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Registration is now open for all WAA 2012 Education Programs. Below is the list of programming. Click on the event link for details on registration pricing as well as the link to the online registration form.
And save the date for the 18th Annual IRS Working Together Symosium on November 1st!
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Around the State
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Chapter Events
We have four active chapters around the state. These chapter officers have been diligently working to bring relevant education to the chapter members and with creating a quality collaborative peer meeting environment.
Go to www.waa.org/chapters to find out what is happening in your chapter.
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Chapter Listservs
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All WAA members have been subscribed to their chapter listserv based on the chapter listed in their profile. Download these listserv instructions to learn how to subscribe if you do not currently have a chapter affiliation listed on your profile, to unsubscribe, or to change the email address you want subscribed to the listserv.
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In Memorandum
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Julie Froning, WAA member since 1984
If you are aware of a WAA member who has passed on please contact [email protected].
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| Advertising |
This newsletter is distributed to over 300 accountants in Washington State.
New rates coming soon!
To advertise, please call the WAA office at [email protected].
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Editorial Content
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The principal aims of this publication are the advancement of the accounting profession and communication among our members. Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual writers and not necessarily those of WAA or Editor. Please submit articles and comments to [email protected].
The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the month preceding publication.
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The IRS provides a very informative annual calendar.
Small business owners find this a valuable resource throughout the year. Supplies are limited and the calendar is free.
If you would like to learn more about the IRS calendar please contact Rizwan Chaudhry at [email protected]
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The mission of the Washington Association of Accountants is to promote and protect the right of every member to practice accounting and taxation; to provide the services and professional education necessary to maintain and improve professional competence.
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From the President
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 by Jerry Gintz
Greetings! Our new web-site is coming together nicely. We hope you find it more efficient to get around and to register for all of your chosen CPE courses and events. We are bringing some exceptional value! This has been a major effort, as we have worked closely with SBI, our Association Management Company (AMC) to effectuate all the upgrades. I like that I can now register for my local chapter meeting attendance via our website, get a receipt and the chapter leaders know I’m attending. Give that a try!
There are also some great CPE values for on-line courses; better than you can get directly from any of the vendors (or elsewhere, for that matter). If you are an RTRP registrant, needing to take and pass the exam, go directly to the “Education” tab (www.waa.org) and view the Fast Forward Academy solutions we have arranged for you. We are bringing you: on-line, self-study, live classes and “Kick-start” events for you to choose from, in order to help you get over that hurdle many of us are required to jump over. Take a look and make a choice. We recommend you get it done this year, as there are about 360,000 preparers needing to take and pass the exam by the end of next year and only about 5,000 have done so, to-date. It will get really crowded next year.
One of the offerings I am very excited about is our Income Tax School. This is our second year to offer a class. Last year was our pilot-program and it was very successful, with great reviews. In the past, I have sent entry-level staff preparers to the H&R Block course, which they offered to the public in the fall. I found that to be a very effective and efficient way for my small practice to leverage that training (with the requirement that the potential employee, receive a 95% grade or higher). Now that H&R Block no longer offers that course to the public and many students simply learn better when there is live feedback in a classroom environment, once again I have a way to get new staff up and running (as mine is still a “small” practice). Whether you are an established practice, looking for a good staff training program, or a beginning tax practitioner wanting to improve your proficiency, take a look at this course. It will also satisfy most of your RTRP CPE for 2012.
So, I encourage you to take a few minutes to look around our new and improved web-site, www.waa.org – especially look around on the “Education” tab. You will need this connection, especially as the Affordable Healthcare Act rolls out over the next 18 months, both federally and within our state. Check back often to the Education tab for upcoming new offerings.
As always,
WAA is Looking Out for You!
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Education Committee
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by Cynthia Polley
The Gear Up Estates & Trusts seminar was held on July 12-13 at the Sea-Tac Holiday Inn. There were 46 attendees and a few members who had not previously attended the Estates & Trusts. While many people do not specialize in Estates & Trusts work, everyone can benefit from the information presented.
Registration for the income tax class is now open. This 10-week class provides a comprehensive refresher for the experienced professional or foundational training for new tax preparers and staff. This class provides 60 hours of education on individual 1040 tax issues. Students will receive 60 CPE credits upon successful completion of the course. For more information and to register, please visit our “Upcoming Events” section of the Washington Association of Accountants at www.waa.org.
WAA is proud to partner with Fast Forward Academy to provide quality online exam preparation courses for the Registered Tax Return Preparer, Enrolled Agent and Certified Public Accountant exams. You will receive a ten-percent discount by ordering through the WAA website. For more information, please visit the website at www.waa.org.
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From the NSA Director
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by Kathy Hettick
It is hard to imagine that it has been 4 years since elected to the Office of NSA State Director! What an honor and privilege it has been to serve NSA and represent Washington State at the national level. I thank you all for the opportunity afforded me and I especially thank those whose footsteps I have followed....great State Directors including Len Larson and Judy Yoder. I look forward to the next couple of years, watching our newly elected representative continue and grow the service and relationship of NSA and Washington.
My last duty will be attending the NSA Annual Meeting on Maui, August 22-26. If you are still interested in attending it is not too late! Register now! For all of you NSA members not going to the Annual Meeting, there are very important By-Law changes being voted on. Be sure and review the proposals and let the NSA By-Law Committee know how you feel. This is an important time for our profession and our organizations. Stay involved and stay informed. For information and registration, go to www.nsacct.org.
And again, I thank you for your support during my last 4 years as NSA State Director for Washington, as my service comes to an end. It has been an awesome experience.
Stay connected by joining NSA now and start receiving great membership value! For more information, log on to www.nsacct.org or contact me at [email protected]
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Julie Froning, Gone But Not Forgotten
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by Jim Roberts
Julie joined WAA and NSPA (later changed to NSA) in 1984. From the git- go, Julie jumped in with both feet to make both organizations better. Julie served on and chaired most committees of WAA. She was especially strong in the Membership Committee. She would set goals and, more often than not, she would make or exceed those goals. She was a team player but could work independently also.
Julie was also known for helping out her colleagues during times of crisis. More than a few times she worked late into the night helping other practitioners, without pay, getting the work done.
Julie also served on and chaired many NSA committees. She was a past Governor of NSA District IX and worked hard to make it a much better organization. Julie never seemed to tire and was the first to volunteer for something that needed to be done.
Bob Froning, Julie’s husband, is a most pleasant and patient person. Bob was always at Julie’s side and would travel with her many times to help out when needed. Bob and Julie moved to beautiful Whidbey Island several years ago and the commute did not bother them a bit.
I could go on and on….Those of you that knew Julie will not forget her. Those that did not, missed out on knowing a real special person.
Goodbye Julie.
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Health Care Reform
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by Gary Smith, Independent Business Association (IBA)
WAA members and their clients will soon have to comply with the national health care reform law that was recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. This will all start in October 2013 and require compliance as of January 1, 2014.
Here are the questions many individuals and smaller businesses are asking...READ MORE
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Help Your Clients Avoid Two Common L&I Audit Findings
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by Celia Nightingale, Small Business Liaison for the Department of Labor & Industries
Given the breadth of their responsibilities and demands on their time, it’s easy to understand how business owners can lack full knowledge of the regulations that affect them. Unfortunately, that knowledge gap can be costly. As L&I’s Small Business Liaison, I get calls from unhappy businesses after auditors found they owed additional workers’ compensation premiums, plus penalties and interest. Those businesses wished there had been a less painful way to learn the rules.
Two particular areas are often misunderstood: workers’ comp risk classification and independent contractors...READ MORE
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Human Resource Management: Small and Midsized Companies See Big Compliance and Cost Challenges Ahead
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by Aaron Ness, ADP
For both small and midsized companies, effective human resource management is critical to success – especially in today’s competitive business climate.
Since HR compliance lies at the heart of effective human resource management, it is alarming to discover that most HR managers surveyed express concern about their ability to comply with HR laws and employment laws today and in the future....READ MORE
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Chapter News
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Greater Seattle Chapter
by Jeremy Saladino, Secretary
The Greater Seattle Chapter had a good meeting last month. It was a week late due to the July 4th holiday, but our speaker, Omar Rivas (an award winning Toastmaster and Marketing Strategist) spoke on selling for non-sales people. Rivas reminded us that selling is a contact sport not an Internet sport. We enjoyed him so much that we asked him back again for our August meeting! We also reminded everyone that the Biz Fair at the Renton Voc Tech is coming up at the end of September and we will be asking for volunteers again to take a shift at the WAA booth.
Our meeting did start out on a somber note as Lee Lyon's shared with us news on the passing away of Julie Froning- District 9 Governor, a prior President of Seattle Chapter, and a long time member and friend. We had a moment of silence for prayers for her family. Her passing explained the absence of a few regulars that weren't up for a meeting.
Northwest Chapter
by Dale Offret, President
Northwest Chapter announces another beautiful day in the Pacific NW and in Western Washington. Come join us for some great fun, professional networking, continuing education, and camaraderie with a twist! Open every 1st Thursday of the month and by appointment, - what more could you possibly want?
Our Northwest Chapter is off and running to a busy start, with our first monthly chapter meeting behind us now. Our chapter meetings continue to focus on relevant, interesting, up to date topics with a twist of fun. August we have Bill Chandler, a Professor of Marketing, author of two best sellers and an international motivational speaker, October we have Greg Thompson bringing us the recent updates from the Internal Revenue Service, November is the 18th Annual IRS Working Together Symposium at the Seattle Center, and in December we have Shawn Gagnon, CPA bringing us the topic of Personal Bankruptcy Issues & Debt Forgiveness.
Our chapter members continue to be very active at the chapter and state levels.
What a time we had in Renton at our annual convention. Our Northwest Chapter was well represented. Our new Past President Rizwan Chaudhry was elected to a 1 year term as a Board member. Cindy Polley & Larry Walkden continue to be Board Members. Kathy Jolly was re-elected as Board Treasurer for a 4th term.
We are planning our 2nd annual “Tax Season Kickoff” in January 2013. We had the most fun last year (who am I?) and hope to have more fun this year. Stay tuned for more details.
Finally, we are planning our mini seminar with our guest speaker Kathy Bastow presenting “Advanced QuickBooks”. This is the most asked-for topic, so come and attend and get all your questions answered!!! Stay tuned for more details.
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