Executive Corner
Winter is fast approaching, so now is the time to get your CPE credits in for the upcoming tax season! We have both Gear Up and Jennings seminars available on individual tax. Come to Hudson on December 8th and 9th and in the WI Dells you will find Jennings 1040 tax on December 1st and 2nd.
We have a new website design and with that you have your own personal login so you can manage your profile and track your seminar attendance. When registering for seminars you will have to login with your own password. This ensures you are signing up as a member of the WAA and receiving the member rates on seminars. If you have forgotten to pay your dues, the website will remind you of that too!
Make plans to register now for our last two seminars - simply go to www.waainc.org
Byron L Dopkins, EA, ABA
WAA Executive Director

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Executive Corner
The WAA has plenty of work to do before the 2014 year end. We are actively looking for a replacement of our executive director who is stepping down in June and we are working toward removal of the "or compilation" wording added by the Wisconsin legislature last spring that could potentially harm your right to practice as accountants in the state of Wisconsin.
Be sure to sign up for upcoming continuing education seminars and make your hotel reservations early so you don't encounter any issues with room availability. We have many great seminars scheduled as usual and continue to strive to bring you top quality education that you can afford.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
WAA President

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Recap of 11-7-14 Southwest Chapter WAA Meeting
Treasure Report:
Checking account balance: $ 1,820.70
CD will mature 4/15/15 $ 1,009.52
Motion was made that the SW WAA would purchase a beverage for each member attending meeting.
All members enjoyed a beverage of choice.
Veterans were honored for their service and gifts given out
Veterans that attended: Jim Weickgenant
Walt Smith
Tom Jankowski
Our special speaker for this meeting was Craig Krammen from Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue, He talked about how the adjustment (addition or subtraction) modifications for WI basis of depreciation or amortized assets are done and common questions asked. He passed out a handout with these questions and answers for reference. These are also available on the WDOR website.
Our next meeting will be 1/13/15 at Fitzgerald's of Middleton at 5:00pm cocktails and 6:00pm meeting.
Members in attendance:
Walt Smith
Mitch Jones
Jim Weickgenant
Arland Stone
Diane Wollack
Meg Schell
Ryan Todd
Tom Jankowski
Jolynn McIntosh (Jim)
Tom Adler
Stephan Mesdjian
Brian Valiquette
Wendy Richards
Tom Adler (Rose)
Special guest from the Milwaukee Chapter---Jim Molenda
President of the WAA - State of Wisconsin---Paul Kersten
Wendy Richards
Secretary of SW Chapter of WAA
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Notice 2014-76 provides a list of the § 5000A hardship exemptions that taxpayers may claim on a Federal income tax return without obtaining a hardship exemption certification from the Marketplace.
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Six IRS Tips for Year-End Gifts to Charity
IRS Tax Tips
Many people give to charity each year during the holiday season. Remember, if you want to claim a tax deduction for your gifts, you must itemize your deductions. There are several tax rules that you should know about before you give. Here are six tips from the IRS that you should keep in mind:
1. Qualified charities. You can only deduct gifts you give to qualified charities. Use the IRS Select Check tool to see if the group you give to is qualified. Remember that you can deduct donations you give to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and government agencies. This is true even if Select Check does not list them in its database.
2. Monetary donations. Gifts of money include those made in cash or by check, electronic funds transfer, credit card and payroll deduction. You must have a bank record or a written statement from the charity to deduct any gift of money on your tax return. This is true regardless of the amount of the gift. The statement must show the name of the charity and the date and amount of the contribution. Bank records include canceled checks, or bank, credit union and credit card statements. If you give by payroll deductions, you should retain a pay stub, a Form W-2 wage statement or other document from your employer. It must show the total amount withheld for charity, along with the pledge card showing the name of the charity.
3. Household goods. Household items include furniture, furnishings, electronics, appliances and linens. If you donate clothing and household items to charity they generally must be in at least good used condition to claim a tax deduction. If you claim a deduction of over $500 for an item it doesn't have to meet this standard if you include a qualified appraisal of the item with your tax return.
4. Records required. You must get an acknowledgment from a charity for each deductible donation (either money or property) of $250 or more. Additional rules apply to the statement for gifts of that amount. This statement is in addition to the records required for deducting cash gifts. However, one statement with all of the required information may meet both requirements.
5. Year-end gifts. You can deduct contributions in the year you make them. If you charge your gift to a credit card before the end of the year it will count for 2014. This is true even if you don't pay the credit card bill until 2015. Also, a check will count for 2014 as long as you mail it in 2014.
6. Special rules. Special rules apply if you give a car, boat or airplane to charity. For more information visit IRS.gov.
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Welcome to our New Members!
Jay Glick
Menoma
Grant Smart
Wausau
Jamie Liberti
Racine
Arthur Lee
Elm Grove
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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2014
Seminars
Bob Jennings 1040 Update
Dec 1, 2014 8am-5pm
Dec 2, 2014 8am-4pm
Kalahari Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Gear Up 1040
Dec 8, 2014 8am-5pm
Dec 9, 2014 8am-4pm
Hudson House Inn
Hudson, WI
Visit our website at
to register or view the seminar schedule.
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(608) 328-8341
OFFICERS
President:
Paul Kersten, CPA
610 W Green Bay Street
Shawano, WI 54166
(715) 524-2302
[email protected]
Vice Presidents:
Mark Burbey, CPA
900 South 10th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(920) 682-6661
[email protected]
Mark Nelson, Sr EA, ABA
2581 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 481-6812
[email protected]
Secretary:
Chuck Kirsch, EA
155 S Jefferson Street
Lancaster, WI 53813
(608) 723-2502
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Ben Gaus, EA, ABA
715 N Main St
River Falls, WI 54022
(715) 425-7521
[email protected]
NSA State Director:
Tom Adler, CPA, ATA, ATP
1424 N High Point Rd, Ste 101
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 664-1944
[email protected]
Past President:
Steve Smith, EA, ABA, ATA
34 North 4th Street
Black River Falls, WI 54615
(715) 284-4419
[email protected]
Directors:
Robert Burgardt
414 Hartford Square
Hartford, WI 53207
(414) 520-0863
[email protected]
Mark Nelson, Jr, EA
2581 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 481-6812
[email protected]
Margaret Schell, CPA
6609 Montclair Lane
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 442-7525
[email protected]
Jim Haas, ATP, CTP, CPB
401 Main St Ste 305
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 784-5507
[email protected]
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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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