Looking for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits?
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced details of the 2015 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums. The forums last three days and over that time, there will be more than 40 seminars and workshops. Those seminars and workshops will provide up to 18 CPE credits for enrolled agents, certified public accountants, certified financial planners, Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) participants and other tax professionals.
The forums will also feature a two-day expo where you can meet with representatives from tax, financial, and business communities offering their products, services and expertise. You and I both know what that means: tax swag. But don’t get too giddy. This isn’t Academy Award level swag since, after all, IRS will be there…
If you pre-register at least two weeks in advance, you’ll save $130. If you’re a member of a participating association, you can save even more money by meeting that early registration deadline: you’ll just pay $220. Those participating associations include the American Bar Association (ABA); American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA); National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA); National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP); National Society of Accountants (NSA); and National Society of Tax Professionals (NSTP). If you have questions, contact your association directly.
If you register later than the early registration deadline (including registration at the time of the event), you’ll pay $360. Either way, it’s tax deductible (but then you already knew that).
The dates and locations (with early registration deadlines):
Here’s the best part. If you have any of what IRS calls “tough, unresolved client cases”, you can make an appointment to meet face to face with IRS representatives at the IRS Case Resolution Program room. The normal rules apply so bring your valid form 2848 or power of attorney in order to chat with IRS and of course, make sure you have the client details handy. You’ll be limited to one client case per meeting. It’s popular: between 2011 and 2014, IRS addressed more than 3,000 tax cases and resolved more than 97% (I know, right?).
I haven’t actually attended a forum to date but I hear they’re useful. In the past, a number of my colleagues have made the trip and had good things to say. According to IRS, a survey 2014 attendees revealed a 95% satisfaction rate (no word on whether that survey was audited).
2015 marks the 25th year that IRS has hosted these forums. For more information, or to register online, visit www.irstaxforum.com (note this is not an irs.gov site).
