Confessions of a Mad Tax Accountant #4: Receiving CPE Offers

C - Continuing

P - Professional

E - Education

“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”
― Michel Legrand

 

Education is in my blood. My father was a principal and my mom was a day care director. In fact, I moonlight as an adjunct professor at a local college. I'm a strong believer in the importance of Continuing Professional Education (CPE). As an Enrolled Agent, I must obtain 72 hours of CPE every three years. I have no problem with the 72 hour requirement. However, I do have a problem with the tons of email I receive from CPE providers. Who is selling my information? How did these companies get my email address? Most people get spam mail about an inheritance scam or Viagra pills but people like myself get spam about CPE!

 

Honestly, I probably only used three online CPE providers. I like to stick with companies that I already trust. I'm not saying that other companies are scam artists. I just don't want to be bother with all of these offers. I find myself always unsubscribing from a mailing list that I never signed up for in the first place! My advice would be to just stick with two CPE providers. Life is already too complex to deal with more than two CPE providers.

 

I won't offer any recommendations about which CPE provider to chose. I believe that your CPE provider should be chosen based on your personal preference. For example, I only use CPE providers who have websites that don't look like they are stuck in the 90s (or early 2000s). This is my personal preference and I'm not saying everyone should follow it.

 

If you are the one selling my information to CPE providers.....shame on you!

 

Next confession: Arrogance of Some (Not All) Old Accountants (30+ years)

 

Check out the new and improved The Tax Factor blog @ www.thetaxfactor.com

 

IT'S COMING.......

 

Top Tax News Story: IRS Postpones August Furlough Day - Forbes

IRS Postpones August Furlough Day - Forbes

forbes.com

Danny Werfel, acting IRS Commissioner, has announced that the planned August 30, 2013, furlough day has been postponed.Read Article >

 

IT'S COMING....

 

 

Confessions of a Mad Tax Accountant #3: Dealing With The IRS

 

"Behind every successful man stands a woman and the IRS. One takes the credit, and the other takes the cash."

 

For the most part, I have no problems with the IRS. I have to protect my clients against the IRS so I consider the IRS my fierce rival. For me to say that I like the IRS would be similar to Tom Brady saying that he likes Peyton Manning during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. I respect the IRS but I come to win when I'm dealing with them. I don't hate the IRS but I hate some things about dealing with them. Here are some things that drive me crazy about dealing with the IRS:

1. Not being able to communicate with the IRS via email is insane! Faxing, mailing and calling is so the 80s. The IRS has to find a way to act like it is the year 2013. A lot of time spent on my IRS cases could have been reduced in half, if I was able to email correspondences.
2. Calling the IRS toll-free number is like being stuck in rush hour traffic in CHINA! There has been times that I waited over an hour to get an operator. Don't even try to call the IRS in March or April. One time, I called the IRS and went to lunch. I was still on hold when I came back from lunch.
3. Waiting for tax-exemption status approval is longer than a full season of professional baseball. I have completed many tax-exemption applications (Form 1023). The average completion time is around six months. It only takes me about a week to complete the application. However, the IRS is so understaffed that it takes forever for them to review your application. During the waiting period, I have to calm my clients down at least four times.
4. Dealing with a overworked IRS employee is like dealing with an ex-girlfriend who hates you for no reason. Some IRS agents are just plain old nasty. It is not my fault that Congress didn't approve the IRS budget so stop being mad at me for your workload!

Despite this list, I have learned that you should always treat the IRS with respect. Even if the IRS agent is Satan himself, you must treat them with respect. Don't get respect confused with fear. If you are "on-point" with your case, you have nothing to fear.

 

Next confession: Receiving CPE offer emails

 

Visit the new and improved The Tax Factor blog @ www.thetaxfactor.com

 

THE WORLD'S FIRST TAX ADVICE LOVE STORY TRILOGY IS COMING......