Comprehensive Seminars, Practical Resources

Transcription

1 stay INFORMED Social Media If you want to keep up with the latest tax and agricultural law happenings, make sure to follow us on and find us on Facebook. The CALT Brief Every month we send our subscribers an online newsletter highlighting major updates for the month. to subscribe. Kristy s List If you want to get the really key updates the minute they hit Kristy s desk, subscribe to her list. She ll get the word out as soon as she knows it. Comprehensive Seminars, Practical Resources If it s ag law or tax, we ve got you covered in At CALT, we recognize that our value is measured only by how well we help you do your job better. And that s what we are striving for in 2016: offering seminars, webinars, online publications, and practical resources that save you time and equip you with new skills to improve your bottom line. We ve planned our 2016 September Seminars: Navigating Changing Times to fulfill this goal. We have heard your feedback and we are delivering: more practical agricultural law tools and more farm tax, a day-long workshop with a 200+ page workbook! Look inside for more about this September 8-9 event. We are also giving our two-day 2016 Federal Income Tax Schools a facelift. We have teamed with 25 other universities by joining the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation, which trains around 29,000 tax professionals throughout the country each year. We have a great new workbook and exciting new speakers at our standard eight locations throughout Iowa. We can t wait to see you there! We also continue to build our comprehensive online library of practical tools and information relating to agricultural law and taxation. Visit our website at to access hundreds of articles, fact sheets, blog postings, and other resources to get you up to speed quickly. If you re a tax professional looking for hands-on guidance on a form, the bottomline impact of a new IRS Notice, or a webinar replay from which you can better understand a particular area of tax law, check out TaxPlace at We have so much more to share! Please look inside for more information on these and other 2016 CALT offerings. And thank you for your continued support! CONTENTS: Beginning May 19: Summer Tax Webinar Series Ag Law Webinars Federal Income Tax Schools 2016 September Seminars: Navigating Changing Times

2 2016 September Seminars: Navigating Changing Times Quality Inn & Suites, Ames, Iowa >> Meet and Greet Reception, Thursday Evening Ag Law Seminar, September 8 Our Thursday seminar will offer practical, interesting information you can immediately apply in your practice or ag-related business. You ll leave with forms and other tools to help you more efficiently serve your ag clients. Entity Planning in Uncertain Times Shannon Ferrell, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University Livestock Update: Ag Nuisance Suits and Manure Easements/ Current Issues in Enforcing Agricultural Liens and Farm Leases Eldon McAfee, Erin Herbold-Swalwell, and Julia Vyskocil, Shareholders, Brick Gentry P.C. Farm Tax Workshop, September 9 Our Friday seminar will be a comprehensive one-day farm tax workshop designed to equip tax practitioners with the tools they need to prepare farm income tax returns, from the simple to the complex. We ve had many requests for more farm tax training opportunities: In-depth coverage of all major areas of agricultural tax. We ve heard these requests and are taking a new turn this September. Bankruptcy Backwaters: Debt Collection and Other Financial Impairment Issues Pat Dillon, Dillon Law P.C. Land Tenure and Farm Transitions: Helping Avoid Intra-Family Conflicts in Farm Succession Planning Professor Neil Hamilton, Director of Drake Law School Agricultural Law Center and John Baker, Iowa State s Beginning Farmer Center Administrator Transitioning a Rural Legal Practice: The Ethics of Change Jennifer Zwagerman, Associate Director of Drake Law School Agricultural Law Center Legal Update on Water Quality and Other Hot Issues Kristine Tidgren, Assistant Director for the Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation The farm tax workshop will be taught by Phil Harris, an attorney and professor with 37 years experience bringing complex tax subjects to life. Bring your questions. You ll leave with answers, as well as the 2016 edition of Phil s comprehensive 200+ page workbook, Agricultural Tax Issues. It s a tremendous desktop resource for anyone who prepares farm tax returns. In addition to the farm tax training, Kristy Maitre, Tax Specialist with the Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation, will be offering an ethics session.

3 43RD ANNUAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX SCHOOLS For more years than many of our practitioners have been alive, Iowa State University has been conducting federal income tax schools throughout Iowa. As we continue this tradition, we are excited to tell you about some changes we hope will make these sessions even more beneficial to you, our valued professionals. MARK YOUR CALENDARS Make plans now to attend one of our 2016 Federal Income Tax Schools: November 2-3: Maquoketa November 7-8: Red Oak November 9-10: Sheldon November 14-15: Mason City November 17-18: Ottumwa November 21-22: Waterloo December 5-6: Denison December 12-13: Ames December 12-13: Live Webinar New Affiliation, More Resources In early 2016, we teamed up with 25 other land grant universities throughout the country and joined the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation. The Foundation exists to collaboratively draw from a pool of nationwide talent to create high quality educational programming for professional tax practitioners. The overarching goal of the Foundation is to fully equip tax practitioners each year for the upcoming filing season. The Foundation serves about 30 states through its member universities, and its National Income Tax Workbook reaches more than 29,000 tax professionals nationwide. New Workbook All participants in our Federal Income Tax Schools will receive the approximately 700-page National Income Tax Workbook, as well as a searchable CD containing archives of past workbooks. New Speakers As part of our 2016 facelift, we are integrating a number of new speakers into our fall sessions. Stay tuned for specific schedules and locations, but here s a sample: Kyle R. Day, JD, tax attorney at Lane & Waterman LLP Christopher Harper, CPA/MBA, Affiliate Instructor of Accounting at Grand Valley State University and Director of Education for Hungerford Nichols Philip E. Harris, JD, University of Wisconsin professor and lead author and editor of National Income Tax Workbook from Kurt J. Konek, Iowa CPA with 23 years tax experience Allan J. Reynolds, Iowa EA with 28 years tax experience

4 Get the Latest SCOOP from Kristy! The Scoop: Hot Issues from the Front Line has quickly become one of our most popular offerings. Every other Wednesday at 8:00 am CST and again at 12:00 pm CST, Kristy hosts a live webinar for professional tax practitioners. Each 30-minute session reviews all important tax happenings for the prior two weeks and explains their relevance. Kristy also presents tips and tools of the trade to make the work of a tax professional a bit easier. At the close of the session, participants ask questions and engage in an interactive discussion. The Scoop is free to all who attend, but participants must register to receive an access link. TaxPlace subscribers have unlimited access to all past archives of The Scoop. To register for the The Scoop, visit You ll be glad you did! THE AG DOCKET: Perspective on CURRENT Agricultural Law Issues If you are an attorney with rural clients, a farm producer, or an agribusiness professional, there s always something new to keep track of: a Supreme Court case, an IRS Notice, a change in the Iowa Code. At CALT, we want to be the resource you can trust to filter the barrage of new to give you the information you need without all the timeconsuming research. That s why we created The Ag Docket. In addition to our regular articles, fact sheets, and other resources, The Ag Docket keeps readers up to speed on the latest happenings in agricultural law. We go beyond headlines to tell you why the latest rulings and legal events matter to your business. The Ag Docket also analyzes issues we hear about from those in the field. When three people call in the same week with the same question, the issue will likely make its way into The Ag Docket, even if the issue is not new. If you re interested in understanding the implications of the latest filing in the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit or you re looking for something more specific like how to perfect a landlord s lien, The Ag Docket may be a helpful resource for you. You can access the blog directly at or subscribe to an RSS feed at Kristine, the primary author of the blog, is always looking for topics to explore. If you have suggestions for future posts, please her at ktidgren@iastate.edu.

5 2016 Webinars A GUIDE TO CALT S ONLINE CPEs VISIT TO REGISTER SUMMER TAX WEBINAR SERIES Beginning May 19 and continuing throughout the summer, these one-hour webinars provide a great opporunity to receive low-key CPE credit on important topics during the more carefree summer months May 19 - Employee vs. Independent Contractor May 24 - ABLE Accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act) May 26 - Cancellation of Debt June 21 - Let s Talk Dependents June 23 - Getting Your Client Right with IRS June 28 - Reconstruction of Records for Non-Filers June 30 - S-Corporation Reasonable Compensation July 5 - Travel, Meals and Entertainment July 7 - Preparing for a Gambling Audit July 12 - Your Client Dies. What s Next? July 14 - Innocent Spouse July 19 - Select Adjustments to Income July 21 - ROTH IRAs July 26 - Injured Spouse July 28 - Preparing for an IRS Audit August 23 - How to Prepare Your IRS Appeals Request August 25, Hobby Losses August 30, Net Operating Losses AGLAW WEBINARS Co-sponsored by the Iowa Bar Assoc. Iowa Farm Leases from Start to Finish June 7 from Noon to 2 PM Approved for 2 hours of CLE Iowa Activity #: With nearly half of Iowa s 88,500 farms being rented, ag leases are a key component of the Iowa farm economy. In this webinar, participants will review Iowa law relating to all aspects of an agricultural lease. Topics will include formation, termination, breach, landlord liens, remedies, and renewal. Participants will leave with forms and a solid understanding of current Iowa requirements. Iowa Fence Law June 9 from Noon to 2 PM Approved for 2 hours of CLE Iowa Activity #: In this webinar, participants will review current Iowa law as it relates to partition fences, fence disputes, boundary by acquiescence, and more. Included in this webinar will be a discussion of actions to quiet title and appeals from decisions of fence viewers. Participants will leave with forms and a thorough understanding of current Iowa law. ETHICS WEBINARS We re offering a number of opportunities for you to complete your ethics CPE requirements this year. Dates of classes: May 10, June 27, July 15, August 26, September 2, October 21, October 31, December 16 and December 19 The classes will be structured as follows: Part 1-11:30 AM to 12:30 PM (CST) - 1 hour of Ethics CPE - Review of the Circular 230 and the Standards of Practice. Part 1 will cover an overview of the Circular 230 and the first part of the key elements. Part 2-1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (CST) - 1 hour of Ethics CPE - Review of the Circular 230 and the Standards of Practice. Part 2 will cover the remaining sections of the Circular 230, including disciplinary actions. FALL TAX WEBINARS Unable to take advantage of our Summer Tax Webinars? We are also offering a number of classes this fall: Sept. 1 - The Portability Election Sept. 6 - IRS Representation Oct. 4 - Start-Up Costs Oct. 6 - ACA (Two Years Later): An Update for the 2017 Filing Season Oct. 7 - Tax Research with Limited Resources Oct Miscellaneous Income Oct New Developments/Tax Update

6 5things you can do with a TaxPlace subscription 1. Access unlimited replays of nearly all past CALT webinars and seminars. 2. Download helpful charts, forms, and checklists designed to make your life easier. 3. Watch The Scoop: Hot Issues from the Front Line any time of the day or night. 4. Read the daily TaxByte, tax news you can use today. 5. Search our database of in-depth articles explaining complex tax topics. Visit to subscribe or learn more! CALT is changing, continuing to search for ways we can better accommodate the needs of our constituents. We are just beginning a nationwide search for a new director and look forward to what lies around the corner. In the meantime, please send us an if you get a chance, telling us what services you value and how we can serve you better in the future. As always, thank you for your continued support! John Lawrence Interim Director jdlaw@iastate.edu Kristine Tidgren Assistant Director ktidgren@iastate.edu Kristy Maitre Tax Specialist ksmaitre@iastate.edu Tiffany Kayser Program Administrator tlkayser@iastate.edu Spring has ushered in many changes outside our window, including the appearance of the goslings you see above. The Basics Webinars for New Tax Professionals Who Need Basic Income Tax Training Filing Status/Requirements to File (Monday, October 10) - One of the first issues a tax professional has to identify is the appropriate filing status for the individual or family. Dependents (Tuesday, October 11) - One of the most difficult issues tax professionals face is that of dependents. This is partly due to the complex family situations in today s society and partly due to the complex laws and tests. We will cover common dependent issues through examples. Itemized Deductions/Standard Deduction (Wednesday, October 12) - Is it better to itemize or take the standard deduction? A review of the difference, special rules for married filing separately and what deductions are allowed will be reviewed. Many of the common documents taxpayers receive and some highly-audited areas will also be covered. Child and Dependent Care (Thursday, October 13) - Form 2441 Child and Dependent Care will be reviewed. Topics will include: requirements needed to file, due diligence when those requirements are not met and the special preparation needed for dependent care flexible spending arrangements. Education Credits (Friday, October 14) - An introduction to education credits and forms, Form 8917 Tuition and Fees Deduction and Form 8863 Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits). What are the new due diligence requirements and law changes that impact these credits? Which credits can be claimed and what expenses qualify will be reviewed. To register, visit seminars

7 2016 CPE/CLE Calendar To register for any of the events listed below, visit April 26 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar May 10 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar Iowa Liaison Meeting (co-sponsored with Accountants Association of Iowa) West Des Moines 19 Employee vs. Independent Contractor Webinar 24 ABLE Accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act) Webinar 26 Cancellation of Debt Webinar June 7 Ag Law Webinar: Iowa Farm Leases from Start to Finish (co-sponsored with ISBA) Webinar 9 Ag Law Webinar: Iowa Fence Law (co-sponsored with ISBA) Webinar 21 Let's Talk Dependents Webinar 23 Getting Your Client Right with IRS Webinar 27 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar 28 Reconstruction of Records for Non-Filers Webinar 30 S-Corporation Reasonable Compensation Webinar July 5 Travel, Meals and Entertainment Webinar 7 Preparing for a Gambling Audit Webinar 12 Your Client Dies. What s Next? Webinar 14 Innocent Spouse Webinar 15 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar 19 Select Adjustments to Income Webinar 21 ROTH IRAs Webinar 26 Injured Spouse Webinar 28 Preparing for an IRS Audit Webinar August 23 How to Prepare Your IRS Appeals Request Webinar 25 Hobby Losses Webinar 26 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar 30 Net Operating Losses Webinar September 1 The Portability Election Webinar 2 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar 6 IRS Representation Webinar 8 Agricultural Law Seminar: Navigating Changing Times Ames and Webinar 9 Farm Tax Workshop Ames and Webinar October 4 Start Up Costs Webinar 6 ACA (Two Years Later) - An Update for the 2017 Filing Season Webinar 7 Tax Research with Limited Resources Webinar 10 "The Basics" on Filing Status/Requirements to File Webinar 11 "The Basics" on Dependents Webinar 12 "The Basics" on Itemized Deductions/Standard Deduction Webinar 13 "The Basics" on Child and Dependent Care Webinar 14 "The Basics" on Education Credits Webinar 18 Miscellaneous Income Webinar 20 New Developments/Tax Update Webinar 21 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar 31 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar November 2 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Maquoketa 3 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Maquoketa 7 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Red Oak 8 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Red Oak 9 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Sheldon 10 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Sheldon 14 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Mason City 15 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Mason City 17 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Ottumwa 18 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Ottumwa 21 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Waterloo 22 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Waterloo December 5 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Denison 6 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Denison 12 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 1 Ames and Webinar 13 43rd Annual Federal Income Tax Schools - Part 2 Ames and Webinar 15 Taxation Legal Ethics Webinar (co-sponsored with ISBA) Webinar 16 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar 19 Ethics: Part 1 at 11:30 AM (CST) and Part 2 at 1 PM (CST) Webinar Contact us Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation Iowa State University 2321 N. Loop Drive Suite 200 Ames, Iowa Key Contacts John D. Lawrence Interim Director Associate Dean, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Extension Programs and Outreach Director, Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension 132 Curtiss Hall Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Tel Cell Fax jdlaw@iastate.edu Kristine A. Tidgren Assistant Director ktidgren@iastate.edu Phone: (515) Kristy S. Maitre Tax Specialist ksmaitre@iastate.edu Phone: (515) Tiffany Kayser Program Administrator tlkayser@iastate.edu Phone: (515) Visit us online Social media Find us on And Facebook: centeraglawandtax Stay informed The CALT Brief Every month we send our subscribers an online newsletter highlighting major updates for the month. tlkayser@iastate.edu to subscribe. Kristy s List If you want to get the really key updates the minute they hit Kristy s desk, subscribe to her list. She ll get the word out as soon as she knows it.

8 2321 North Loop Drive, Ste 200 Ames, Iowa SEPTEMBER SEMINARS: Navigating Changing Times Quality Inn & Suites, Ames Iowa Meet and Greet Reception, Thursday Evening Ag Law Seminar, September 8 Our Thursday seminar offers practical, interesting information you can immediately apply in your practice or ag business. You ll leave with forms and other tools to help you more efficiently serve your ag clients. Topics include: Entity Planning in Uncertain Times; Livestock Update: Ag Nuisance Suits and Manure Easements/ Current Issues in Enforcing Agricultural Liens and Farm Leases; Bankruptcy Backwaters: Debt Collection and Other Financial Impairment Issues; Land Tenure and Farm Transitions: Helping Avoid Intra-Family Conflicts in Farm Succession Planning; Transitioning a Rural Legal Practice: The Ethics of Change; Legal Update on Water Quality and Other Hot Issues Farm Tax Workshop, September 9 Our Friday seminar is a comprehensive one-day farm tax workshop designed to equip tax practitioners with the tools they need to prepare farm income tax returns, from the simple to the complex. The farm tax workshop will be taught by Phil Harris, an attorney and professor with 37 years experience bringing complex tax subjects to life. Bring your questions. You ll leave with answers, as well as the 2016 edition of Phil s comprehensive 200+ page workbook, Agricultural Tax Issues. It s a tremendous desktop resource for anyone who prepares farm tax returns. Mark your calendars for the: 43RD ANNUAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX SCHOOLS November 2-3: Maquoketa November 7-8: Red Oak One hour November 9-10: Sheldon of ethics is November 14-15: Mason City available at November 17-18: Ottumwa each location! November 21-22: Waterloo December 5-6: Denison December 12-13: Ames and Live Webinar Exciting new changes! New Affiliation, More Resources In early 2016, we teamed up with 25 other land grant universities throughout the country and joined the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation. New Workbook All participants in our Federal Income Tax Schools will receive the approximately 700-page National Income Tax Workbook. New Speakers As part of our 2016 facelift, we are integrating a number of new speakers into our fall sessions.