Art Werner: Are Your Clients Throwing Money Away? | Quick Tax Tip

Without the right strategy, even the best intentions can go to waste.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

Charitable giving can be a powerful tool for clients seeking tax advantages and for ensuring their donations are used wisely. Yet, many clients—and even some professionals—remain unaware of one of the most accessible vehicles for achieving these goals: donor-advised funds.

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“The average client has no idea that a donor-advised fund exists,” Werner says. “And if I, as a professional, am not aware of a technique, I probably won’t use it — not because I’m afraid of it, but because I’m ignorant of the ability to utilize it.”

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Art Werner: Empower Strategic Giving | Quick Tax Tip

Unlock the full value of charitable contributions with one of the tax code’s most underused tools.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

What if you could give more, support your favorite causes for years to come, and still walk away with a sizable tax deduction—all in one smart move?

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That’s the opportunity donor-advised funds (DAFs) present, and the latest Quick Tax Tip brings clarity to a concept many donors and advisors overlook.

“A donor-advised fund, by itself, is a charity,” Werner explains. “But the contribution we make to it is deductible within IRS limits—and what’s really nice is you can lump your giving up front and spread it out over time.” READ MORE →

Art Werner: Tax Loss Harvesting Re-Examined | Quick Tax Tip

Unpack the basics—and the big misses—of capital gains planning.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

Many accounting professionals may recall the concept of tax loss harvesting from their very first income tax course. But this seemingly elementary strategy can have powerful implications—and far too many practitioners and clients are overlooking it.

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“Each year, clients walk into offices with their 1099s in hand, showing large capital gains,” Werner explains. “At that point, there’s not much we can do except report what’s already happened. That’s the role of a historian, not an advisor.”

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Art Werner: Turmoil in Washington | Tax Issues Update

What do tax pros need to know about the uncertainty in Washington?

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

With tax season in full swing, CPAs and tax professionals are juggling client returns and a rapidly shifting tax landscape. In the latest Quick Tax Tip, Art Werner joins Rick Telberg of CPA Trendlines to dissect the state of tax policy, IRS challenges, and how accountants can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

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From looming IRS layoffs to the evolving role of technology in compliance and planning, this conversation is packed with insights that every tax practitioner needs to hear. Here are the biggest takeaways:

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Art Werner: Maximize Retirement for 2025 | Quick Tax Tip

Retirement planning isn’t just about saving – it’s about strategy.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

With tax laws constantly evolving, finding the right balance between financial planning, tax reduction, and compliance with the Internal Revenue Code can feel like a moving target. Fortunately, powerful opportunities are available in 2025 to maximize your retirement savings while minimizing your tax burden.

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For instance, contribution limits to 401(k)s have significantly increased. In 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500; if you’re 50 or older, you can add an extra $7,000 in catch-up contributions. That’s a major opportunity to secure your financial future while reducing your taxable income today.

But should you contribute to a Roth 401(k), a traditional 401(k), or other savings account?

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Art Werner: Navigating the Corp. Transparency Act | Quick Tax Tip

The new responsibility for tax professionals is also a chance to grow your practice and billable hours.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

As a tax professional, you are already well-versed in dealing with the complexities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, a new player in the compliance landscape requires your attention: FinCEN—the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

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While FinCEN has long been responsible for monitoring financial activities related to money laundering, organized crime, and terrorism, a new regulation—the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)—has expanded its reach. Effective January 1, 2024, this law requires businesses to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN, creating a new compliance responsibility for which tax professionals must be prepared.

RELATED: FinCEN Calls a Much Needed Time Out for Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting While Congress Mulls Changes “On February 27, 2025, FINCEN announced that no enforcement actions (read: fines and penalties) would take place for noncompliance with the requirements until at least the U.S. Treasury Department promulgated new guidance. This announcement was affirmed by Treasury on March 2, 2025…”

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Art Werner: You Can Still Help Clients Reduce Tax Burden | Quick Tax Tip

Look for silver linings in tough situations.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

With tax season in full swing, many accountants are deep in the trenches, sorting through clients’ paperwork and preparing returns. While proactive tax planning is ideal, there are still opportunities to help clients optimize their tax situation—even in February and March.

Tax expert Art Werner stresses that while year-end planning is crucial, tax professionals can still take strategic steps to ensure clients don’t overpay.

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“Sometimes, we have to make the best of bad situations,” Werner explains. “If something unexpected happened to a client—whether it’s a financial loss, a major expense, or a shift in income—there may be ways to maneuver the tax code to lighten the load.”

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Art Werner: The Godfather and Tax Issues | Quick Tax Tip

The Corleone family’s quest for legitimacy mirrors modern business succession planning.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

Imagine a tax class inspired by “The Godfather” by Mario Puzo. Beyond its thrilling narrative of crime and family loyalty, this iconic novel is surprisingly rich in business succession and adaptation lessons. While such a class might remain hypothetical, its concept offers a fascinating lens for understanding contemporary tax issues like the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).

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At its core, “The Godfather” chronicles the Corleone family’s struggle to transition their empire from illegal activities to legitimate business ventures. This narrative mirrors the challenges many businesses face in succession planning: ensuring smooth continuity while navigating regulatory landscapes. For tax professionals, the story underscores the importance of understanding compliance and transparency requirements, particularly as they pertain to ownership structures.

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Art Werner: Beneficial Ownership and Control | Quick Tax Tip

Learn how a 1% owner can wield more power than a 99% shareholder under specific agreements.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

In today’s complex regulatory environment, the term “beneficial ownership” might sound straightforward, but it encompasses far more than simply owning shares in a company. A beneficial owner holds a controlling interest in a business entity. This control might be linked to shared ownership, but it can also extend to individuals who influence decisions in other ways.

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For example, under the Corporate Transparency Act, anyone owning 25% or more of a company is generally considered a beneficial owner. However, there are important exceptions that expand this definition.

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Art Werner: Due Diligence and IRS Enforcement | Quick Tax Tip

The IRS is increasing scrutiny, and your due diligence must meet the challenge.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

As the IRS increases its enforcement efforts fueled by new funding and additional agents, understanding and practicing due diligence is more critical than ever for tax professionals. Due diligence requirements, established to ensure compliance with tax law, place a significant responsibility on tax practitioners to verify their clients’ eligibility for certain tax benefits.

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Tax professionals must now certify positions related to the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the filing status of Head of Household. These certifications require meticulous documentation, a thorough understanding of the client’s situation, and adherence to the law.

Failing to uphold due diligence can have serious consequences.

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Art Werner: Busy Season Predictions | Quick Tax Tip

Learn why the upcoming busy seasons could be among the most demanding in recent memory.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

According to seasoned tax educator Art Werner, the next busy season may be the last of what he calls a “lull period.” Preparers are currently working under existing laws, dealing with the tax returns for the 2024 calendar year. However, significant changes are expected on the horizon.

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“The fact is, busy season in 2025—and especially 2026—will require a lot of knowledge of new laws,” Werner explains. He anticipates that navigating these updates will pose a steeper learning curve for tax preparers, resulting in more complicated filing seasons.

One of the primary drivers of this complexity will be legislative changes. With uncertainty around tax reform and the evolving tax landscape, 2025 could see the introduction of new regulations that tax professionals will need to quickly master.

“When you get to busy season, you’re in this historic mode,” Werner said. “You’re preparing tax returns based on the old law. But by 2026, you’ll need to know all the nuances of the new law.”

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Art Werner: Turn Tax Prep into Tax Advisory | Quick Tax Tip

Show clients the value of tax planning.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

Every CPA and EA, as well as other tax professionals, should attend at least one federal tax update program annually. It’s like stretching or warming up before intense exercise.

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A tax update serves two main purposes and demonstrates your value:

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Art Werner: Navigating Business Structure Decisions Amid Tax Law Changes | Quick Tax Tip

Upcoming tax law adjustments could significantly impact clients’ business structure decisions.

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Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

We are anticipating changes to tax laws that could significantly impact clients, either positively or negatively, depending on the structure of their businesses.

Click here for more Art Werner

One major consideration is the type of business entity the client operates. The options include sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. Within corporations, there are further distinctions: C corporations or those that have made an S election.

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