Members in the News

2016 Excellence in Financial Journalism Awards

NYSSCPA announces financial journalism award winners

Talking Biz News            

The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants announced the winners of its 2016 Excellence in Financial Journalism Awards. The award recognizes reporters from the national and local press whose work was published, posted or broadcast in 2016 and contributed to a better and balanced understanding of business or financial topics.

David Young (Rochester)

Tax filing extensions

WROC Rochester News 8

CPA Dave Young of Young and Company discussed some tips about tax filing extensions Monday on News 8 at Sunrise. Many people will be missing filing their tax return by the Monday, April 18 deadline. Young said in that situation you should do two things - file for federal and state extensions with Form 4868 and Form IT-370.

NYSSCPA’s Business Exit and Succession Planning Committee

NYSSCPAs Offering Free Forums on Business Exit and Succession Planning

The Business Journals

Business mergers and acquisitions continue to surge in 2016 as mid-size companies are expanding their searches for opportunities to grow, while a record number of baby-boomer owners see retirement in their very near futures. But poor planning and unmanageable expectations often spoil the best intentions.

Jacqueline Tepfer (Rochester)

Last minute tax filing tips

WROC Rochester News

EFPR Group CPA Jacqueline Tepfer discussed some last minute tax filing tips Monday on News 8 at Sunrise. The filing deadline this year is Monday, April 18. The IRS says 20 to 25 percent of Americans will wait until the final two weeks to file their tax return. Tepfer said if you're in that group, these are the things to keep in mind - be aware of missed credits and deductions, double check your numbers and signatures, understand extension rules, and use e-filing when filling out your tax return.

NYSSCPA COAP Program

Firm News - April 8, 2016

Accounting Today

The New York State Society of CPAs is accepting applications for its annual Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession program; read the full story here. … The Family Office Services Division of PKF O’Connor Davies received the Best Accountancy Advice Award at the third annual Family Wealth Report Awards in March.

Louis DeMars (Nassau)

Tax Tips for Travel Agents

Travel Market Report

Did you really procrastinate until now to deal with your taxes? For those who failed to pay heed to the advice in our December article, here’s a recap of some of the tips for independent and home-based travel agents—and some ideas to get you off on the right foot for 2016. Thanks to Louis DeMars, of AVM DeMars CPAs, LLP, in Williston Park, NY.

NYSSCPA COAP Program

NYSSCPA's COAP summer program offers $10,000 college scholarships for CPA hopefuls

Accounting Today

This summer, the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) will continue their Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program, to be held at nine university and college campuses across New York State. COAP is a three-to-five-day summer program that introduces young people – namely, those who have been underrepresented in the accounting profession – to the possibilities of becoming a CPA.

NYSSCPA COAP Program

NYSSCPA’s Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession Program Accepting Applications Now

INSIDE Public Accounting

Every summer, for some 30 years, the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) has shown high school juniors the fun of the accounting profession through the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program. COAP will be held at nine university and college campuses across New York State. Applications are available now for this free college-readiness/explore accounting summer program. Deadline to apply is May 18.

Matt Bryant (Rochester)

Tax refund suggestions

WROC Rochester First

CPA Matt Bryant offered some tips for how to utilize your income tax refund Monday morning on News 8 at Sunrise. Bryant said your top priority should be to pay off high interest debt. After paying down your debt, Bryant said save for the future by contributing to an IRA.  You can also save for college by contributing to a 529 College Savings Plan. The third saving option is to establish or bolster an emergency fund for those unexpected expenses. Bryant also offered up some spending recommendations.

Vincent Cervone (Queens/Brooklyn) and Barry Kleiman (Manhattan/Bronx)

Yahoo Finance

Countdown to Tax Day: We're answering your questions

If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you’re probably in good company (or at least you have company). Tax procrastination is an American tradition. Let’s face it: Getting all those forms together, filling out 1040s and 1099s, and writing a check to the U.S. Treasury are no one’s idea of fun. And the procrastinators are often the folks who owe money. “People who owe taxes wait until the last minute. It’s human nature,” says Vincent Cervone, a CPA in New York. “I try to tell clients, if you owe money come in early so we can prepare ahead of time.”

David Barrett (Buffalo)

State’s tax cut ‘better than nothing,’ but it won’t go far

The Buffalo News

Don’t expect to pay for a nice vacation with the tax cut you’ll be getting with the new state budget. Unless, of course, you’re not going any farther than a single tank of gas will take you, and you aren’t planning to stop anywhere or eat anything. That’s because the first year of the tax cut will amount to less than $1 a week for a single filer at the low end of the middle-class tax scale. For someone at the top, we’re talking about $5 a week. In other words, the tax cut amounts to pocket change for most middle-class New Yorkers, not a windfall.

Richard Kravitz (NYSSCPA Staff/Member)

Driving Membership Engagement on Multiple Platforms

Folio Magazine

Just because professional associations cover an incredibly wide range of various trades and industries, it doesn't mean there aren't some universal truths. Of course, media products—whether print, digital, or otherwise—are instrumental in helping any association grow, communicate with its members, and advance its mission into the future. Today, associations are engaging with their members across more platforms than ever before. With more than two decades in the publishing business, Rick Kravitz, editor-in-chief of The CPA Journal and managing director of content and publishing at the New York State Society of CPA's (NYSSCPA), has extensive experience managing content and guiding strategies across multiple platforms.

Barry Kleiman (Manhattan/Bronx)

Treasury, HHS Plan Outreach To Taxpayers About ACA Requirements This Filing Season

Wolters Kluwer

Treasury and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are communicating with taxpayers about new requirements under the Affordable Care Act that are reflected on individual returns. Treasury and HHS conducted a similar outreach initiative during the 2015 filing season, the first filing season where taxpayers had to identify on their returns if they had minimum essential health coverage or would make a shared responsibility payment, unless exempt. Take Away. “Most individuals will, like last year, merely need to check a box on their return to indicate they had coverage,” Barry Kleiman, CPA, chair of the Individual Taxation Committee, New York State Society of CPAs, told Wolters Kluwer. These include individuals with employer-provided coverage, individuals covered by Medicare and other government programs.

Anthony Mangiameli (Rochester)

What to do if you owe taxes

WROC Rochester First

CPA Anthony Mangiameli of Insero & Company discussed your options if you owe money to the government after filing your income tax return Monday on News 8 at Sunrise. Mangiameli said the best advice is to file on time and pay as much as as possible to avoid a late filing penalty.  You can pay by phone, online, check or money order.  If you don't have any cash, you can get a loan or use a credit card to pay for your taxes.  Mangiameli said although these options will include interest charges, they will be lower than the IRS interest and penalties resulting from unpaid taxes. There is an "Online Payment Agreement" tool on the IRS website that can be utilized if you can’t pay your taxes in full.

Westchester Chapter

Need help with your tax questions?

Poughkeepsie Journal

The Poughkeepsie Journal will host its annual Tax Counsel Clinic 5-7 p.m., March 23, with Poughkeepsie-area CPAs. Experts from the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants will be available to answer your looming tax filing questions, help you define undiscovered deductions, teach you the basics of common tax credits and educate you on all you need to know about the Affordable Care Act’s tax implications and more. 

Michael Marcus, Glenn Noakes, Tracey Niemotko, James Passikoff (Mid-Hudson) Steve Shinder (Rockland)

Dial-A-CPA night answers your tax questions

Poughkeepsie Journal

Area CPAs answered some taxing questions as they helped callers navigate their annual income tax forms Wednesday night. Questions on the annual Dial-A-CPA night ranged from deducting medical expenses and retirement contributions to whether taxpayers qualify for exemptions under the guidelines of the Affordable Care Act. This annual service to readers of the Poughkeepsie Journal is provided through the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Six area accountants were on hand to answer more than 40 of your calls. 

Alan Straus (Rockland)

Sell Stocks Year-Round to Minimize Tax Losses

Yahoo! Finance

Is it time to harvest some tax losses? Could be, given the volatile stock market. The strategy -- selling losing investments to reduce taxes on winners -- gets lots of attention at the end of the year. But there's no reason not to do it at the start of the year, or in the middle. Remember, Dec. 31 is just a deadline -- it's the last date for a sale that can be claimed in the return due the next April. The math works just as well no matter when you do it. "If loss harvesting is to be an integral part of portfolio strategy, starting earlier tends to be better than later," says Vikas Oswal, president and CEO of Advisor Partners, an asset manager in Walnut Creek, California.

Sheila Brandenberg and Anil Melwani (Manhattan/Bronx) Joe Falanga (Staten Island)

Taxes for 2015: What to know to save money

amNewYork

It’s the height of tax season, and many filers are struggling to navigate through this year’s rules regarding fines, exemptions and refunds. To make things a little easier, we spoke with a few local tax experts about some of the changes to this year’s system that might affect you. But before you dive in, Sheila Brandenberg, a New York CPA who runs her own firm out of her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, wants to remind filers that they can submit their New York State income taxes for free at tax.ny.gov. She added, “I have been telling my clients, with the increase of identity theft, to know that they can go onto irs.govand get an e-file pin. That pin protects you.” With that in mind, here are some things to take note of during this year’s tax filing.

Jamie Block (Rochester)

Red flags in choosing tax preparer

WROC Rochester First

CPA Jamie Block discussed some red flags to look out for when selecting a tax preparer to assist with your income tax return Monday on News 8 at Sunrise. Block said the IRS has technology that will detect mistakes on your return, honest or dishonest.  Fraudulent returns will result in a tax penalty and may also include interest and other penalties. Block said the first step to avoid using a dishonest tax preparer is to go to the IRS website and find the preparer's preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).  By law, the IRS requires anyone getting paid in the federal tax return business to have a valid PTIN for that year.

Sidney Kess (Manhattan/Bronx)

Tips to get a bigger tax refund

ElPasoInc.com

Whittling your taxes to the legal minimum and avoiding traps isn’t always easy, but putting in some effort may save you money. Taxpayers this year still have to navigate the 3.9-million-word Internal Revenue Code and may also have to deal with several new factors. They include the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act that President Barack Obama signed in late December, a landmark Supreme Court decision last June upholding same-sex marriage, continuing confusion over health care legislation, and tax complications that have arisen with the emergence of services like Uber and Airbnb.