2025 Tax Conference: Day 1 Afternoon Sessions

Overview

Sessions covered in this On-Demand replay of the Tax Conference:

Social Security Planning & Strategies
Navigating Social Security can feel overwhelming, but understanding the rules and strategies can make a big difference for your retirement. This session will cover the basics of Social Security benefits, including recent legislative updates from the OBBBA and practical claiming strategies, particularly for couples who can maximize dual benefits. This session will also clarify common misconceptions, such as how your earnings history is calculated, and provide you with a clearer understanding of how to approach Social Security with confidence.

State Income Tax Considerations of Pass-Through Entity Tax Filings (Composite, Withholding & PTET)
This session will explore the nuanced differences between composite returns, withholding requirements and pass-through entity tax filings, with a particular focus on the state of Wisconsin. You will gain an in-depth understanding of PTET, including the election process, calculation of the taxable income base, applicable credits, partner/shareholder-level reporting, and the interplay with composite and withholding obligations. This session will also address key factors to consider when making the PTET election and highlight recent audit issues encountered in Wisconsin.

BBB Breakdown: Impact Your Clients' Cashflow
Big changes are here -- and they mean real money for your clients! This session breaks down changes to two powerful federal incentives your clients may already qualify for: the Section 41 R&D tax credit and the 179D energy-efficient commercial building deduction. With the recent passage of the OBBBA, R&D costs can once again be fully expensed, and 179D now comes with a firm expiration date. That means the window to claim incentives for past work and plan for future years is officially open ... but it will not stay that way for long. In this session, you will learn how to uncover hidden value in the work your clients are already doing, revisit past projects for potential refunds, and plan with your clients to maximize their profits.

Navigating Real Estate Taxes: Concepts & Strategies for CPAs
This session will guide CPAs in real estate tax fundamentals, such as entity selection, income tax forms and schedules, depreciation methods, passive activity rules, and real estate professional guidelines. You will gain insights into recent legislative updates, including OBBBA items relevant to real estate clients, and leave with actionable strategies to maximize deductions and client planning. 

OBBBA in Action: Strategic Tax Planning With Energy Incentives & Bonus Depreciation
Get a strategic overview of how the OBBBA reshapes tax planning opportunities through enhanced cost segregation and energy incentives. This session will explore key provisions, including the reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation, expanded Section 179 deductions, and updates to energy-related incentives. You will learn how to maximize tax benefits for commercial and residential properties, navigate prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, and align construction timelines with incentive phase-outs. This session will use real-world case studies and planning strategies to help businesses optimize their tax positions under the new law.

Tax Challenges in M&A Structuring & Pre-Closing Reorganizations
Business sale transactions have long been characterized for income tax purposes as "asset or equity" deals. While that framework remains, pre-closing restructuring and closing structures within this simple paradigm have become the norm -- particularly in small business M&A transactions involving private equity buyers. This session will address F reorganizations, other preclosing restructurings, rollovers, debt-financed acquisitions, and other structuring or restructuring income tax issues. This session will also analyze the related sale transaction and the needed income tax protections from the seller's perspective.

Hot Tax Practice & Procedure & Ethics Issues & Their Impact on the Practitioner
This engaging session will include a discussion on timely tax and ethics issues that every tax practitioner should know. You will learn about the latest "hot" IRS practice and procedure and ethics issues, along with the blunders and mistakes practitioners should avoid. This session is particularly relevant, given the recent changes at the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

NOTE: Certificates of attendance showing the CPE credit earned from this On-Demand program will be sent to your primary email on file approximately 2 weeks after viewing as we receive attendance reports from our streaming service provider. Members will also see this program reflected in their CPE tracker.