November 17, 2020
Annual COsEA Members meeting
with Board Elections
3:15 pm to 4:30 pm
Board meeting
All COsEA members are welcome
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
& Important Updates (2 CE)
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Workshop on Colorado CollegeInvest
Distributions and Contributions
Free to everyone
Qualifies for continuing education for CPAs and Financial Planner, but not EAs with the IRS.
The Colorado law no longer mirrors the federal law. Thanks to new Colorado legislation, businesses can now get a tax credit when they contribute to their employees’ CollegeInvest accounts. They can receive a 20% tax credit, up to a maximum of $500 per employee per year. A bill passed in the 2019 fives every child born or adopted in Colorado a $100 contribution to their CollegeInvest 529 college savings account, starting January 1, 2020.
Expand your knowledge of how 529 plans work in Colorado to solve your clients’ problems or fit into the larger financial planning picture. Learn the latest tax law, rules and regulations that impact your clients’ situations, and how to recognize opportunities related to 529s that can benefit the families you serve. Real world examples will allow attendees to learn from the questions, problems and opportunities that others have encountered, and we will share methods for a deeper engagement with clients and prospects.
Speaker:
Brennan Hannon, Advisor Relations Manager
CollegeInvest
www.collegeinvest.org
303-376-8844
bhannon@collegeinvest.org
Brennan has worked in financial services for over 20 years with a focus on sales, relationships, and client service. He is a seasoned professional with a background in public speaking and group facilitation/education. In his current role Brennan partners with the financial community to expand businesses through college planning and helps families create an educational legacy for their children and grandchildren. Brennan received his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership & Management from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN. He lives in Denver with his family and spends most of his free time enjoying Colorado’s outdoor playground.
10:15 am – 11:15 am
Workshop on Colorado Tax Law Updates
Free to COsEA members, $10 to non-members
There is no EA CE because the class is focused on Colorado law and has little Federal content.
Colorado is a deceptively simple tax return. There are additions and subtractions and credits unique to Colorado. This session will highlight the changes for the 2020 tax year.
Colorado Update Slides
Colorado Update Handout
Researchers & Speakers:
Jennifer Verhey CPA, EA, NTPI Fellow®, USTCP
Vantage CPA, LLC
www.ameagletax.net
(303) 422-1996
jennifer@vantagecpa.net
Jennifer has been an Enrolled Agent since 2008, and is the current COsEA Treasurer. She holds a Colorado CPA license and is a USTCP (US Tax Court Practitioner), passing the exam on her first try in 2014. NAEA holds a special place in her heart as it was after attending NTPI (National Tax Practice Institute) the first time that Jennifer ventured out on her own and founded Vantage Certified Public Accountant in 2010. Jennifer is a NTPI fellow and has served as a discussion leader at NTPI. As a licensed broker and real estate investor herself, Jennifer loves working with clients in the real estate industry.
With a BS in Business Administration from the University of Colorado in Denver, she held positions with the IRS as a Taxpayer Service Agent, Program Support at the VA, and at H & R Block.
The mother of four children and the proud grandmother of one, Jennifer spends her free time involved in her family’s activities. She currently splits her time between Denver, Colorado and the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.
Beth Hancock, EA, MBA, NTPI Fellow®
BF Borgers CPA PC, Director of Tax and Consulting
www.bfbcpa.us
303 (953-1454 ext. 106
beth@bfbcpa.us
Currently the COsEA Education Committee Chair, Beth has been an EA since 1997. Beth joined H&R Block in 1993, and for the last ten years there she taught tax preparation and resolution classes. In 2016 Beth joined BF Borgers CPA so she could offer her business clients a full suite of services. She continues to teach taxation through COSEA.
Beth has over 25 years of experience in tax preparation, tax resolution, payroll and bookkeeping. Beth has BS in Psychology and an MBA from University of Illinois. Starting young she worked at her father’s CPA firm in Kankakee, Il until it’s sale. After a stint as a Stock Broker at EF Hutton in Champaign, IL. Moving to Colorado she became a Fund Accountant for Oppenheimer Funds,
Outside the workplace Beth enjoys reading science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries. She volunteers for local charities, crocheting blankets and serving on a finance committee. Having moved to Colorado in 1989, Beth has taken up hiking and camping in order to spend time with her family of outdoors enthusiasts
Lunch Break
Watch parties are encouraged so small groups can gather locally all over the state and network with other local EAs and colleagues.
12:30 pm – 1 pm
GetNetSet Product Demo: Website & Portal, Social Media Marketing, Tax Content
Free to to everyone
Learn how GetNetSet can help you attract more tax clients and save time with a professional website, secure client portal, social media marketing, over 130 tax handouts/organizers, and more. GetSetNet maintains the COsEA.org website free of charge for COsEA.
Speaker:
Jeramiah Young is the Senior Website Manager at GetNetSet and has over 20 years experience in both website development and design and loves to help tax and accounting professionals find solutions to help automate their business and become successful.
Congratulations to COsEA members Marcia Sage and Patrick Tuttle for winning the “door” prizes at the IRS taught sessions during this November 17th continuing education event. The Tax Book donated an annual subscription to their WebLibrary Plus (1st User) for each class.. Thank you to The Tax Book!
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Cybersecurity
S4DWT-T-00155-20-O
Free to COsEA members, $10 to non-members
(1 continuing education credit)
Data thefts at tax professionals’ offices are on the rise, especially since more tax professionals are working at home. As the next filing season approaches, identity thieves will be hunting for more taxpayer data to file fraudulent tax returns. They continue to place tax practitioners firmly in their sights. With that, updated data security is now a necessity for every tax professional, whether a partner in a large firm or a sole practitioner, and every Authorized IRS e-File Provider. Every employee, both professional and administrative staff, should be educated about the latest security threats and safeguards. Learn the latest from the IRS about how to protect your clientele’s information.
Cybersecurity for Tax Professionals
Speaker:
Neki Cox, IRS Sr Stakeholder Liaison for Stakeholder Liaison Department in Communication and Liaison (C&L) in Denver
As a stakeholder relationship manager, she has served as a coordinator for IRS seminars, meetings, and multi-speaker engagements. She focuses on developing communication and educational opportunities with tax practitioner, civic, non-profit and for-profit business organizations in Wyoming and Montana. She leads and coordinates the IRS Disaster Assistance program with FEMA.
Neki began her IRS career in 1995. She has held other positions in the Human Capital Office as a Recruiter and Analyst, in the Taxpayer Advocate Division as a Sr. Taxpayer Advocate, and in the Exam Division as an Office Auditor, Earned Income Credit Coordinator, and an e-File Marketing Specialist. She has prior experience in computer report writing, bookkeeping, collections, purchasing, customer service, sales, and restaurant management.
Neki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Small Business Management with an emphasis in Accounting from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Highlights of the 2021 filing season from a tax forms perspective
S4DWT-U-00150-20-O
Free to COsEA members, $10 to non-members
(1 continuing education credit)
2020 NTF-Highlights of Tax Changes from a Tax Form Perspective
When it comes to the 2021 filing season, along with a trifecta of legislation, including the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, as well as the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, major tax law changes and impacts to hundreds of tax products have resulted. Now, what I hope to achieve during today’s session is to highlight the changes made during this unusual year to ensure a successful 2021 filing season, for you and for your clients.
Speaker:
Deborah Rodgers, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Denver Communication and Liaison, Internal Revenue Service
Deborah leads IRS Communications with Colorado Practitioners. As the Senior Stakeholder Liaison in Colorado, Deborah collaborates with tax professional organizations, small business groups and industry associations to provide tax education and information for their members. She also hosts the Practitioner Liaison meetings with IRS Executives and the Practitioner community. Deborah also participates in small business forums to gather feedback and respond to small business owner concerns.
Deborah joined the IRS in 1984, and has performed in various roles, including Tax Specialist and Management. She has received many awards for her performance and dedication to the Internal Revenue Service.
Deborah is a past President of The Association for the Improvement of Minorities (AIM), an organization that provides academic scholarships and mentoring opportunities for its members. She has volunteered as a Site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for more than 30 years.
Deborah enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her 5 grandchildren.
