 Sunset Blvd.; Bel Air
Cost: $215/members; $305/nonmembers
RSVP: Online
Note: Only valet parking is available: $7 per car
Info: Chapter program associate
Sandy Benitez
This course is made possible through the sponsorship of the California CPA Education Foundation. Net proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Chapter Scholarship Fund.
This Los Angeles City Business Tax and Los Angeles County Business Property Tax seminar will take the mystery out of completing forms properly, address issues from audits, frequently asked questions, current law updates, appeal procedures and more.
Date: Thursday, Dec. 6
Time: 8–9 a.m./registration and breakfast; 9–10:30 a.m./city of Los Angeles, Office of Finance; 10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m./Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office
Location: Hilton Universal City; 555 Universal Hollywood Drive; Universal City
Cost: Before Dec. 3: $85/members; $95/nonmembers (after Dec 3: add $10)
CPE: 3 hours
RSVP: Online
Note: $8/self-parking; $12/valet
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
’Tis the Season to be Jolly … and Ready
By Vee Cristobal, CPA
Ah, December. The season of gift buying and giving; of tasty cookies, peppermint coffee and eggnog; of party after party … after party … after party.
It’s also the season when it becomes the hardest for practicing CPAs to contact our clients so we can complete their tax planning and projections. Before we can think of our holiday vacations, we must first tend to the year-end needs of our clients, which makes this already hectic season even more frenzied.
Somehow we must juggle all the pressures of the holiday season with year-end inventory, closing books and strategic planning for the forthcoming year, which holds new tax laws and new audit procedures. Forget your holiday shopping list and party decorations. Have you ordered your software for 2008? Are you ready for the next tax season and its new preparer standards and penalties, which apply to all returns, income, excise, payroll, gift, estate, exempt organization returns and other returns?
Because ’tis the season to be jolly, I want to provide a hot tip so that my fellow CalCPA members can enter the season not only jolly, but also prepared. Now, more than ever, you should hold regular staff meetings. I know, I know, the last three weeks before the new year are so hectic that regular staff meetings are often pushed aside. But consider how prepared and calm you will feel if you hold 30-minute staff meetings first thing Monday mornings. In this way, you can delegate and tackle your mighty to do list.
Speaking of to do lists, remember to include the following:
- Send tax organizers
- Calculate estimated tax payments and mail to clients (come Jan. 15, you’ll be happy you did it now
- Collect and implement best practices for tax season; and
- Start sending letters to clients requesting that they call your office to schedule a meeting for early 2008. Remind your clients that your job as a trusted adviser is to keep abreast of all that has transpired the previous year with their jobs, businesses and, most of all, their families. Remember that providing great service to parents means that children might use your services when they head off to college or start working.
If December is not your year-end, take advantage of this season to get your continuing professional education hours through the California CPA Education Foundation.
As president of CalCPA’s Los Angeles Chapter, I am honored with the privileges that I receive for leading a professional organization that cares so much for its members. By giving back, I prepare future generations to step forward and become leaders. We need you to continue inspiring others so that our profession can soar and grow.
For those of you who were affected by the recent fires, or for those of you with clients affected, consider gifting your time or tax assistance to fire victims who need your help. Remember that it is far better to give than to receive, and you will enter the holiday season feeling warm and peaceful if you volunteer your expertise where it is so desperately needed.
Now a few housekeeping items:
- The LA Run/Walk Power by Numbers Nov. 18 was a smashing success. Thanks to all the volunteers, including those from UCLA, USC and the Venice Boys & Girls Club, as well as exhibitors and sponsors: Gumbiner Savett Inc.; ADP Employer and Small Business Services; Rothstein Kass; Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher and Perez; Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., LLP; and the CalCPA Institute.
Special thanks to committee chair Mitzy Barreto and her committee members for their dedication to making this event a successful one, and to CalCPA Vice Chair Scott Hofferber and his band, for providing fun music. A double thanks to Delia Rincon for making this run happen. Last but not least, thanks to Gary Hammond, Sandy Benitez, Monica Thompson (and daughter) and Marty Seiden for a fantastic job. Bravo to all of you! Next year, we would love to see all our CalCPA members join this event raising funds to benefit the CalCPA’s scholarship fund, Venice Boys & Girls Club, Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California and Westside Food Bank.
- If you need eight hours of A&A or fraud, Thomas Noce will present an audit standards update Dec. 3. Register online.
- The LA City/County Tax Day has new location. To accommodate more than 200 attendees Dec. 6, we are moving to the Universal Hilton. Mark your calendar. We hope to see familiar faces there.
Now, and in the new year, I will continue to embrace Mission: 10,000. May all of our eyes and ears remain wide open for new members, candidates, students and associate members.
As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at vee@cristobalcpa.com. A jolly, safe and prepared holiday to all!
—Vee Cristobal, CPA
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CHAPTER NEWS
New Members
On behalf of the Los Angeles Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members:
Jack Aberbook, Aram Ananian, Daniel Apodaca... [see all new members]
Tax Night 2007 Success
We would like to thank our generous sponsor who helped make this event a success; ADP Small Business Services. Go online to check out race results.
Committee Members:
Mitzy Barreto, chair; Violeta Cristobal; Erikk Eldridge; Tim Good; Scott Hofferber; Kathy Johnson; Eric Lopez; Marty Seiden; Monica Thompson; and Jennifer Ziegler
Exhibitors:
Clear Purpose Chiropractic; Jack FM; Shell Vacations Club; Aids Lifecycle; Assil Eye Institute; Krav Maga Kickboxing Self Defense School; Naked Juice; Warner Brothers; POM Wonderful; Once Upon A Princess; The Healthy Bean; Balloon Celebration; Bouncer Fun; Climb It; Penponi Spa; AIM Sports Medicine; Boys and Girls Club; Reading is Fundamental of So. California; and Westside Food Bank
Volunteers:
Cal State Northridge; UCLA; Cal State LA; Boys and Girls Club of Venice; and USC
Entertainment:
Scott and Friends
Sponsors:
Platinum: Gumbiner Savett Inc.; ADP Employer Sevices; and ADP Small Business Services
Silver: Rothstein Kass
Bronze: Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, P.C. and Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., LLP
LA Chapter Scholarships
We will start accepting scholarship applications Jan. 8, 2008. If you have any questions, contact program associate Sandy Benitez.
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CalCPA NEWS
Online Registration: Fast and Easy
Register and pay for CalCPA events 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit CalCPA.org's Master Calendar to search for CPE and other events by chapter or key word. To explore the possibilities, go online today.
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RESOURCES:
Los Angeles Chapter Leadership
California CPA Education Foundation CPE in the Los Angeles Chapter
