CSEA News & Events
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Volume 9, Issue 6 - December 2016
Thanks to our  sponsors:

Chapter Education 
& Events

Click here   for a list of upcoming Chapter meeting times, locations and education topics.
Joke of the Month

I am proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.

-- 
Arthur Godfrey, Entertainer
Stay Connected to CSEA:

 

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our profile on LinkedIn View our videos on YouTube

Contact Info:
 
Webwww.csea.org
Phone: 916-366-6646
Fax: 916-366-6674
Email: info@csea.org
  
Friday Fives Findings - What Our Members Told Us
Thank you so much to those Members who've participated in our Rubber stamp over paper background with five stars printed on it. concept image for illustration of high customer experience and quality levelrecent "Friday Fives" surveys. We've learned a great deal from all of you, and we're excited to use this information to better serve your interests and needs! Here's a summary of what our Members have told us so far:
  • The majority of survey participants report that they've been preparing taxes professionally for more than 11 years.
  • Chapter networking is seen to be the most beneficial part of CSEA membership, followed by newsletters and magazines and discounts on education.
  • The preferred medium for staying connected with CSEA is via newsletter and magazine, as well as Facebook and email.
  • Some of the biggest challenges faced during this tax year have included recruiting and training qualified staff, dealing with the IRS and FTB, time management, and the Affordable Care Act.
  • The majority of respondents practice full time, year round, and about one third prepare between 101-300 returns per year.
  • Almost half of respondents work alone, and about one third employ 1-3 other people.
  • More than half of respondents get their education from their local Chapter, followed by online education and Super Seminar.
  • Top future education offerings Members would like to see include trusts and estates, corporations and partnerships, and small business.
We hope you'll keep watching your inbox for CSEA's twice a month surveys, and help us serve you better.
Super Seminar 2017
Make Connections, Get Solutions

May 16-18, 2017 - Las Vegas, NV
June 28-30, 2017 - Reno, NV

No matter where you are in your career, Super Seminar has courses that will expand your tax knowledge and power your career. Choose your sessions from these relevant focus areas: California, Entity, Ethics, International, Individual and Representation.

The SUPER SEMINAR Experience...
  • 35 years of exceptional tax education
  • Up to 24 hours of quality CPE in 3 days
  • Customize your schedule in advance or onsite
  • Powerful insight from tax industry thought leaders
  • 96% attendee satisfaction
  • Super Seminar App keeps you updated on what's happening onsite
"Super Seminar remains the best 'bang for my buck' when it comes to CE. The speakers are world class and the overall cost very reasonable." - Past attendee

Registration opens in just a few days! No need to choose your sessions now - wait until after tax season so you know what you need. Be sure to check your email inbox for details, and save the dates. Register by December 29 for the lowest rate!

For $25 off your online registration, use Promo Code: superdeal
CSEA Advocates for You and Your Clients
Attend CSEA's Lobby Day - January 9, 2017 
You can help legislators understand the concerns of taxpayers and Enrolled Agents by taking part in CSEA's annual lobby day on Monday, January 9, 2017 at the State Capitol. Jim Stern Legislative Day, which is sponsored by Burnett & Associates, will arm you with the information, training and confidence you need to effectively meet with legislators and their staff and talk on the issues important to you, your clients, and your business. Click here for details and to register now!

All Members and guests are cordially invited to attend a new Networking Reception generously sponsored by Burnett & Associates on Sunday, January 8 at 4:30 p.m. following the Board of Directors meeting at the Holiday Inn Sacramento-Capitol Plaza. If you're planning to arrive at the hotel for Jim Stern Legislative Day by 4:30 p.m., come enjoy a beverage and hors d'oeuvres with your colleagues!

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FTB Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Hearing
Each year, FTB conducts the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Hearing (TBOR) as part of its December public board meeting. The purpose of the hearing is to give taxpayers and tax practitioners the opportunity to present proposals that would change existing state income tax law and/or improve FTB publications or services. 

This year's hearing will take place in Sacramento on December 8, 2016. Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Vicki Mulak, EA, CFP® will represent the Society by testifying on the following issues:
  • Follow-up on business entity dissolution/cancellation failures;
  • Power of Attorney (POA) submissions - significant delays, rejections, and unnecessary ties to MyFTB account;
  • Level of service issues for Tax Practitioner Hotline and customer service;
  • Correspondence turnaround timeline vs. billing/collections cycles;
  • Web Pay anomalies and payment credits; and
  • Form 4734D concerns.
FTB responses will be published on the FTB website. As always, CSEA continues to advocate on behalf of its Members, California tax professionals and taxpayers while promoting effective tax administration.

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SOS Forms Updates
CSEA is pleased to announce the following forms updates, an outcome of CSEA's efforts on behalf of its Members and their clients in partnership with the Secretary of State's (SOS) Office:
  1. The Statement of Information (Form SI-100) has been revised and reformatted.
  2. The Statement of Information Forms SI-200 and SI-350 have been combined into a single Statement of Information form (Form SI-550). Please note that the new Form SI-550 does not include the option to indicate on the form that no changes have occurred since the last completed Statement of Information was filed (see Item 3 below),   
  3. A new Statement of No Change (Form SI-550 NC) has been created for use by California stock, agricultural cooperative and registered foreign corporations when no changes have occurred since the last complete Statement of Information was filed.
To access these forms, visit the Statements of Information web page. Prior version of Forms SI-100 (rev. 1/2016), SI-200 (rev. 1/2013) and SI-350 (rev. 1/2013) remain acceptable for filing, but are no longer available on the SOS website.
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The California stock corporation Certificate of Election to Wind Up and Dissolve (Form ELEC STK), Certificate of Dissolution (Form DISS STK) and Short Form Certificate of Dissolution (Form DSF STK) have been revised as follows:
  1. The forms have been reformatted and include instructions and filing tips to clarify the requisite filing requirements and better assist customers in completing the forms.
  2. The title of Form DSF STK has been changed from "Short Form Certificate of Dissolution" to "Short Form Dissolution Certificate" to distinguish it from the Certificate of Dissolution (Form DISS STK).
  3. On SOS's Business Entities Forms, Samples and Fees webpage, Form DSF STK is now listed separately from the package that contains Form ELEC STK and Form DISS STK.
  4. A new "Dissolution Requirements - What Form to File" cover sheet that identifies what form(s) is required to dissolve the California stock corporation, has been added to the Form ELEC STK and Form DISS STK package and to the Form DSF STK package.
To access these forms, go to the Forms, Samples and Fees web page. The prior version of the forms (Rev. 01/2013) remain acceptable for filing, but are no longer available on the SOS website. For ease of completion and to reduce rejections, the SOS strongly encourages practitioners to use the revised forms.
Hot Topics
Important Information for e-Services Users
Over the next month, the IRS will send letters to certain e-Services product users who must either go online or call the e-Services e-Help Desk to validate their identities. The letters will go to those users who can access the Transcript Delivery Service and who have been active within the past year. To learn more about who is affected, who must validate their identities and what is required, please visit the Important Update about Your e-Services Account web page. Users who receive these letters will have 30 days to either authenticate their identities online or call to authenticate by phone. Please do not call the e-Help Desk unless you receive a letter or your account is suspended. If you do not re-validate in time, your account will be suspended for security purposes.
 
NOTE: Cybercriminals currently are engaged in ongoing phishing attempts to steal e-Services users' usernames and passwords. Be alert to phishing scams either by letter, email or phone. Make sure the communication you receive is from official IRS sources. If in doubt, go directly to IRS.gov.

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Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself
The Security Summit, a partnership between the IRS, state tax agencies, and the private-sector tax industry, has launched a campaign to increase awareness among tax professionals. Visit the Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself web page for the latest tips on security, scams and identity theft prevention measures for tax professionals. Click here for an in-depth report on practitioner data security by CSEA Executive Vice President Scarlett Vanyi, CAE in the November/December issue of California Enrolled Agent magazine.

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Coming January 3, 2017 - Renew Access to Existing Clients in MyFTB
Access to your clients' accounts expires 13 months from the date you add them in MyFTB. A new feature in MyFTB will allow you uninterrupted access to client accounts as long as you renew more than 10 business days before the expiration date. To renew, you need to obtain your client's permission.  Use  FTB 743, Online Account View Access Authorization , or a comparable form. Get details from "MyFTB Corner" article in the December issue of Tax News.

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EA License Renewal for SSNs Ending in 4, 5 and 6
The 2017 enrollment renewal application period is open from November 1, 2016 until January 31, 2017. Enrolled Agents are required to renew their status during this time if their Social Security number ends in 4, 5 or 6. Without renewal, your current enrollment will expire on March 31, 2017.  Renew your license using Form 8554, Application for Renewal of Enrollment to Practice Before the IRS. To get started, go to www.pay.gov enter "8554" in the search box on the left-hand side of the web page. To renew you must:
  • Have an active PTIN.
  • Complete a minimum of 16 hours CPE each year of your enrollment cycle for a total 72 hours. In addition, 2 hours of ethics or professional conduct must be completed during each enrollment year. EXCEPTION: If this is your first renewal, you must complete 2 hours of CPE for each month of your enrollment, including 2 hours of ethics or professional conduct each year.
  • Pay the $30 non-refundable renewal fee. This fee applies regardless of your enrollment status.
Renewals may take up to 90 days to process. Click here for more information about the current renewal application period, and refer to Publication 5186, EA CPE Credit Chart for details about EA renewal cycles.
 
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2017 PTIN Renewal
All current PTINs will expire December 31, 2016. Anyone who prepares or helps prepare any federal tax return or claim for refund, for compensation, must have a valid PTIN from the IRS. The IRS' online PTIN system allows preparers to sign-up for and/or renew their PTIN, keep their account information current, view their continuing education credits, and receive communications from the IRS Return Preparer Office. The renewal fee is $50 for those who have a 2016 PTIN, and the online renewal process only takes a few moments. For paper applications and renewals, Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number Application and Renewal, is available, and takes four to six weeks to process.

The IRS is sending letters to return preparers who do not have an active PTIN but who prepared returns in 2016: Letter 4966 (Expired PTIN); Letter 4732 (SSN Used); and Letter 4731 (Legacy PTIN Used). A contact telephone number is included in the letters.
 
Note: The IRS is in the process of launching a new CPE Provider System. As a result, CPE providers including CSEA have been unable to upload education credits, and therefore no CPE completed after September 11, 2016 has been added to PTIN accounts. The system is expected to be operational soon. You do not need to wait for the addition of your CPE to your PTIN account before renewing your PTIN or Enrolled Agent status. The IRS recommends that you continue to check your PTIN account periodically for updates.

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CTEC Registration Grace Period
The California Tax Education Council (CTEC) annual registration renewal window opens each year on August 1, with a deadline to renew of October 31. The "grace period," which incurs a $55 late fee in addition to the $33 registration fee, is November 1 through January 15 of the following year. CTEC registered tax preparers (CRTPs) need 20 hours of CE and a valid PTIN to renew their registration. If a preparer does not renew by January 15 of any given year, the preparer's registration will expire and he/she will be required to retake the 60-hour qualifying education course and register as a new preparer with CTEC.

CRTPs who plan to participate in the IRS voluntary Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) must have their CTEC renewal registration completed no later than December 31, 2016. Get more information from www.ctec.org.

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Due Diligence Training Available Online
Congress recently expanded the EITC due diligence requirements to include two additional refundable credits: the Child Tax Credit/ Additional Child Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit.Tax preparers can take a seminar presented at the 2016 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums to help navigate through the new procedures, the new form and the additional refundable credits that have now come under the due diligence requirements. Click here for details.

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Alert Clients to Possible Refund Delays
Tax professionals should alert their clients that a new law requires the IRS to hold refunds until mid-February 2017 for people claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. In addition, new identity theft and refund fraud safeguards put in place by the IRS and the states may mean some tax returns and refunds face additional review. Read more in the article, " Due Diligence Update: The New 8867 ," by Inland Empire Chapter Member Ron Uehle, EA in the November/December issue of California Enrolled Agent magazine.
Get Discounted Pricing on Tax Guides
Get ready for the coming tax season - order your tax guides now! CSEA Members get great rates on these must-have products:
Tax Materials, Inc. - Discounts on  TheTaxBook  series (use discount code 210).
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Thomson Reuters - Discounts on   Quickfinder  (use discount code Q520).
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Wolters Kluwer - 25% off all CCH® publications, including  U.S. Master Tax Guide (use discount code Y5373).

December Books of the Month Promotion - 40% OFF
U.S. Master Sales and Use Tax Guide (2016) -  now $93.00.
Multistate Corporate Tax Guide (2016) - now $465.00.
 
Free White Paper: Treasury Releases Game Changing Code Sec. 385 Regulations Click here to download now!
Partnership and LLC Taxation Webcast - Dec. 13
This best-selling course, Partnership and LLC Taxation: Advanced Issues, Including Transfers of Interests and Liquidations, will prepare you to help your clients plan partnership and LLC transactions to minimize taxes. This course covers allocation of basis in debt to step-up in basis upon transfer; disguised sales; abandonment of partnership interest; reallocation of depreciation among partners; reporting income from forgiveness of indebtedness; and how to determine an LLC member's self-employment income.

Date: December 13, 2016                        
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., PDT
Location: Webcast (hosted by CalCPA)

Registration opens soon - watch your inbox for details and be sure to save the date.
Did You Miss STALM?
If you couldn't attend the October 21, 2016 State Tax Agencies Liaison Meeting (STALM) in Sacramento , you can still get all the valuable information you missed! Inland Empire Chapter is hosting a STALM Recap. Highlights include:
  • Answers from FTB, BOE, EDD and SOS to tough questions submitted by CSEA Members.
  • Phone contact lists for high level employees from all four agencies. (Yes, they answer their phones!)
  • Information regarding new and emerging agency issues. 
Date/Time: Tuesday, December 6, 2016,  3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Location: Pro-Tax Solutions Conference Room, 325 W. Hospitality Lane, Suite 202, San Bernardino, CA 92408.

Presenters: Donald Stacy, EA and Joel Hendriks, EA.

Fee: $30 due at the door!  All profits will be donated to the CSEA Legislative Action Fund!

CPE: State topics only. No CPE, just valuable information!

Registration: Email Joel Hendriks at joel@prospecttax.com.
 
Register quickly! Seating is extremely limited!

Member Resources
Fall 2016 Client Tax Newsletter
Click here to download the CSEA Fall 2016 Client Tax Newsletter. This newsletter can be customized with your name and contact information,and is a great way to reach out to new or returning clients. It includes timely tax information along with a handy checklist to help clients prepare for upcoming tax season appointments.

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Chapter Education Events Near You
If you still need continuing education hours in order to maintain your certification, CSEA Chapters may have the solution. Click here for a list of upcoming Chapter education courses.

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Still Need CPE? IRS Tax Forums Now Available Online
Practitioners can earn continuing education credits online through seminars from the 2016 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums. More than a dozen self-study seminars are now available on the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums Online . Self-study seminars provide information to participants through interactive videos, PowerPoint slides and transcripts. To earn credit, users must create an account, answer review questions throughout the seminar and pass short tests at the end of the seminars. The seminars can also be audited for free.

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Timely Information for Members
The   November/December issue of California Enrolled Agent magazine has timely information to improve your practice and get the most from your CSEA membership. Get up to speed with the following articles:
  • Due Diligence Update: The New 8867
  • New Deadlines for 1099s
  • More Good News from the SOS
  • Take Charge of Your Data Security
  • Members Get Answers from FTB
  • and much more!
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Ethics Support
The CSEA Ethics & Professional Conduct Committee (E&PC) supports Members by responding to questions about tricky ethical situations and offering peer-to-peer advice and suggestions for avoiding or resolving client complaints. One frequent topic is Section 7216, rules and consent requirements relating to the disclosure or use of tax return information by tax return preparers. Below is just one example from the CSEA Ethics Support FAQ on the CSEA website:
 
Q: What authorization is needed from a client to forward a copy of their tax return to a bank or mortgage broker? 
A: Disclosure of a client's tax return information to a bank or mortgage broker is one of the classic cases of a disclosure to a third party. Such a disclosure does not fit within any of the exceptions under the second revised regulation (301.7216-2) to the requirement of prior written consent. Accordingly, you should have the taxpayer sign an appropriate consent form before making the disclosure to the third party. A letter, email, or note is not sufficient.
  
Click here for additional Ethics FAQs from the E&PC Committee.

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Exclusive Member Benefit - Free Subscription
As a tax professional, you constantly work under tight deadlines. When you encounter tough tax issues, you need complete, accurate, and easy to understand answers, and you need them fast! Checkpoint Open Access Tax Professional Essentials provides tax news, filing guidance, primary law and time-saving tools to help you:
  • Stay current during crunch time;
  • Get seamless access to the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations; and
  • Quantify the impact of tax options. 
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Did You See CSEA's Facebook Ad?
CSEA is promoting membership with Facebook ads, and you can help CSEA expand its reach. Watch for our membership ad on Facebook and share it with your professional network to help CSEA grow. Every share counts! Do you know an Enrolled Agent who is not a Member of CSEA, or a fellow Member who might like to be more involved? Tell them about the benefits of CSEA, like meeting and networking with local EAs at Chapter dinner meetings or other events in your area. Your connections will thank you for it! Visit CSEA's Facebook page and be sure to like us!

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Scholarship Deadline Reminder - December 31, 2016
CSEA Education Foundation scholarships are awarded three times each year. The three deadlines for receipt of scholarship applications are June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each calendar year. Visit the CSEA Education Foundation website for details and to download a scholarship application form.

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Search for Job Opportunities
Are you a tax professional seeking employment? Are you looking to buy or sell a tax practice? Check out CSEA's  Classified Ads .

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Take Advantage of CSEA's Expert Tax Research Service
Many of your clients have filed for an extension! If you're stumped by a tough tax question, get answers from CSEA's Tax Resource Specialist, Joe Calderaro, EA at Member discounted rates. For details, call the CSEA office at 916-366-6646 or 800-777-2732.

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Get Tax News You Can Use
Click here to get breaking tax news updates from the IRS, FTB, BOE and EDD!
Society News
Members Invited to Attend January Meetings
All CSEA Members are invited to attend the Society's upcoming Board and committee meetings on January 7-8, 2017 at the Holiday Inn Sacramento-Capitol Plaza. Come to Sacramento for the CSEA business meetings and stay for  Jim Stern Legislative Day  on Monday, January 9!  Click here  for details from the CSEA Calendar of Events.

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Check Your Inbox for "Friday Fives" Member Surveys
Keep watching your inbox for CSEA's twice a month "Friday Fives" surveys. Each of these quick five-question surveys focuses on a different topic, such as Member benefits or education. We hope you'll take two or three minutes to complete and return each survey so that we can better understand your needs and improve our service!

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Chapter Connection Call Set for January 24
CSEA's next Chapter Connection conference call/webinar is scheduled for January 24, 2017 from 10-11:30 a.m. The purpose of these conference calls is to promote communication among the state and Chapters. All interested Members are invited to participate. Details about how to connect to the call will be posted soon on the CSEA Calendar of Events.

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Volunteer for Tax Help Day 2017
The fourth annual CSEA Tax Help Day will be held on February 4, 2017. Tax Help Day is a free public service event sponsored by CSEA and its 19 Chapters. Local Enrolled Agents, "America's Tax Experts," will volunteer at locations throughout California to answer taxpayer questions on a wide variety of tax topics like the Affordable Care Act, running your own business, buying a home, getting married, and much more. 

CSEA and its Chapters have made it easy to get ready for Tax Help Day. Click here for a wide selection of customizable and easy to use resources including flyers, a fact sheet, and much more. This is a great opportunity to increase the visibility of Enrolled Agents in your community. 

Visit CSEA's public Tax Help Day web page for more information about this opportunity, or call the CSEA office at 916-366-6646. Be sure to join CSEA's Tax Help Day Facebook page to receive updates on the event, and share it with your friends and clients!

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CSEA Welcomes New Staff Member Dawn Sorrell
CSEA is pleased to welcome Dawn Sorrell, who was recently hired as the new Education Coordinator. She comes to us directly from a position in property management, where she acted as Assistant Director of Property and Community Services. During her years there she gained experience in successfully managing organizational projects both large and small in scope, working with Board members, homeowners, and businesses to ensure all matters were conducted in compliance with the bylaws, covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&R's) of each association. Dawn will assist with all education details including, but not limited to, administering continuing education programs, event planning, registration processing and onsite support. Please welcome Ms. Sorrell to the CSEA team when you have an opportunity at dsorrell@csea.org.

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Vote for NAEA Leaders
NAEA's election is held December 1-15. Members in good standing will receive an email ballot to vote for Directors and Officers for the 2017-2018 term, with the new Board taking office in May 2017. If you need assistance with voting, please contact CSS at 585-377-4235 or  elections@cssconsult.com . To be valid, electronic ballots must be received by CSS by midnight EST on December 15, 2016. Click here to read updated goals of the nominees/candidates.
TaxNewsTax News You Can Use!
IRS News:

Search for Tax Professionals Who Have Been Disciplined -  The Office of Professional Responsibility's (OPR) disciplinary look-up contains searchable information about censures of practitioners for Circular 230 misconduct, and suspensions and disbarments of individuals from practice before the IRS. Currently, the only way the public can learn that a practitioner is sanctioned is by reviewing the announcements of discipline published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin or by using a commercial subscription service. OPR's solution is to compile the information into a searchable Excel document file. Click here for details.

Tax Law Update Web Conference - Register now for "Understanding the 2016 Tax Law Updates" presented by the IRS Stakeholder Liaison on December 15 at 11 a.m. PDT, and earn up to two hours Federal Tax Update CPE. Get an overview of:
  • Extensions introduced in the "Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015" 
  • Sec. 179 Expensing
  • Due Dates for Information Returns
  • Refundable Credits
  • Tuition Reporting
  • New ITIN rules
  • Health Care Law Changes
  • Inflation Adjustments
  • Live Q & A
IRSAC Annual Report Now Available -  The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) has released its 2016 Annual Report, which includes recommendations on a wide range of tax administration issues, including evaluating the effects of penalties on voluntary compliance and revising and updating Circular 230. IRS Commissioner Koskinen thanked IRSAC members and Chair Jennifer MacMillan, EA, of Channel Islands Chapter, who are ending their three-year terms this year.

Advance Payments of the Health Coverage Tax Credit - Practitioners can now register qualified clients to receive the benefits of the Health Coverage Tax Credit on an advance monthly basis in 2017. Click here for more information, and read the Q&As.

2017 Health Coverage Information Forms -  Notice 2016-70 extends the due date for providing to individuals the 2016 Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, and the 2016 Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage. This date has been changed from January 31, 2017 to March 2, 2017, for insurers, self-insuring employers, and certain other providers of minimum essential coverage under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 6055 and for applicable large employers under IRC section 6056..   

Fast Track Mediation -  Revenue Procedure 2016-57 replaces Fast Track Mediation (as outlined in Rev. Proc. 2003-41) with Fast Track Mediation-Collection. Fast Track Mediation-Collection provides taxpayers an opportunity to resolve certain offer-in-compromise and trust fund recovery penalty issues and cases worked by Collection on an expedited basis with an Office of Appeals mediator serving as a neutral party.

Draft Forms for Investment Tax Credit - The revised Form 4255, Recapture of Investment Credit reflects the computational steps required under section 50(a)(1) and provides additional instructions on how to adjust the unused portion (i.e., carryover) of a recaptured credit. The draft Form 4255 and instructions are available now.

Updated Conservation Easement Guide - A recently updated Conservation Easement Audit Technique Guide includes examination techniques, common and unique industry issues, business practices, industry terminology, and other information to help tax professionals when reporting various items related to charitable contributions of conservation easements. Click here for a complete list of Audit Techniques Guides.
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FTB News: 

FTB Tax News - The December 2016 issue of Tax News, FTB's monthly online publication, contains articles on the following topics:
  • Home Energy System Loan Programs;
  • New January 31 Filing Deadline for Employers;
  • Power of Attorney Declaration Process; 
  • and much more.
Click here to subscribe to Tax News and news flashes to automatically receive time-sensitive information via email.

Renew Your Tax Preparer Client Relations in MyFTB  - Read about the easy and and convenient way to renew your Tax Preparer clients in MyFTB starting January 3, 2017.

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BOE News: 

Tax Guide for Medical Cannabis Businesses - On November 8, 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. The BOE's Tax Guide for Medical Cannabis Businesses will be updated with additional information on the excise tax and cultivation tax as it becomes available.  

Sales and Use Tax Rate Decrease - The statewide sales and use tax rate will decrease one quarter of one percent from 7.50 percent to 7.25 percent on January 1, 2017. Click here for details.

Installment Payments on Final Notice of Determination -  Starting January 1, 2017, if you are making installment payments on a final Notice of Determination (billing) and are disputing your tax liability, you may file one timely claim for refund to cover all future payments applied to that billing, and any prior payments that remain within the applicable statute of limitations. Click here for details.

Sign Up for BOE Updates - Subscribe to email lists and receive the latest news, including newsletters, tax and fee updates, public meeting agendas and other announcements.

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EDD News: 

Employment Status Tutorials -  The EDD offers several on-demand employment status tutorials that explain the process of classifying workers as either employees or independent contractors. Topics include common misconceptions that lead to misclassifying employees as independent contractors and resources to properly classify workers.

Electronic File and Pay Requirement -  Employers will soon be required to electronically submit employment tax returns, wage reports, and payroll tax deposits to the EDD.
  • Beginning January 1, 2017, employers with 10 or more employees will be required to electronically file and pay.
  • Beginning January 1, 2018, all remaining employers will be required to electronically file and pay.
Click here for more information.
CSEA Events Calendar

January 7-8, 2017 - CSEA Board and Committee Meetings
Holiday Inn Sacramento-Capitol Plaza, Sacramento, CA
 
January 9, 2017 - Jim Stern Legislative Day
State Capitol, Sacramento, CA

January 24, 2017 - CSEA Chapter Connection Meeting
10 a.m. via WebEx webinar
 
May 16-18, 2017 - Las Vegas Super Seminar
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino
 
June 28-30, 2017 - Reno Super Seminar
Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
 
Click here for the CSEA Calendar of Events.

CSEA welcomes your feedback on the CSEA News & Events. Send your comments to