Connections Jan Feb 2016

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

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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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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:

6800

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.

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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)/.

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