90th Annual Meeting

There's Something for Everyone at

the ASCPA's 90th Annual Meeting!

Register Now!

(Click here for PDF Registration Form)

Mobility Legislation Passes Alabama House

Mobility Legislation Awaits Governor's Signature

Alabama joins 41 other states as the CPA Mobility bill passed the Alabama House of Representatives last week. The Senate bill passed the House with one legislative day remaining in the 2009 Regular Session and now awaits Gov. Bob Riley’s signature.

Members of the ASCPA’s Key Person Network and the ASCPA’s Governmental Affairs team were determined to get this bill passed after the bill died in both the Regular and Special sessions in 2008.

“We were successful in passing this legislation because of the tremendous grassroots support we received from our members,” said ASCPA President and CEO Jeannine Birmingham, CPA. “CPAs from across the state volunteered to contact their legislators at a moment’s notice to urge the passage of this bill. It’s obvious that their support made a difference.”

Following approval by Governor Riley, the Act provides “Practice Privilege” for non-resident CPAs.  Specifically, a licensed CPA in another state shall have all of the privileges of an Alabama CPA without the need to obtain a permit or to register with the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy and may offer professional services in Alabama whether in person, by mail, telephone or electronic means.  The effective date of the Act is October 1, 2009.

Women's Summit This Week!

Climbing the Corporate Ladder in Heels?

May 21, 2009

4 hours Other CPE
Wynfrey Hotel—Birmingham

Click here for more information

Leave the boys at the office and attend our 2009 Women's Summit to meet other ladies who have climbed to the top successfully. Join professional women from all over the state to learn the secrets of their success.

• Denise Ryan Leadership Lessons from the Kings of Chocolate

• Luncheon & Fashion Show with Keynote by Phyllis Hoffman, CPA of Hoffman Media

• Misean Reed from the AICPA—Trends in Human Capital: Women in the Profession

•Leah Dubberly, CFP, Merrill Lynch—Financial Planning for Women

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

AICPA and CCH have joined forces with top tax experts Sidney Kess, J.D., CPA, and Barbara Weltman, J.D., who take a straightforward yet comprehensive look at 2009 tax legislation and related developments. Led by Bill Murphy—recently appearing as an expert on the Indianapolis news—this course offers tax professionals clear-cut guidance on the new law, including planning opportunities, pitfalls to avoid and ways practitioners can capitalize on the law with their clients. Helpful Planning Pointers and Observations - plus alerts to changes affecting 2009 income tax returns - are integrated throughout the course to assist you in both grasping and applying the new law. Sample client letters will help practitioners inform their clients of the new law.

Register for a class in your area today:

Young CPA Charity Golf Tournament

Join Us For the Young CPA Charity Golf Tournament

sponsored by Savela Solutions!

Join us on June 3, 2009 at Robert Trent Jones—Oxmoor Valley as we raise money for the ASCPA's Educational Foundation and The Exceptional Foundation!

Visit our website for more information:

http://www.ascpa.org/Content/YoungCPACharityGolfTournament.aspx

ASCPA Clusters

We've hand-picked these classes for you and

we're bringing them to your doorstep.

Check out these local classes on our website:

http://www.ascpa.org/Content/ContinuingEducation/Clusters4hours.aspx

Legislative e-Zine

Legislative e-Zine

by Bruce P. Ely, James E. Long, Jr., William T. Thistle, II

May 19, 2009—The Legislature adjourned sine die last Friday, concluding a relatively productive and peaceful 2009 Regular Session.  The most critical tax measure to pass before the session closed was HB 568, the “21st Century Economic Incentives Act,” which now awaits the Governor’s signature and which he will undoubtedly sign.  Readers may recall that, as an incentive to the growth of the “white collar” service economy in Alabama, this bill will make the full range of incentives (e.g., Capital Credits and TIRA abatements) offered to new and expanding businesses available on an equal basis to new and expanding corporate headquarters, data processing centers (including those related to financial institutions and insurance companies), and research and development facilities.  This bill will also make the full range of incentives available to producers of electricity or natural gas from biomass and bio-fuel producers. Conversely, the bill will impose new “claw-back” provisions in cases where the company doesn’t achieve the targeted number of jobs or capital investment.

The Legislature adjourned without addressing Jefferson County’s occupational license tax, which was invalidated by the Jefferson County Circuit Court and is now on appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court.  The dispute centered on the current exemption for licensed professionals.  HB 811, Rep. John Rogers’ proposal, would have eliminated this exemption, while SB 488, Senator Linda Coleman’s bill, would have simply reinstated the license tax.  Governor Riley stated last Friday that he would be willing to call a special session to debate the occupational tax, provided he “was asked by the county and could assume that there would be adequate support from the legislative body for the bill... If they don't get together, Jefferson County's got a real problem.” READ MORE

Check Us Out on the Web!

Go Ahead—Your Boss Won't Mind!

When your boss asks why you were on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, just tell them you were checking out the ASCPA! That's right, we're not you're granddad's ASCPA. Check us out on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Check out our website for more information on the ASCPA's social networking efforts:

http://www.ascpa.org/Content/AboutUs/SocialMedia.aspx

Young CPA Award Nomination

Outstanding Young CPA Award

The Outstanding Young CPA Award is given to the Alabama Young CPA who has demonstrated outstanding service to the profession on a local and statewide level.

Nominate a Young CPA by faxing or e-mailing your nomination to Diane Christy by May 20, 2009.

Click here for the nomination form (PDF)

Bomb-Proof Your Career

Bomb-Proof Your Career

Whoever’s right, the last year has taught us one thing: you never really know what’s around the corner. How can you bomb-proof your career so that in future, whatever happens, you come out on top?

First, think where you really want to be in five year’s time? Think backwards from there as if reviewing the way you’ve come ­ plot the steps from your goal all the way back to where you are now. Decide where you need to be in four year’s time, three years, two years, and so on, right back to the first step you need to take.

Find out what skills, knowledge and experience you require at each stage and plan accordingly. Having a well thought out plan means that you can stay flexible.

READ MORE at AccountancyAge.com

The Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants [ASCPA] is the statewide, professional membership organization representing over 6,500 Alabama CPAs in public practice, industry, government and education. Eleven chapters, various committees and task force groups made up of CPA volunteers develop programs and address issues to help all members be successful professionals. Visit www.ascpa.org

© 2009 Alabama Society of CPAs | PO Box 242987 | Montgomery, AL 36124