• International tax enforcement and expanded reporting obligations.
• California sales and use tax basics (including taxation of internet sales).
• A Circular 230 primer.
• Tax opportunities and pitfalls involving cancellation of debt.
• 2012 income tax update.

Keep an eye out for registration details.

Seating is limited, so make your reservation today.

Date: June 13

Register online.

The purpose of the award is to inspire others to similar achievements, and to make the public aware of the CPA profession’s vital contribution to society. Nominations are due May 31.

Download a nomination form.

• Excellence in teaching and mentoring, as evidenced by receiving various awards or citations;
• Educational innovation, including developing curriculum, case studies and new programs;
• Published articles in professional or academic journals or written textbooks for use in accounting classes; and
• Significant involvement in professional or academic societies and related activities.

Download nomination criteria and a nomination form which is due May 1.

Times are changing. I made a somewhat abrupt decision in December to get married. Abrupt, in this case, means that over the course of a couple of weeks I found myself complaining to people about alternative minimum tax and health insurance premiums, and then I realized that I had a vacation to Las Vegas booked late in the year. I was aware that lots of people get married in Las Vegas, so I searched Google for more info. It turns out that, just as I thought, it is really easy to get married in Las Vegas.

The next step was to inform my boyfriend, whom I have taken to calling my “significant other” over the years, as the term boyfriend seems out of place when you hit a certain age (visualize Cloris Leachman in “Young Frankenstein” and you’ll know what I mean). I told him we should probably take a few hours out of the trip and get married. We have been happily unmarried for years, doing the Brad and Angelina bit of complaining that the institution is unfair, while simultaneously raising a bunch of kids we acquired along the way. But I do taxes and I could no longer justify avoiding the big tax break we would get if we got married.

The people at the wedding chapel were very amused by us. I think they may be used to one reluctant bride or groom in the party, but not two. We told them the truth: We needed to do this for tax purposes and other legal reasons. They took it and ran with it, and when the ceremony was over, one of the employees jumped up and down screaming, “Lower taxes! Lower taxes!” We gave her a good tip. Our households had joined long ago, but now we had taken that really big step—we were merging our tax returns.

Upon returning to the Bay Area, I had another marriage to face. My firm, Harb Levy & Weiland, where I had been for nearly 15 years, had been discussing a merger with a large New York firm for more than a year. We liked them and they liked us, but joining forces took a lot more effort than a few Google searches and a some phone calls—which was about all the effort I put into my wedding planning!

There were so many details to work out and we kept pushing the date out. Before we knew it, it was the middle of tax season. But that didn’t stop us. No cold feet, no excuses, we just kept going, and in early March we became EisnerAmper, LLP. We are really excited about the change. Both firms complement each other well and we are pleased to be the new West Coast office of EisnerAmper.

I have one last change to mention: CalCPA’s new operating year  begins on May 1, and I will move into the past president position. Did anyone notice that you vote for the past president? It’s not like I could really have any competition. Scott Seamands will be chapter president for 2012-13. Back when we were both board directors, for some reason I thought Scott was already a past president. He was knowledgeable about the organization and seemed so together, I just thought he had done it before. I was surprised when I found out I really had been on the board more years than him. We should have a great year with him in charge.

The AICPA celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Journal of Accountancy a few years ago by holding a contest to determine the top 10 reasons for becoming a CPA. My reason was so that no one can argue when I say, “I am a person who counts!”

Surprisingly, my reason won first prize in the contest. My reward was a bound copy of the centennial issue with my name embossed on the cover in gold letters.

The true reward, though, comes from working in this profession every day. I’d like to inspire those entering the profession (and some older professionals, too) with the evidence acquired over the course of my 30-plus year career at Lindquist, von Husen & Joyce LLP.

Counting, in this sense, is a gradually compounding process. When I began in this profession it didn’t seem that I counted at all. In most cases, my clients knew more than I did. Yes, I had an accounting degree, but they had a lifetime of experience. It was clear in those early days that my attempts to give advice were often resented—probably for good reason. As a young auditor I still had everything to learn and little to offer. Even the purpose of a public accounting career seemed vague at the time. I think the main attraction was the reliability of a steadily increasing paycheck. I didn’t realize then how much impact career choices have on creating what I’ll call “count-ability.”

What do I mean by counting? I simply mean mattering: mattering to your clients, your partners, your staff, your family and your community.

As CalCPA members, our reach extends beyond our immediate day-to-day sphere of influence. When we are active in CalCPA we provide advice to the profession itself, which enables other CPAs to better serve the public interest. My goal for the next year is to increase the participation of our chapter membership in CalCPA activities.

This is one measure of the true value of a person: Did you make a difference? Did you help people? How many lives have you touched in a positive way? Did you do any harm along the way? I’ll expand on this theme in future columns during my year as chapter president.

I’ll end this first column by saying thank you for electing me to serve as your president and thanks to all whom I’ve met for helping me feel that I have become a person who counts.

Together we can inspire and motivate California’s educators to fight financial illiteracy.

Be part of the solution—empower your community.

Download a flier to share with your local educators or register online.

Renew online today. See complete rules.

March 15: CalCPA AP&AS Committee
Join us for an update from the state committee and a roundtable discussion.
Register Online

March 20: Nonprofit
Join us as speaker attorney Quynh Tran, formerly with the San Francisco Foundation, discusses “The Life Cycle of a Nonprofit Organization.”
Register Online

April 19: Litigation Consulting Services
This is a joint meeting with the Barristers Club of the SF Bar Association and will include a panel discussion on Daubert challenges to expert opinions and testimony.
Register Online