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A MESSAGE FROM THE NCSA PRESIDENT ronald d. powell
God for all He has done for me in bringing me to this occasion. All that He has taught me thru the years. My father, Wade J Powell, (he stood here before you 22 years ago) who gave me the opportunity to be an accountant in my home state. He taught me much in life and as an accountant. He also introduced me to this great organization. My mother who taught me many things, but most importantly, how and when to listen. Certainly our children, Amanda & Robert, you brought joy to our lives for 20 years and counting, you have taught me. Becky you have also brought us sunshine. Latefa, my bride for over 34 years. Besides working together you continue to be there for me and have always had my back wherever we have been. Finally, fellow accountants, without you, this Society would not have survived 68 years, protecting the practice rights we enjoy here in North Carolina. I see two challenges this next year and it will take all of us working as a team to overcome these challenges. First, strengthening our relationships between chapters. We are fortunate to have 12 chapters from Asheville to Wilmington. Each one unique and vitally important to the success of our Society. Second, retaining members. Success with our first challenge will help with this challenge. However, we struggle to keep members and during this year we will be sharing and learning new ways to make this happen – retain members and obtain new members. The best way to do this is TEAMWORK. If I have ever called on you to answer a question or for assistance, please stand [over half of the room stood]. Thank you! You all have been there when I needed you and the best part, I have yet to receive a bill for that help. That is TEAMWORK. Over the next few months in my Accountant articles, I will share with you the Essential Elements of Human Synergy: TEAMWORK. Total Commitment Empathy Awareness Mutual Respect We Thinking Ownership of the Society Relinquishment of Ego Kinetic Leadership Finally, wisdom can be found in many places. My last assignment in the Air Force was probably my most difficult and yet most satisfying. As a Squadron Commander, there were always tough decisions to make. The most difficult decisions I made was in 2002 when the Global War on Terror began following the horrific events of 9/11. I feel certain the decisions I make over this next year will not be as difficult. However, with difficult decisions, not everyone will be happy. The way I led in the military was by a simple philosophy. Some of you know I am a big fan of Star Trek; not a fanatic, just a fan. My philosophy will be simple. The character Spock said the following in one of the movies. He had just saved the starship and everyone on board, from being destroyed. But it was at the cost of his own life. He said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…… or the one.” The membership is the many, the few is the board of directors, and the one, well that is myself. I will weigh each decision based on NCSA’s needs. Thank you, and let’s meet again next year and bring someone with you who has not been to convention before. back to top of page |
s Chapter NewsNCSA has just welcomed a new President and is beginning a new year. Our chapters have also elected officers and will be holding installation ceremonies this month. If you feel out of the loop and would like to know more about what is going on in your chapter why don’t you take a moment to get active and see what is going on in your chapter. For now you can read the latest happenings here in The Accountant. Burlington The Burlington chapter normally meets on the 4th Thursday of each month. For more information about the Burlington chapter contact Jim Holmes at jholmes.acct@yahoo.com Cape Fear The Cape Fear chapter met on Monday, June 22nd at Sammio’s in Fayetteville. James Upton was on hand to speak on Form 9465 and Installment Payment Agreements. The chapter normally meets the 1st Monday after the 15th each month. For more information contact Merry Arnett at mparnett@embarqmail.com Central The Central Chapter held their monthly meeting on Monday, June 22ndat Sagebrush Steakhouse in Asheboro. Gray Cassell of the City of Kernersville spoke on IT Security and Data Breaches. Next month the chapter meeting will be a double header with NCSA Past President David Rollins speaking on NCSA’s Website and Chapter Promotions Chair Marsha Wheeler speaking on ways to better promote our chapter. The Central Chapter is also proud of Kevin Robinson newly elected to the NCSA Board. Central Chapter meets on the 4th Monday of each month. For more information contact Kevin Robinson at kevrob@triad.rr.com Charlotte The Charlotte Chapter met on Thursday, June 25th at Captains Cove (was Captains Galley) in Matthews. The chapter welcomed NCSA President Ron Powell as he spoke on Surviving an IRS Audit. The Charlotte Chapter normally meets on the 4th Thursday of each month. For more information contact Louise Pistole at pistole9@windstream.net Eastern The Eastern chapter meets on the 4th Tuesday each month at H&R Block in Greenville. For more information contact Ronald Powell at ron@powellaccounting.com Hickory The Hickory Chapter met on Monday, June 29th at O’Charley’s in Hickory. James Upton was on hand to speak on Form 9465 and Installment Payment Agreements. Upcoming: Hickory Chapter Cookout, details to be announced. The Hickory Chapter normally meets the last Monday of each month. For more information contact Susan Dale Moore at susan@dalesaccounting.com Piedmont The Piedmont Chapter did not meet in June due to scheduling conflicts with the annual convention and vacations. The next meeting will be on July 30th at Sagebrush in Kernersville. Piedmont Chapter normally meets on the last Thursday of each month. For more information contact Carol Smith at clstaxes@bellsouth.net Raleigh The Raleigh Chapter did not meet in June. The chapter did announce the following newly elected officers: Stephen Metelits-President, Dawn Hull-Vice President, Pam Lowrie-Secretary, and Robert Pia-Treasurer. The chapter also is proud of Paula Brown newly elected to the NCSA Board. The Raleigh Chapter meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month. For more information contact Stephen Metelits at metelits@usa.net Sandhills-Sanford The Sandhills-Sanford Chapter met on Thursday, June 25th at Table on the Green in Pinehurst. The meeting consisted of an election of officers. For more information contact Mark Bouchier at mbouchier@mabaccounting.net Western The Western Chapter did not meet in June. The next meeting will be on July 28th and include an installation of officers and a Form 1040 Schedule A presentation by NCSA President Ron Powell. For more information contact John McKinney at johnm@accuraaccounting.com. Wilmington The Wilmington Chapter met on Monday, June 22nd with eight in attendance to hear Chapter President Marie Izzo complete part II of Bookkeeping Essentials - The Things Accountants need to teach their clients. The next meeting will be held on Monday, July 27th with NCSA President Ron Powell installing officers and speaking on Surviving an IRS Audit. The Wilmington Chapter is also proud of Susan Corliss-Bland newly elected to the NCSA Board. Contact Chapter President Marie Izzo for more information at marie@johnizzocpa.com We cannot compile this report without your information. If you have news of your chapter or its members including photos or interesting things that happened at your chapter meeting please email James Upton at jamesupton@rtmc.net or call (336) 873-7690. s Drafts of Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, for employers, is available on the IRS web site. Employers who offer health care coverage to their employees must file such returns. The business can either be self-insured or purchase policies from a commercial insurance company. In either case, each covered employee must be listed. If insured for the whole year, there is a check box for that. If only covered for part of the year, there are twelve monthly boxes that must be checked appropriately. back to top of page s Many awards were presented at the 68th Annual Convention in Blowing Rock here is a recap of the awards and their winners: · VIP Club Certificates (50 years of Membership) were presented to Paul Neal Helms of Monroe & Harold D. Hinton of Raleigh. · Pioneer Club Certificates (25 years of Membership) were presented to S. Lynn Haller of Candler, Past President Stephen Metelits of Pittsboro, Past President Louise Pistole of Matthews, and Linda C. Poole of Sparta. · The Presidential Award in recognition of meritorious service to NCSA was presented to James Upton of Seagrove and also to Past President Florence Black of Fayetteville. · The Membership committee awarded Go-Getter plaques to Yvonne Potter of Angier, Past President Margie Strider of Asheboro, Past President Curt Lee of Raleigh, Past President David Hooker of High Point, Past President Denise Hammond of Morganton, President Ronald D. Powell of Asheboro, and James Upton of Seagrove. Past President Louise Pistole received the James N.E. Helgreen Memorial Membership Award for sponsoring the most new members in the last fiscal year. · Marsha Wheeler in her capacity as Executive Director of the NCSA Scholarship Foundation awarded the Piedmont Chapter the Scholarship Plaque for Excellence in Fundraising for the Scholarship Foundation for the last fiscal year. Past President David Hooker accepted the award on behalf of the chapter which had raised over $7000, the bulk of that will endow the Steven G. Pace Memorial Scholarship Fund. · In her capacity as chair of the Chapter Promotions committee Marsha Wheeler presented the Central Chapter with the Chapter Cup for 2014-2015. Central Chapter President Kevin A. Robinson accepted the award on behalf of the chapter. back to top of page s Beginning January 1, 2016, rules about who may represent clients before the IRS will change. Lawyers, CPAs, and EAs will continue to have full representation rights for all clients before IRS offices. Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion holders will have limited representation rights, meaning they can represent clients whose returns they prepare and sign, but only before Examination, customer service representatives, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service. To have limited representation rights, you must participate both in the year of return preparation and the year of representation. Other tax return preparers who do not participate in the Annual Filing Season Program will not be permitted to rep- resent any clients before the IRS for tax returns and claims for refund prepared and signed after December 31, 2015. Additionally, by participating in the Annual Filing Season Program, you are included in the "Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Selected Qualification" at the IRS web site irs.gov/chooseataxpro. For those who have passed the RTRP test and completed at least 15 hours of qualified CE get a Certificate of Completion automatically. back to top of page s For those EAs who filed at least 50 2014 1040 tax returns, the IRS is sending you a letter announcing that you can find the number of federal returns filed under your PTIN for the tax year. Go to the IRS web site and log into your PTIN account. On the Main Menu select "View Returns Filed Per PTIN." The screen will display the number of tax returns with your PTIN processed this year. The data are updated monthly. If the number is substantially higher than the number of tax returns you've prepared and you suspect possible misuse of your PTIN, complete Form 14157, Compliant Tax Return Preparer, to alert the IRS. back to top of page s |
According to NSA Member Link in the past when identity thieves stole your identity by submitting a false tax return, you would not be notified by the IRS. That is about to change thanks to Senator Kelly Ayotte (NH).
Senator Ayotte wrote to IRS Commissioner Koskinen urging the IRS to provide tax-related identity theft victims copies of fraudulent returns, which the agency previously had refused to do. One reason cited for not releasing copies to victims was that often additional Social Security numbers are on a return, which would compromise those identities. On the other hand, by not providing copies of the fraudulent returns, victims did not know exactly what details of their personal information had been stolen.
In response, Commissioner Koskinen wrote, "As a result of your letter, we have decided to change our policy regarding disclosure of fraudulent identity theft returns to victims under whose name and SSN the fraudulent return was filed. We will put together a procedure that will enable victims to receive, upon request, redacted copies of fraudulent returns filed in their name and SSN." back to top of page
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At the annual Convention new officers were installed. They are Ronald Powell, President; James Holmes, President - Elect; Mary Fuller, Secretary; and John Blanton, Treasurer.
Elected to the Board of Directors: Paula Brown, Susan Cloris-Bland, Jense Creighton, Denise Hammond, Carole Owenby, JR Lawson, Kevin Robinson, David Rollins, Gaye Saunders, & James Upton. back to top of page
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Membership Dues Increase Ronald D. Powell
As you are painfully aware costs of doing business continue to increase and as such, we generally have to raise our rates for our accounting services, tax return preparation, representation, and office visits. At NCSA we have done our best to kee p our dues at the same level they have been for the last 12 years, but unfortunately we needed to raise the dues for this coming 2015-2016 year.
During the last 10 years inflation has increased slightly each year but the cumulative effect is about 28%, the cost of living adjustment which affects Social Security and government workers/retirees has also increased about 20%. We struggled with our current year budget and even with cutting back approximately $4,000; it still may not be enough. Probably the most important benefits our your membership is what we have been able to do with your dues:
· Since 1947 we have monitored the NC General Assembly and protected your rights to practice under NC Laws and not once has any of those rights been taken away.
· We monitor various State Licensing Boards each year. One example of protecting our rights at this level – last year we were able to prevent a law change which would have eliminated the non-licensed accountant from preparing Homeowner Association financials if their income was over $150,000.
· We prevented the NC Contractor’s Licensing Board from eliminating non-licensed accountants from preparing financials submitted with a license renewal.
· Website with current news, upcoming events, member information, and helpful business links
· Monthly newsletter, The Accountant, available on our website with current news from tax agencies and local chap- ter events.
· Continuing Professional Education in Accounting and Tax Related Matters
· We are an IRS Approved Provider which allows us to provide CPE at the local chapter level at no cost to the members
· We bring accounting seminars to you each year with discounted fees for members
· Networking opportunities through local chapters.
· A printed directory of all members, chapter information, and committee listings
So all things considered, you are getting great benefits and this is the first time in 12 years we have increased our dues.
Full members dues will be $180 and Associate Members will be $120.
Finally, protecting our rights to practice is one major benefit which is difficult to put into words. Consider, North Carolina is one of only two states in the United States where we as non-licensed accountants can prepare financial statements without restrictions. As accountants, can you imagine if you could not provide this service to your clients? We exist because of the members. Our goal is to protect those rights and basically what is done for you is similar to your E&O insurance policy – it is there to protect your business and in our case to protect the rights we need to have for our business.
Accountants in NC can still do the same accounting & financial reports that were available to them sixty eight years ago". How much is that worth to you? If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. back to top of page
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tells us what to do right away if someone steals and uses your personal information.
1. Call the companies where you know fraud occurred. Call the fraud department,. and explain that someone stole your identity. Ask them to close or freeze the accounts so no one can add new charges unless you agree. Change logins, passwords, and PINs for your accounts. You might have to contact these companies again after you have an Identity Theft Report.
2. Place a fraud alert and get your credit record Contact one of the three credit bureaus; that company must tell the other two: equifax.com/creditreportassistance (888-766-0008), experian.com/fraudalert (888-397-3742), transunion.com/fraud (800-680-7289), A fraud alert is free and will make it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. Get your credit report right away (free is you didn't get one this year; otherwise, pay for the report): annualcreditreport.com (877-322-8228). Review your report to make note of any account or transaction you don't recognize.
3. Report identity theft to the FTC. Complete the FTC's online complaint form or call 877-438-4338 with as many details as you can. The FTC will create your Identity Theft Affidavit. Print and save it immediately. Once you leave the page, you wo n't be able to get your affidavit.
4. File a report with your local police department. Go to your local police department with a copy of your FTC Identity theft Affidavit, a government-issued ID with photo, proof of your address, any other proof you have of the theft, and the FTC's Memo to Law Enforcement.pdf. Tell the police someone stole your identity and you need to file a report. Ask for a copy of the police report. back to top of pages
Where interesting facts and overheard stories are told.
Be careful what you say it might just show up here!
Congratulations to Michael & Jessica Black as they have entered the new world of parenting along with Larry & Florence Black as they have entered into the role of grandparents with the birth of Grant Michael Black born on June 13th at 6:59AM weighing in at 8lbs 2oz. He has his grandmother’s good looks and is already a Wolfpack fan!! Grandpa Larry said he was okay with becoming a grandfather until he realized he was married to a grandmother!!
Marsha Wheeler has been busy making baskets for use as gifts at the NCSA Convention this past month. Husband Byron Bull is still on the mend after some recent health issues but he helped put the finishing touches on the baskets so Marsha could leave for Blowing Rock on time. Way to go you did a GREAT job Marsha & Byron!
Margie Strider and Louise Pistole have recently traveled on separate occasions to Niagara Falls. Margie Strider has another trip planned during the month of July to visit Alaska. Look for these high flying ladies as you pass through the airports of our state!
Bonnie Suggs of High Point is a Life Member and a faithful member of the Piedmont chapter. Her son Terry Suggs recently passed. Terry brought Bonnie to the meetings and was the chef at the Piedmont Chapter Scholarship Picnic. NCSA was represented by 3 Piedmont members at his funeral services. Please remember Bonnie in your prayers.
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Mail To Candace Cansler NCSA Executive Director Post Office Box 1126 Conover, North Carolina 28613 |
