Join us at the Paris Hotel and Casino!
Welcome back to Las Vegas for a week of practical learning led by Gear Up speakers. Plan early for this wintertime conference. Our flagship event for many years, Royal Flush never fails to draw a record crowd and sell out rooms. Whether you’re all about the Vegas getaway or hitting the books before the holidays, Royal Flush will deliver learning and fun.

Conference Seminars

2018 Tax Updates
This four-hour course will provide coverage of recent tax law changes that affect individuals, corporations, and partnerships including legislation, court cases, and IRS rulings. Tax professionals will come away with planning tips and what they need to know for 2018 and beyond. Includes impact from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Technology 4.0: Understanding the Future of Technology
Where does a practitioner go to understand the complexities of dealing with technology in their practice? We will study the real-world issues of dealing with the adaption of technology to solve practice challenges.

• Is it time to take my practice into the cloud or is it just another thunderstorm?
• The mobility of data access and the handheld computer: smartphones, tablets, and notebooks
• Advances in the world of manipulating documents and workpapers in the modern accounting and tax practice
• Work smarter, not harder! Great utility software that can make life easier in the office
• Security, remote access, and backing up data: How to properly set up and maintain your systems
• Floware: Managing daily office activities from your computer with little or no paper
• Operating systems Windows^® 7 and 8, Mac^®, Linux: How to keep up with all the changes

California Tax Update
2018 will be another year of California tax changes and turmoil as the state wrestles with balancing the budget and dealing with recent federal changes. We will cover the latest on the state’s efforts to circumvent the federal limitations on income and property tax deductions, plus:

• Possible tax increases on high-income earners
• A new estate tax for California? Inheritance tax voted out in 1982 may make a comeback in the form of a new estate tax
• Tax conformity: There won’t be any if it means a revenue loss for the Golden State
• The latest on California’s position on LLCs and their taxation of nonresidents
• Review of property tax under Proposition 13
• Refresher on the various forms of business entities allowed in California
• New California legislation

Accounting (Two-Day)
The 2018 Gear Up accounting course is designed to give practitioners the information they need to provide audit, review, compilation, and preparation engagements for small and midsized companies. This course is more than just an update and covers a wide variety of topics including core concepts related to financial reporting and accounting and review services, in addition to critical updates to professional standards. The accounting course also features many exhibits, examples, and other practical takeaways to help you implement the content presented. 2018 topics include SSARS 21 implementation and newer SSARS standards 22 and 23 review, core concepts in financial statement presentation and disclosure, practice management and quality control issues, specialized practice areas (divorce engagements, personal financial statements, and industry-specific risks and considerations), and special considerations in performing audits and reviews, including using and improving analytical procedures and understanding fraud risks.

Business Entities (Two-Day)
The 2018 business entities seminar is designed for practitioners that advise small business (less than 25 million in gross receipts). Taught by seasoned tax professionals, the course will help you navigate the business provisions changes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and other law changes. This year includes:

• Analysis of the new 100% expensing
• The interplay of Code Sec. 179 expenses, bonus depreciation, and 15-year life with regard to qualified improvement property
• S corp vs. C corp planning in the light of flat 21% corporate tax rate and the elimination of the corporate AMT
• New interest limits: Will they affect your clients?
• New like-kind exchange rules
• Modification of the net operating loss deduction
• New excess business deductions limitation
• The loss of “entertainment”
• Changes in accounting methods including the changes that relate to small contractors
• Calculating the new pass-through deduction correctly
• The termination of the technical termination
• Other timely topics
   

Estates and Trusts
This is a two-pronged course designed to get you started in the practice of estates and trusts as well as a great update for the experienced tax professional covering all major developments since 2011. The morning session covers estate and trust terminology, fiduciary income taxation, trust accounting principles, and a comprehensive explanation of income distribution deduction. In the afternoon, Form 706 is examined in detail. The many changes enacted since 2011 are reviewed with particular emphasis on portability (with detailed examples) and coverage of the new consistency reporting requirements. The “What’s New” chapter has been completely updated with recent rulings and interesting new cases. Post-mortem elections including alternate valuation date and disclaimers are discussed as these areas are of particular interest to the tax preparer.
 

OPTIONAL SESSIONS AVAILABLE
(not included with the Royal Flush package):

IRAs, Pensions, and Other Retirement Resources
Optional session, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | 8 CPE | $249
This course will cover the detailed and unique requirements of various types of retirement savings and other resources that are used in retirement planning. Coverage includes funding requirements to avoid disqualification during the working years and distribution options and opportunities during the retirement years. Know the best options for saving and distributing from retirement resources including social security.

Ethics for the Tax Professional
Optional session, Monday, Nov 26, 2018, 4:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | 2 CPE | $89
The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has been very busy, ensuring that Circular 230 Practitioners (that's us) follow rules that prescribe and proscribe our behavior. We will discuss what we can — and must — do to assist our clients while maintaining ethical integrity and complying with Circular 230 rules. Meets CTEC criterion for the two-hour ethics requirement.

Conference Pricing

More Info and Register

Venue and Hotel Information

Paris Hotel — Las Vegas, Nevada
Head to fabulous Las Vegas for an exciting week of CPE and fun. Our flagship Gear Up event, Royal Flush is one of our most popular conferences. The conference is located at the Paris Hotel and Casino — be transported to the City of Lights with all the same passion and ambiance of Europe's most romantic city, with all the excitement of the entertainment capital of the world. Special room rate is $105. Room rate available through November 2, 2018, or until hotel block sells out. Don't sweat it — The Paris Hotel has a very short distance between room elevators and the conference area. Call 877.603.4389 and mention Gear Up or SPTRG8 for reservations (does not include resort fees). Special room rate is also available via the hotel website.

Interested in Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities?

Contact Terry Storholm at 651-687-7327 or terry.storholm@thomsonreuters.com

 

 

Welcome

Questions about Gear Up on Checkpoint Learning

Seminars

Courses

New Web-Based California Tax Update Seminars

New Web-Based TCJA Seminars

Members

About Us

Work for Us

Contact

FEATURED CONFERENCES:

Royal Flush
48 CPE hours in Las Vegas,
Nov. 26 - Dec. 1 2018

Magic Week
40 CPE hours in Orlando,
Dec. 11 - 15, 2018