WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
Calculating the Retirement Need
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $55
For most people, funding their own retirement is the largest expense they will ever have. Due to advances in medical technology and overall healthier lifestyles, it is not unusual for someone to live 30 years or more in retirement. In this course, we will discuss how to quantify and calculate the retirement needs of the client. We will talk about time value of money concepts, how to help clients quantify their retirement goals and even how to address risk perceptions. By doing this, we will allow practitioners to be able to better address client questions and frame trade-offs when necessary. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Introduction to Forensic Accounting
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Online
1.80 Credits
Member Price: $79
This course provides a high-level overview & introduction into the world of the forensic accountant. Most accountants have an understanding of the concept of fraud & how it impacts companies, but many individuals do not have a full comprehension of the variance in the work performed by a forensic accountant versus a typical management accountant. This course is meant for those individuals interested in understanding the variances in the job tasks & responsibilities of forensic accountants versus typical financial or management accountants. Forensic accountants or auditors take a unique focus on performing their work. Typically, when a person with forensic experience is called in to examine financial records, it is due to suspicion of fraud, evaluation of assets, or even to track down fundamentally incorrect accounting: intentional or not. As fraud continues to raise its head in business processes, forensic accountants are discovering new & unique ways to identify, examine & support their hypotheses & investigative techniques. The work performed by a forensic specialist can be interesting & full of potential potholes if evidence isn't examined according to proper protocols & standards.
Ethical Considerations in Record Retention: Should I Keep or Should I Throw
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Requirements surrounding record retention continue to leave many practitioners confused. What documents must you keep, how long must you keep them & which can you destroy? Discuss why it is important to understand the requirements & the potential impact it can have on both the governmental unit & the CPA firm.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Behavioral Finance Biases
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $55
If you have been a practitioner for any length of time, you know that there is often a difference between what clients should do and what they actually do. Have you ever wondered why that is? In this course, we will explore how we make decisions with less-than-perfect information. Through real-life examples and case studies, we will examine common behavioral biases and how to deal with them. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Devious Ethics: Avoiding Snakes in Suits
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Good people believe everyone else is just like them. They cannot imagine someone could con them or their company & have no guilt or remorse about what they have done. Lack of guilt & empathy are key traits of a psychopath. Most of us envision psychopaths to be cold-blooded serial killers who are locked away in prison. However, experts estimate that 4% of corporate executives are psychopaths who may initially appear to be more normal than the rest of us. Psychopaths may present a convincing picture of virtue while helping themselves to money, status & sex while leaving a path of shattered expectations, empty wallets & broken hearts in their wake. Learn how to recognize & deal with others who have no conscience.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
ChatGPT & Advanced Financial Analysis for Accountants
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This course provides a concise overview of how to utilize ChatGPT for advanced financial analysis in accounting. The session reveals how to combine sophisticated evaluation and interpretation of financial data with the cutting-edge AI capabilities of ChatGPT. Aimed at enhancing the understanding of an entity's performance, predicting future financial health and aiding in informed business decision-making, this course goes beyond basic financial statement analysis to include a wide array of techniques and tools. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Hot Topics Accounting Update: 2026
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Many accountants desire to have a quick overview of only the most current issues in accounting and financial reporting. This course will provide an executive summary of the most important changes in U.S. GAAP. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Surgent's Contract Law for Accounting & Finance Professionals
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
Accounting and finance professionals routinely encounter a broad range of legal issues while advising clients or performing routine job functions. Contract law tops the list as the most frequent issue that intersects with the accounting and finance professions. As trusted advisors, it is wise to understand the fundamentals of contract law for both personal and professional benefit. This course provides a broad overview of contract law basics geared specifically toward the accounting and finance professions. From contract formation to enforceability, this course offers an interesting look at how contract law intersects with accounting and finance. Participants should walk away with a better understanding of common issues that arise when reviewing contracts.
Surgent's Getting Ahead: The Art of Marketing for CPAs
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
To many clients, CPA firms all look the same. While services and specialties may vary significantly from one firm to another, it is hard for the average person to see this by simply looking at the sign outside our office door. Is there any way to make us stand out more to the outside world? Through surveys, statistics and examples, this course looks at how CPA firms can develop a marketing plan beyond just relying on referrals. We look at the pluses and minuses of various marketing channels, regulatory constraints and how to measure success in the competitive financial services space.
Al Capone to Cybercrime: The Journey of IRS Special Agents
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Since 1919, the Internal Revenue Service had a civil and criminal function in the United States tax system. Little do people know, the IRS has an elite criminal function that started with five United States Postal Inspectors. From its early days in taking down Al Capone to now solving cybercrimes, the IRS special agents are tasked with investigating tax fraud, money laundering and other white collar crimes. This presentation will show you the importance of this law enforcement function, the training, techniques, expertise and actions that cause them to be known as the "world's finest financial investigators." This presentation has been prepared by a 20 year veteran with the IRS-Criminal Investigation. The presenter investigated crimes and trained and mentored other special agents. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Comprehensive Pass-Through Owners: Basis & Distribution Rules 26-27
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $329
Pass-throughs (S corporations and Partnerships) are the most popular choice of newly formed business entities. However, for years, taxpayers and their preparers have struggled to calculate, update and maintain the pass-through entity owners" tax basis information in each investment correctly. Calculating and accounting for tax basis and adequately reporting the impact of operating and liquidating distributions for these entities are among the most frequently cited audit deficiencies. Taxpayers have also misapplied the tax rules when calculating the gain or loss from the sale of the interest. Recently, the IRS initiated enforcement initiatives designed to audit owners of pass-through entities regarding their calculations of tax basis and their tax treatment of distributions. This course will teach you how to properly account for both items for your clients who own an interest in a partnership or an S-corporation. Learn to identify the most common mistakes and errors and report these items correctly before your client is audited.
Real Estate Taxation 26-27
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $329
Examine significant real estate tax issues and concepts, including planning and compliance topics emphasizing tax elimination or deferral. Discuss the qualified business income deduction (Sec. 199A) as it relates to real estate investments; limited discussion of opportunity zones (Sec. 1400Z-2) relating to real estate; 1031 exchanges; home sale exclusion (IRC Sec. 121); passive activities loss rules; estate planning and gifting with real estate; and California property tax issues, updated for passage of Proposition 19 affecting parent-child transfers and transfer of assessments to a new principal residence.
Audits of Employee Benefit Plans Subject to ERISA
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $319
Auditing employee benefit plans. Employee benefit plan (EBP) audit engagements continue to be scrutinized by regulators and peer reviewers due to a history of noncompliance with applicable professional standards. Through this course, you can gain the proper skills to perform EBP engagements effectively. You will learn about: The steps of an EBP audit Applicable professional standards ERISA and SEC requirements Commonly audited plans You will tap into ways to plan and conduct effective risk-based plan audits to comply with professional standards while maximizing efficiency for defined contribution plan audits. This course focuses specifically on this type of plan given that defined contribution plans, including 401(k) plans, are the predominant plan type subjected to audits. Applied learning You will do a deep dive into EBP auditing by working through the plan audit process from engagement acceptance through the archive. Example forms and reports will be examined to illustrate effective EBP engagements.
Surgent's Form 1065 Boot Camp: Step-by-Step Preparation with Completed Forms
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $279
The objective of this course is to train new, rusty, or returning-to-practice staff with a hands-on, pencil-pushing gold standard for preparing Form 1065. Common to advanced issues of partnerships are explored in the current course that can double as a quick and practical reference guide for tax treatment and tax preparation guidelines. Within each chapter, we illustrate various parts and areas of interest when preparing a 1065, including examples and corresponding tax forms. We bring it all together in the final two chapters with a comprehensive example that integrates and links all previous chapters. The course and instruction delivery are geared toward a basic understanding and progress to more complex issues via Surgent's "Step-by-Step" preparation guide.
Surgent's Latest Developments in Government & Nonprofit Accounting & Auditing
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $299
In today's fast-paced environment, keeping up with the latest accounting and auditing requirements for governments and nonprofits can be challenging, but this course makes it easier! Designed to save you time and effort, this comprehensive update provides clear explanations of the most important developments affecting governments and nonprofits. Using a highly illustrative and innovative format, the course features over 25 focused exercises to strengthen your working knowledge and ensure you leave prepared to apply the latest accounting and auditing standards with confidence.
Tax Fundamentals of LLCs & Partnerships: Tax Staff Essentials
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $319
Building a solid foundation of partnership and LLC taxation. A foundational understanding of partnership taxation is essential to a tax preparer's career. Given that most U.S. businesses are formed as pass-through entities, you'll likely encounter partnership tax matters that require your attention. This course covers the taxation of partnerships, including limited liability companies (LLCs) treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Matters discussed include: Common transactions Check-the-box election rules Consequential court cases involving partnership formation Skills to explain partnership taxation matters to your clients Talking about tax can sometimes sound like speaking a foreign language to your clients. Learn how to explain complex issues with accuracy and confidence. Part of Tax Staff Essentials Level 1 This self-study online course is part of Tax Staff Essentials Level 1, a comprehensive learning program that provides tax staff with the technical training required to support their teams.
The Best S Corporation, Limited Liability & Partnership Update Course by Surgent
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $299
This year practitioners need to keep abreast of tax changes affecting pass-through entities used by their business clients and employers and this enlightening course delivers that information. You will learn invaluable strategies, techniques, innovative tax-planning concepts, income-generating ideas and other planning opportunities available to S corporations, partnerships, LLCs and LLPs. In addition, this course will discuss current trends and emerging issues, helping practitioners stay informed about relevant and significant topics that may impact their clients. Continually updated to reflect enacted legislation.
Untying the Knot: Taxes & Divorce
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $239
Divorce brings emotional and financial challenges and navigating the tax implications can be one of the most complex aspects. This in-depth, 8-credit webinar, Untying the Knot: Taxes and Divorce, is designed to equip tax professionals with the knowledge and strategies needed to guide clients through the intricate tax issues that arise during and after divorce. What You'll Learn: This comprehensive session will cover critical topics, including: Filing Status: Determining the correct filing status during and after divorce, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs): Tax implications of dividing retirement accounts, Back Taxes: Strategies for addressing unpaid tax liabilities during and after divorce, Offers-in-Compromise & Installment Agreements: Resolving tax debts with the IRS. Currently-Not-Collectible Status: Understanding when and how to use this option, Innocent Spouse & Injured Spouse Relief: Protecting clients from unfair tax liabilities, Lien Discharges & Subordinations: Managing IRS liens on property during divorce, Reasonable Compensation: Evaluating fair compensation in divorce-related business valuations. Case Studies: Explore unusual and complex tax issues in divorce through real-world examples. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Partnership/LLC Taxation: Tax Basis Capital Accounts
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This program addresses the most recent developments impacting partnerships operating as LLCs, with a focus on legislative, administrative and tax form changes. Emphasis will be placed on partners "tax basis" capital accounts, now required for tax form reporting. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Understanding Internal Control Constructs
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Organizations of all sizes often fail to successfully install needed foundational components of an internal control system. Whether large or small, entities must view policies, procedures and all controls in a wholistic manner in order to develop a system of controls that will keep the entity on its intended course. Moreover, those that design policies and procedures benefit by knowing why control measures are necessary. This session sets forth internal control concepts and explains the importance of strong internal control policies. It provides an understanding of the interrelated nature of all controls created by any organization. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
