Accounting and Tax Services Discussed at Long Island Tax Professional Symposium

Long Island, NY November 22, 2013—Accounting and tax services were discussed at the three-day Long Island Tax Professionals Symposium (LITPS) that began Wednesday morning, November 20th, at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY and concludes today. It is the eleventh annual symposium sponsored by the Educational Foundation of the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners (NCCPAP). LITPS provides CPAs with the opportunity to learn from one another and from experts in allied professions while attaining their continuing professional education (CPE) credits for the entire year through a variety of seminars on current topics of interest.

Nonie Manion, the Director of Tax Audits at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (NYSDTF), kicked off the event as the keynote speaker. In her presentation, Manion mentioned the 5,000 people at NYSDTF who support the state’s 10 million taxpayers. Citing the public’s demand for real-time responses, Manion stated, “We need to make things easier, we need to be progressive.”

Manion addressed a crowd of over 700 CPAs and tax preparers in the audience and said, “We’re working very hard for clear communication and guidance.” She referenced the improved NYSDTF website, expanded department telephone hours, and faster protest resolution and case mediation processes that were recently implemented

Using a sophisticated database, Manion revealed how NYSDTF is able to catch fraud in advance of issuing refunds, to which one audience member commented, “This is a better system than what the IRS has done.” The attendee then referenced the billions of erroneous tax dollars that the IRS has been paying out and said, to Manion, “Take your time. I rather see it take a week or two longer for NYS to issue refunds than see my client’s money go to someone else.”

The New York Department of Taxation and Finance and the IRS has representatives at the symposium. The agencies each set up a room where CPAs can speak with representatives from these respective agencies that are there to help CPAs quickly resolve any long outstanding issues involving their clients’ tax problems. Many vendors who provide supportive services to CPAs—everything from software companies to tax research service companies to financial planners—also attend. Referencing the enormous volunteer efforts necessary to pull the symposium off Executive VP of NCCPAP’s Nassau/Suffolk Chapter, Robert N. Brown, CPA, said, “I think it’s sometimes about building something bigger than you are and that’s what this event has become.”

NCCPAP National President Edward P. Caine, CPA, who provides accounting and tax services to the Main Line, also addressed the CPAs both Wednesday and Thursday (which was simulcast to three other locations) said, “The committee that runs the LITPS thinks of everything, and each year improves content and delivery. This is the most well run CPA CPE summit in the country and a model from which other CPA organizations could benefit.”

Another featured speaker was Daniel Hood, Editor of Accounting Today. Hood spoke on the bright future of the accounting profession and mentioned the broadening of the CPA profession; among other categories, Hood listed payroll services/consulting, affordable care act advisory services, personal financial planning, and outsourced CFO work. Addressing the crowd, Hood said, “There’s a tremendous opportunity for CPAs, if you take advantage of it.

Robert Goldfarb, CPA, of East Meadow, NY, who has chaired the symposium for the last decade, was surprised when fellow NCCPAP members awarded him The Leon Alpern Award. Friend and past Alpern Award recipient, Ross Kass, CPA, presented the award to Goldfarb. Goldfarb said, “I was overwhelmed and thrilled to hear my name mentioned alongside Leon Alpern. He was a mentor to everybody.” Leon Alpern, who passed away two years ago, was a CPA from Woodbury, NY and an original member of the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of NCCPAP .

ABOUT NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CPA PRACTITIONERS (NCCPAP)

NCCPAP is a professional organization that advocates on issues that are of importance to CPAs in Public Practice throughout the United States.

NCCPAP members represent over one million businesses and individual clients. NCCPAP monitors and influences tax administration and tax policy by meeting with Internal Revenue Service representatives and state taxing authorities as well as national and state elected officials. In addition, NCCPAP provides a platform for its members to exchange ideas and information on managing and running a successful CPA practice providing accounting and tax services in today’s competitive environment.

Nonie Manion, the Director of Tax Audits at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (NYSDTF), kicked off the event as the keynote speaker. In her presentation, Manion mentioned the 5,000 people at NYSDTF who support the state’s 10 million taxpayers. Citing the public’s demand for real-time responses, Manion stated, “We need to make things easier, we need to be progressive.”

Manion addressed a crowd of over 700 CPAs and tax preparers in the audience and said, “We’re working very hard for clear communication and guidance.” She referenced the improved NYSDTF website, expanded department telephone hours, and faster protest resolution and case mediation processes that were recently implemented

Using a sophisticated database, Manion revealed how NYSDTF is able to catch fraud in advance of issuing refunds, to which one audience member commented, “This is a better system than what the IRS has done.” The attendee then referenced the billions of erroneous tax dollars that the IRS has been paying out and said, to Manion, “Take your time. I rather see it take a week or two longer for NYS to issue refunds than see my client’s money go to someone else.”

The New York Department of Taxation and Finance and the IRS has representatives at the symposium. The agencies each set up a room where CPAs can speak with representatives from these respective agencies that are there to help CPAs quickly resolve any long outstanding issues involving their clients’ tax problems. Many vendors who provide supportive services to CPAs—everything from software companies to tax research service companies to financial planners—also attend. Referencing the enormous volunteer efforts necessary to pull the symposium off Executive VP of NCCPAP’s Nassau/Suffolk Chapter, Robert N. Brown, CPA, said, “I think it’s sometimes about building something bigger than you are and that’s what this event has become.”

NCCPAP National President Edward P. Caine, CPA, who provides accounting and tax services to the Main Line, also addressed the CPAs both Wednesday and Thursday (which was simulcast to three other locations) said, “The committee that runs the LITPS thinks of everything, and each year improves content and delivery. This is the most well run CPA CPE summit in the country and a model from which other CPA organizations could benefit.”

Another featured speaker was Daniel Hood, Editor of Accounting Today. Hood spoke on the bright future of the accounting profession and mentioned the broadening of the CPA profession; among other categories, Hood listed payroll services/consulting, affordable care act advisory services, personal financial planning, and outsourced CFO work. Addressing the crowd, Hood said, “There’s a tremendous opportunity for CPAs, if you take advantage of it.

Robert Goldfarb, CPA, of East Meadow, NY, who has chaired the symposium for the last decade, was surprised when fellow NCCPAP members awarded him The Leon Alpern Award. Friend and past Alpern Award recipient, Ross Kass, CPA, presented the award to Goldfarb. Goldfarb said, “I was overwhelmed and thrilled to hear my name mentioned alongside Leon Alpern. He was a mentor to everybody.” Leon Alpern, who passed away two years ago, was a CPA from Woodbury, NY and an original member of the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of NCCPAP.