On August 2, 2011, the latest amendments to Treasury Department Circular 230 took effect. Every subpart – authority to practice, practice before the IRS, disciplinary proceedings, sanctions, and general provisions – were affected. 35 rules changed. One rule was added. Consequently, Circular 230 now consists of 60 rules, 60% of which are in some way new. What do tax practitioners need to know about these recent changes? And how will those changes affect you?

Webinar highlights include:

• Every change wrought by the 2011 amendments, efficiently separating the mundane from the critical
• Conduct subject to sanction, including three new sanctionable offenses
• Standards for signing, preparing, and advising a client to take a position on a tax return, and how those standards comport with others governing tax practitioners:
• NAEA Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct
• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
• ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
• Internal Revenue Code’s civil penalty provisions
• United States Code’s criminal penalty provisions
• Circumstances under which OPR will sanction one practitioner for the failure of another
• Division of responsibilities between the Office of Professional Responsibility and the new Return Preparer Office
• Review and summary

Educational Objectives

• Inform tax practitioners about the nature and scope of the recent amendments to Circular 230
• Alert tax practitioners to the changes that are most important for them
• Identify risks and uncertainties brought about by the amendments
• Ensure that tax practitioners have the information they need about the recent changes to steer clear of sanctionable conduct

This program should be helpful to tax attorneys, accountants, enrolled agents, registered tax return preparers, and others who prepare, or assist in preparing, federal tax returns.

Matthew C. Hicks