From a Capstone College Instructor "I am currently serving as president of TACTYC (Teachers of Accounting at Two Year Colleges) an organization that I have been a part of for approximately 12 years. I have observed the reaction from my colleagues at our annual conference when ACAT has had the opportunity to make a presentation explaining the ABA certification and the Capstone course that is available to the colleges. "The reception by the instructors to this credential has always been positive which further backs up the increased participation that ACAT has noted over the years with the colleges. I strongly recommend this credential to all of my accounting graduates." Click here for the rest of the article. New Credential Holders
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A Partnership with Colleges
by Peggy I. Johnson, CPA, EA, ABA, ATP, ECS
This issue I'd like to tell you about a program that ACAT has with colleges across the United States. Called the Capstone Program, it is a partnership between ACAT and colleges to help students earn the Accredited Business Accountant (ABA) credential. In communities where colleges offer the Capstone program, the local recognition of ACAT credentials is greatly enhanced, which benefits all credential holders as well as the participating colleges.
For those of you new to ACAT, the ABA is a national examination and credentialing program that recognizes students and practitioners who demonstrate a practical level of knowledge in accounting. It also establishes a uniform measure of proficiency that For more, click here
Tax Preparer Registration Legislation:
What's Happening?
Reprinted from the NSAlert
It
seems inevitable that the Senate Finance Committee will approve tax
preparer registration legislation in the near future and this will be
the first step in a process that will ultimately result in the
enactment of this legislation. What has NSA been doing in this area?
NSA has long supported the efforts of our members to not only be
recognized as professionals but to be
professionals. To that end, we have encouraged members to seek and
maintain a professional credential, whether an ACAT credential, a CPA,
EA or other professional designation.
The current legislative proposals would impose a requirement that any professional tax return preparer that is not covered by one of the credentials recognized in Circular 230 (CPA, attorney, or EA) would have to take and pass a new federal examination in order to become registered. Many of our members have taken the ACAT examinations and For more update click here
Consider your future success
in terms of your future credentials
What
can a prestigious credential be worth to you? Plenty, when you think
about what it can do for your future success. Especially when that
credential is the nationally renowned Accredited Business Accountant®
(ABA) credential.
By earning the ABA, you can give yourself a competitive advantage – whether it's boosting business, fast-tracking a career or increasing income. In fact, a recent NSA survey revealed that the ABA is worth as much as $14,000 in increased annual income to a full-time practitioner.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started on your way to realizing more opportunities, promoting your abilities and adding value by standing apart from the crowd. Get a registration form today.
He's Making a List
and Checking It Twice
It
is much too early in the year to worry about Santa Claus, but the time
is always right to prepare for Uncle Sam and tax time. The list in
question consists of the industry-specific Audit Technique Guides
(ATGs) that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) developed for its Market
Segment Specialization Program (MSSP). Below is a list of several
guides containing a listing of information that the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) wants to know about businesses.
You can learn some useful information from the ATG for your client's type of business:
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Overview about typical business practices for comparative purposes
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Typical audit-identified errors to identify common trouble spots
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IRS specific battle plan for your industry.
Some selected examples provide an inkling of how useful the information could be in the design and maintenance of a business's financial records: Learn more, click here
Cram Course a Success
For
the first time in several years, NSA held an ABA Cram Course prior to
the Annual Meeting. The two-day workshop was followed by the day-long
ABA and ATP examination. The two-day
preparation course was led by Bill Parrish, ABA, ATA, ATP, ECS, of
(oneplusone) and Al Giovetti, CPA, ABA, ATA, ECS, who is in private
accounting practice.
Of the 49 people signed-up for the course, 29 (60%) passed both parts of the ABA exam and earned the Accreditation Business Accountant credential. This is a higher percent than usual, but then the attendees had much more experience than is the norm. Nine people passed one part and six failed both parts.
In addition, ten people took the Accredited Tax Preparer portion of the test and earned the ATP credential. Two failed the ATP examination.
