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Executive Corner
It is nice to have another tax season out of way and time to enjoy the rest of year. I think the weather was nicer the last week of tax season than it is now. Hopefully it will be warming up soon.
We are already under way with our continuing education seminars kicking off with Estates and Trusts presented by Tax Speaker in Green Bay on May 20th. Our next seminar collaborates with our annual convention. It is being held in beautiful Green Lake at the Heidel House on July 31-Aug 2. Come socialize and network with your peers while finding about the business of the WAA as well as getting some great CPE! Watch your mail for convention information. It will also be posted on our website www.waainc.org as soon as the details are finalized! You can also find out about all our upcoming seminars on the website.
I am still in need of one person to serve on the board. If you have an interest, please contact me or any board member. It really is an enjoyable experience and you will find it rewarding to become an active member of the WAA.
Take time to enjoy the summer and I am looking forward to seeing you at a seminar.
Jolynn T. McIntosh
WAA Executive Director
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President's Report
I hope everyone is recovering from another successful "Busy" season. Warmer weather and time spent family and friends, is really going to be enjoyed this summer.
Please make plans now to attend the upcoming seminars and the July convention. One of the best member benefits our organization offers is the relationships built with members just like you. The knowledge shared with each other on practice management alone is priceless. In this age of tweets, snap-chats, and clicks nothing builds relationships better than interacting with "face-time".
The legislative committee has been active during this tax-season communicating with the WICPA on the attest issues with compilation. We will be having a board of directors meeting on May 19th to discuss the outcome and provide our input to the process. Watch future newsletters for updates on the issue.
I lastly want thank our current board of directors for their hard work and time sacrifices, and encourage all members to consider being a board member. I have learned a great deal and built relationships that have been enriching both personally and professionally.
Mark P. Burbey, CPA
WAA President
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The WAA Board is proposing changes to the bylaws that will be discussed and voted on at the Annual Convention in August 2016.
The following changes are proposed:
1) Delete all reference to Registered Tax Return Preparer since there's no such thing anymore,
2) Add IRS Annual Filing Season participants to Associate Membership,
3) Add high school students to Associate Membership,
4) Deleting the need for applicants to provide four references,
4) Changing the way we approve memberships by allowing email votes,
5) Stating that the Executive Director and NSA State Director are not subject to the Director term limits, and
6) Stating that the Executive Director is a member of the Board of Directors and cannot vote.
Please see the attached pdf to see where the changes are.
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Social Security Column
REPLACING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD ONLINE
By Bob Trotter
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Milwaukee, WI
We strive to provide you world-class service. With that in mind, Social Security rolled out a new service that allows some of our customers to request a replacement Social Security card online.
Currently available in the District of Columbia, Michigan, Nebraska, Washington, and Wisconsin, it's an easy, convenient, and secure way to request a replacement card online.
When you open a my Social Security account, we protect your information by using strict identity verification and security features. The application process has built-in features to detect fraud and confirm your identity.
In certain cases, security experts at Social Security will contact you to ensure it is a legitimate application. We only issue a replacement card if there's no suspicion of fraud and only mail it to a verified address.
To take advantage of this new service option, you must:
- Have or create a my Social Security account;
- Have a valid driver's license in a participating state or the District of Columbia (or a state-issued identification card in some states);
- Be age 18 or older and a United States citizen with a domestic U.S. mailing address (this includes APO, FPO, and DPO addresses); and
- Not be requesting a name change or any other changes to your card.
We plan to add more states, so we encourage you to check with us later in the year!
Before you request a replacement card online, you may want to consider whether you need to get a replacement card at all. Most times, knowing your number is what's important. You'll rarely need the card itself, perhaps only when you get a new job and have to show it to your employer.
If you decide that you do need a replacement card, log into your personal my Social Security account and select "Request a Replacement Card." Next, answer the screening questions to confirm eligibility, complete personal data, and you're done!
See how easy that was? For more information, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov.
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IRS Warns of Latest Scam Variation Involving Bogus "Federal Student Tax"
WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today issued a warning to taxpayers about bogus phone calls from IRS impersonators demanding payment for a non-existent tax, the "Federal Student Tax."
Even though the tax deadline has come and gone, scammers continue to use varied strategies to trick people, in this case students. In this newest twist, they try to convince people to wire money immediately to the scammer. If the victim does not fall quickly enough for this fake "federal student tax", the scammer threatens to report the student to the police.
"These scams and schemes continue to evolve nationwide, and now they're trying to trick students," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "Taxpayers should remain vigilant and not fall prey to these aggressive calls demanding immediate payment of a tax supposedly owed."
Scam artists frequently masquerade as being from the IRS, a tax company and sometimes even a state revenue department. Many scammers use threats to intimidate and bully people into paying a tax bill. They may even threaten to arrest, deport or revoke the driver's license of their victim if they don't get the money.
Some examples of the varied tactics seen this year are:
- Demanding immediate tax payment for taxes owed on an iTunes gift card.
- Soliciting W-2 information from payroll and human resources professionals (IR-2016-34)
- "Verifying" tax return information over the phone (IR-2016-40)
- Pretending to be from the tax preparation industry (IR-2016-28)
The IRS urges taxpayers to stay vigilant against these calls and to know the telltale signs of a scam demanding payment.
The IRS Will Never:
- Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
- Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
- Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
- Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money and you don't owe taxes, here's what you should do:
- Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.
- Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page or call 800-366-4484.
- Report it to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting FTC.gov and clicking on "File a Consumer Complaint." Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.
- If you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.
More information on how to report phishing or phone scams is available on IRS.gov.
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Welcome to our New Members!
Karin Noland
Jim Tures
Philip Reykdal
Eric Greco
William Eggett III
Clayton Fields
Deborah Wilson
Gilman Sather
If any of these new members should not be
granted membership to the WAA please submit your objections to the Executive Director.
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2016
Seminars
Technology by Tax Speaker
September 19, 2016
Monday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Kalahari Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Tax Speaker Business Tax Update
October 20th & 21st
Thursday & Friday
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sheraton Hotel
Madison, WI
Gear Up 1040-Waukesha
November 7 - 8, 2016
Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Country Springs Hotel
Pewaukee, WI
1040 Update by Tax Speaker
November 28 - 29, 2016
Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Kalahari Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
1040 Update-Gear Up
December 5 - 6, 2016
Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Hudson House Inn
Hudson, WI
Visit our website at
to register or view the seminar schedule.
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OFFICERS
President:
Mark Burbey,CPA
900 S 10th St.
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(920)682-6661
Mark Nelson Sr. ,EA,ABA,
2581 S. Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Joe Suttner,CPA
1230 E. Chestnut PO Box 187
Chiton, WI 53014
Secretary:
Diane Wollack,CPA
PO Box 275
Waunakee, WI 53597
Treasurer:
Ben Gaus,,EA,ABA,ARA
PO Box 356
River Falls, WI 54022
NSA State Director:
Thomas Adler
1424 N Highpoint Rd Ste 101
Middleton, WI 53562
Past President:
Paul Kersten ,CPA
610 W. Green Bay St.
Shawano,WI 54166
Directors:
Robert Burgardt
414 Hartford Square
Hartford ,WI 53027
James Haas, ATP,CTP,CPB
401 Main St Ste 305
La Crosse, WI 54601
John Runkel, EA, ABA
3707 Hamilton Ave
Altoona,WI 54720
Mark Nelson Jr.,EA
2581 S. Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
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WAA Benefits
Seminars and Educational Forums
Accreditation
Local Chapter Involvement
Government Agency Liaison
Monitor Legislation
Insurance Programs
Accountants Protection Plan
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To raise professional standards and improve the practice of accountancy.
To strive for excellence in the profession.
To encourage accountants in a continuing program of
professional development.
To foster increased recognition for the professional in the public, private and educational sectors of our state.
To initiate legislative action and provide government liaison between the accounting profession and
government leaders.
To provide meetings and fellowship for accountants.
To promote the highest standard of ethical conduct among its member.
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