connections J a n
G ov e r n m e n ta l r e l a t i o n s
F e b
2 0 1 6
prepare to be CoNNeCteD. Alabama CPA magazine
Save the Date
Go to the aSCpa webSite
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS 6 By Marty Abroms, Alabama CPA PAC Chair 8 11
12 By Michael A. Gregory 16 New Year By Gail Cole, Avalara 20 By Kathleen Webb and Daniel Rafeedie 22
DEPARTMENTS 4 | Message from the Chair 14 |
FRONT COVER
Photo courtesy of the BCA.
INSIDE THE ASCPA 18 24
19 | New ASCPA Members
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3
MESSAGE FROM THE
cHAiRMAN F
or most professional accountants the holiday phrase “Tis the Season” applies very well to this
the interests of the profession as well as the individuals
other parts of the mission related to “protect” and
state legislature on issues that are of interest to the
Lowell 4
2015
Legislators’ Tax Guide
WElcOME TO
AScPA 2016!
W
s r o t a L s i g e L 2 0 1 5
t a x
e g u i d
Jeannine 5
6
Moving Forward with the
a S C Pa ’ S L e gi S L a t i v e g o a L S Marty Abroms, Alabama CPA PAC Chair
Editor’s Note: Marty Abroms just completed his one-year tenure as chair of the BCA and has been instrumental, along with other ASCPA members, in raising the visibility of the Alabama Society as a key resource for both legislators and the business community.
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The ASCPA and Advocacy:
For you, with you, about you.
ALABAMA CPA PAC
shepherding of new laws to passage and
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KEY PERSON NETWORK
issues when having to untangle a thorny tax
STATE TAX COMMITTEE/ FEDERAL TAX COMMITTEE
LEGISLATORS’ TAX GUIDE reference for legislators to share with their
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WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATES Cumming provides regular SALT columns in
SUPPORT CHILDREN
at no cost to you.
The Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund is investing $12 million in scholarship funds to over 2,200 children in 41 Alabama counties. Donate a portion of your Alabama income tax liability for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to support these children.
Visit alabamascholarshipfund.org for more information or call 205.206.7803.
AICPA Offers New Communication Tools for Tax Season Topics
7 Resources to Conquer Concerns about ACA, Tax Season and Extensions you? Ask your local CPA if it makes sense to help reduce your #taxbite.
Small Business ACA FAQs
Do I Need to Provide Insurance
11
what happens If the
U.s. tax system Implodes?
In 2014 I wrote “ Reddit twice as a result and, according to people who know a lot more about this than I, we had about 1,000,000 reads with
It’s a year later and thIs Is what’s happenIng now.
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www.mikegreg.com/blog, on November 12, 2015. Mr. Gregory provides helpful commentaries each week on technical and leadership topics for CPAs. He worked for the IRS for
and faith in the tax authority.
Minnesota Supreme Court, and is an accredited senior appraiser through the American Society of Appraisers. He can be reached through 651-633-5311 or mg@mikegreg.com.
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meet Christine Where did you grow up?
Deputy Chief Examiner Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts
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MEMBER PROFILE
never quit
The biggest
What have been the biggest changes in the profession during your career?
What keeps you up at night?
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2016 SALES TAx CHANGES:
place to manage sales tax rate changes.
auditor is more likely to give your company a clean to sales tax automation to help them manage these in Washington State maintenance and repair services
with a penchant for digging and discovering and reporting
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CPA Exam Hour Requirement Change
Increase in Enforcement
UPdAte from the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy
Department of Labor Report and Changes in Peer Review
(334)-242-5700
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NEW ASCPA MEMBERS
Graham
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WHY NANNY TAXES ARE BACK ON THE RADAR By Kathleen Webb and Daniel Rafeedie
the 16th
not
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Kathleen Webb, President of HomeWork 1993 to provide payroll and tax services to families employing household workers. Ms. Webb is an expert in ‘nanny tax’ payroll taxes, having
the “ABC Nanny Guide: How to Find and Keep Your Ideal Caregiver” and the “HWS Guide to Household Payroll.” Ms. Webb has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Smart Money and the Congressional Quarterly.
Daniel Rafeedie, Director of Sales and and household payroll to those families employing nannies, senior caregivers and other household workers. Mr. Rafeedie tailors program to meet mutual goals by to each business. Mr. Rafeedie is an
among others.
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STATE INCOME TAx ExEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN RETIREMENT PLAN PAyOuTS
BABC SALT CORNER
tuarially calculated to provide the deals with severance pay to former See
phrenic rules regarding payments
preempts state law not only as to says that the severance payment must result from an “administra
(
mer partners
tax
are a variety of other deferred
the ruled in
forms of
deferred
of severance pay received in any theory is that the individual earned
the taxpayer resides when the pay plan also known as a “guaranteed By Bruce P. Ely William T. Thistle, II Birmingham, Alabama tween the states of California and for federal income tax purpos few copies of this column and de worked for many years in California not the recipient remains in Ala See
ment income of an individual who is not a resident or a domiciliary of such State (as determined under
pension or annuity plan in which
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AmericAn institute of cPAs ProPoses exPAnding Joint Venture with cimA
overall trend toward more and interdependencies
Current trends and challenges on the on campuses and with employers and
The CPA profession has a long history
right to pursue a proposal that will
themselves from their peers and demonstrate greater strategic management and
Success shortage and associated demand knowledge and services promote the value of CPAs as trusted
professionals
a
complementary
Unwavering Commitment to the CPA| the associated commitment to a professional code of conduct maintain an unwavering commitment for
ethics
toward Asian and emerging markets
and
and the core values of the CPA we would gain through this new
of
management
is stronger when
and
management
Trends
Driving | The CPA profession has a history of
and management through a newly
The profession has grappled with and developed address increasing 24
reports and tools plus online events and career development resources
how to be A better Public sPeAker
be scary, but these
what you learn from other speakers and incorporate the
a topic that interests you to discover speaker leaders in “Why would anyone want to listen to someone who have worked decades longer than
another department invited me of Toastmasters to support his
Ask others what makes you
support him and with the hope that
25
REMEMBERING
JOn H. JacksOn
Maxwell Owens siMs
DOnna elizabetH JOHnsOn kenneDy
Daniel sayre rObertsOn
“It’s been a way for us to honor Donna’s memory.”
HEIER
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MEMBER & INDuSTRy NEWS MOVING JACOB
GATLIN
that GREGORY GUIN
INDuSTRy NEWS BARFIELD MURPHY SHANK & SMITH has
AMY ALLEN JAMES NORRIS as the
that
CONGRATuLATIONS BERT SIMS DENT, BAKER & COMPANY MOSES, PHILLIPS, YOUNG, BRANNON, & HENNINGER
has
NATHAN EDWARDS
ROGER SPAIN JACK KNIGHT
27
INDuSTRy NEWS (continued) JACKSON THORNTON
WARREN AVERETT
Area Chamber of
STEVE BARRANCO
SHEFFIELD
CHANGE IS INEVITABLE . DIRECTION IS INTENTIONAL. 1"/(&"580 TVDDFTTGVMMZ NBUDIFT DMJFOUT XJUI UBMFOUFE QSPGFTTJPOBMT 0VS TFBTPOFE VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG IVNBO QPUFOUJBM JODMVEJOH JOEJWJEVBM TUSFOHUIT MFUT VT EFTJHO GBS SFBDIJOH BOE QFSTPOBMJ[FE XPSLGPSDF TPMVUJPOT GPS FNQMPZFST 0VS FYQFSJFODF HJWFT DBOEJEBUFT BO BEWBOUBHF BOE DSFBUFT DPNNPO HSPVOE CFUXFFO DPNQBOJFT BOE QSPGFTTJPOBMT 1"/(&"580 JT B MFBEFS JO SFDSVJUNFOU BOE TUBGmOH TPMVUJPOT JO BDDPVOUJOH BOE mOBODJBM TFSWJDFT $BMM UPEBZ BOE XF MM IFMQ ZPV DPOOFDU UBMFOU BOE QPUFOUJBM
#JSNJOHIBN "- ] .PCJMF "- XXX QBOHFBUXP DPN
28
BMSS is joining the Downtown Birmingham Revitalization!
Accounting & Auditing
Business Consulting
LEADERSHIP ACADEMy CLASS VI
You will earn a minimum of 32 hours of
DEADLINE: February 12
31
uNIVERSITy OF ALABAMA STuDENTS AT WORk IN RuRAL HAITI
College of Commerce students
revealed serious unmet needs in the
community through Jeannine Birmingham, CPA
that they were more interested in the advisory support than the
group worked for one week with
and money management training
taught concepts and skills in the
They were all so invested in this
rarely take advantage of the loans women who had the opportunity
To learn how you can help or discovered a pressing need for or Lisa
PASSION TO WIN
NO TEAM WILL ROOT HARDER FOR YOU Warren Averett Technology Group, a premier technology consulting and outsourced IT provider, and Kianoff & Associates, a leading business software consulting group, are pleased to announce the
resources, and creating additional opportunities for our View our website below to learn more about this merger and the
TECHNOLOGY GROUP
CLASSIFIEDS
YOUR PRACTICE WANTED:
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PRACTICES FOR SALE:
For more info, contact Lori Newcomer, CPA
AUDITOR SENIOR OR SUPERVISOR
resume to as those related to assurance as well as
SELLING IN 2016?
and
performance
support
resource
READY TO BUY A FIRM? What’s Next?
| “We are
changes this profession faces today
CURRENT LISTINGS: Members are encouraged to visit aicpa. with CIMA and provide feedback on the proposal. 33
Kathy Brents, CPA, CBI
Celebrate Success Outstanding Member in Business & Industry Outstanding Member in Government
OUTSTANDING YOUNG CPA
technology
and
resources
to
create
Young CPA chapters or individual Young CPA
OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTING EDUCATOR
Service award candidate should have the include those who are presently involved
of a community service or special ASCPA
DEADLINE: February 29, 2016
34
Ques ons to Ask Yourself
7AS THE ).6%.4/29 9EAR %ND #OUNT A DIFFICULT PROCESS THIS YEAR
!RE YOU -!.5!,,9 ENTERING A LOT OF DATA EVERY DAY
7OULD YOU LIKE TO MONITOR AND CONTROL ,!"/2 COSTS
(AS -ANAGEMENT ASKED FOR /PERATIONAL AND &INANCIAL $!3("/!2$3 IN REAL TIME
$O YOU HAVE APPROVALS IN PLACE THAT YOU CAN MONITOR THROUGH 7/2+&,/73
Let the team of DLD Business Solu ons and Microso Dynamics GP assist you in mee ng your business objec ves this year. (/30)4!,)49 !.$ 2%34!52!.43 02/&%33)/.!, 3%26)#%3 (%!,4(#!2% $)342)"54)/. 0!92/,,
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