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Personally, I think that most of the time you can only get as much out of any type of training as you are willing to put in to it. No matter how engaging the speaker is, or how comprehensive and clearly presented the webinar is, if you don't make the effort to learn it is just a matter of "buying" CPE. We have a duty to our profession to be more involved in our own learning than that, regardless of the venue we choose to obtain our required credits.

Apocryphal story from back when there was a "Stop & Shop" grocery store on Memorial Drive about halfway between Harvard and MIT... A kid gets into the Express Lane (12 items or less) with a full cart. Cashier asks him, "Are you a Harvard student who can't count, or an MIT student who can't read?"

THUS PASSES THE SHIELD. In other words, no privacy [shield] on the internet.

http://chicksontheright.com/posts/item/25085-westjet-might-be-the-best-marketing-story-of-the-year This is just delightful!

Absolutely beautiful.....I loved the little boy with the android tablet.

Found myself wondering what the guy who asked for underwear and socks felt as he watched that big screen tv being unwrapped! ?

I've been happy using Deloitte Dbriefs webcasts. Usually 1 or 2 hours, a variety of topics and free. http://www.deloitte.com/us/dbriefs

No copyright issues to use the Authorized e-file provider logo. I was trying to stick the jpeg file here but board does not allow. If have this jpeg file, just stick it in any advertisement or flyer you are creating. You don't need a graphics artist. See the info below. http://www.irs.gov/uac/Advertising-Standards The IRS does not have a copyright for the IRS e-file logo. Use the logo only to indicate that a Provider offers this service to taxpayers or has performed it on behalf of a taxpayer. Providers must not use the logo to portray any other relationship between the IRS and any Provider. In using the IRSe-file logo, the Provider must use the following guidelines: Do not combine the logo with the IRS eagle symbol, the word “Federal” or with other words or symbols that suggest a special relationship between the IRS and the logo user Do not place text closer than ¼ inch from the logo Do not overprint other words or symbols on the logo Do not change the letter spacing or type style In one-color products, the logo should be printed solid, preferably PMS 285 blue. In multi-color products, print the logo in solid PMS 285 blue with the lightning bolt in solid PMS 109 yellow. When using color systems other than Pantone (PMS), the colors should be as close as possible to the PMS shades.

H-m-m. So what we learn from this entire conversation is that there are good and bad online providers and there are good and bad in-person seminars. But neither is good or bad based on the means of delivery; only the content determines that. Is this something we didn't already know?

I agree with Mr Pencil that you should go ahead and ask. Write the letter as he suggests (under the client's name) showing that the client has reformed her ways. Charge for your time, and make in clear in writing that there are no guarantees that the IRS will accept the excuse. We do this fairly often in our practice. The only purpose in some of these cases is to demonstrate to the clients that you are going to bat for them, are there for them trying to fight the nasty ole IRS (which is only doing its duty and following the law!). Sometimes we get surprised and the IRS abates. The real point of the exercise is client relations. Also, these are the type of desperate people who will go to one of those "penny on the dollar" places. Your being there for them might prevent that, so your effort will end up saving them a ton of money even though they end up paying the penalty that by law they are required to pay.

I've used the heavy duty staples. sometimes you need the 'big stapler'; I have returns that will run 50 pages. Mine is huge, but I've started just getting a pdf of mine. and yeah, the big staples are a b*tch to remove!

Jack, who said anything about "purchasing CPE credits", and how do you know those credits aren't EARNED anyway? My state and the AICPA has the same minimum requirement as Joan posted. I've always completed more than the minimum requirements, and the credit tally is not my first priority. If I need to learn more on a subject, I take the course whether I need more credits or not. I purchased the ability to view, complete and EARN CPE credits by participating in online webinars, without a specific limitation as to the number. I could have purchased a smaller number of courses, but my state society offered a nice discount program that made sense to purchase the unlimited package so that I can EARN credits at a lower cost. I certainly do not sit and waste my valuable time taking courses that will not benefit my practice or enhance my knowledge. This program has allowed me to choose from many more subjects that are more appropriate to my practice and clientele, and to choose courses that are convenient to my schedule. This is preferable to being limited to attending local live classes that are so similar that they are almost repeats year after year. That would truly be a real waste of money and that would do nothing to enhance one’s skills! Besides lowering my per credit cost, my other reason for purchasing the webinars this year is because I'm spending a lot more time caring for my elderly mother and I've had to rework my schedule around her needs and her doctor’s appointments, so this purchase in 2013 was also done in part to accommodate that as well. The Surgent online webinars are the same courses that are being taught to a live group, with the added requirement that the participants answer questions throughout the day, and answer a certain percentage of them correctly. That is something that is not required here of participants in any live group study courses. I've sat in those conference rooms and lecture halls over the last 32 years, paying a higher price for it too, and I’ve watched as other participants are distracted by their cell phone messages, answer text messages, talk, read the newspaper, snore, take extended breaks, and even complete other self-study courses while attending, so don't tell me that everyone that sits in a live seminar is EARNING their CPE.

Section 6662 is very hard to get around because one of the triggers is simply the dollar amount--a "substantial underpayment" is 10% of the total tax and more than $5000. There are several other ways to get caught, such as lousy records and misstating the value of assets, but your agent doesn't have to bother with that because of the amount. You have a right to request her workpapers. and can be open about it being to see how the penalty was calculated. It can be abated for reasonable cause. Reliance on a professional is a common excuse, but your agent has already warned you that it will backfire. The other best reasons are adequate disclosure and substantial authority, neither of which seems helpful for you. So you are probably limited to finding external events that prevented the taxpayer from complying. Death in the family, disaster loss, records sealed by a court--some significant third-party event that could not be foreseen or controlled. It should be something you can actually document. It is possible to request partial abatement if you can only show reasonable cause for some of the issues. Of course IRS has no statutory authority to abate the interest, but if you sweet talk the agent there is a small chance she will accept that as enough punishment. I believe that it helps to focus on the future. Document that the taxpayer has taken specific steps to make sure the problems will not happen again. You can also point to the past if the taxpayer has a good history of timely compliance.. After all, that is the basic reason for penalties. You can take a penalty to a supervisor, but your chances of success there are very small. Probably even worse in Appeals and Tax Court.

I have renewed. Since you are all able to log in then maybe I have been blocked. Or have a password issue. I have not been made aware of having. Also I can't imagine having been blocked as I have been more than fair with my posts and have renewed. I just couldn't find another program I liked. They all had pros and cons including ATX.

I've more than 'met' the requirement. I'm taking additional classes because I need them to better myself.

I'm off on Saturday to Orlando for Gear Up's Magic Week seminar. 40 hours including full day updates plus a full day of ACA. In CA CPAs need a minimum of 20 hours in a calendar year, and 80 hours in a 2 year cycle. I'm above my 20 hours already, before going to Magic Week, plus got bonus hours for teaching. But I'm with Jack (for once!). I take classes for the information I need to stay current and informed, and learn things that might benefit my clients. And get way over my requirement. That said, I've taken some of the CPA Academy courses, and they're not bad although the presenters may be trying to sell you a solution. Not a bad way to learn about new technology though.

I live in Tennessee, and my clients would not read a letter if I sent one. Or worse, they would call me to ask what it said. And I betcha they are about average. If a return stays the same year after year, I charge the same fee for about three years, then go up about 10%. More if good ole PITA is in play. I don't announce it, or even comment about it at all. Ain't nobody got time for that. I don't gouge, and they know I don't. Nobody announces fee increases to me, they just happen. Happy Thanksgiving!

The reason I stress my fees and penalties is to let them know why I'm charging more for my service.