Ethics in the Real World

Circular 230, Due Diligence & the Decisions That Get Preparers in Trouble

2 hours CE/CPE

Dates

Live Webinar: October 6th 10am – 12pm PST
No Assessment Test Required
CPA, EA, CRTP eligible

Live Replay Webinar: October 20th 10am – 12pm PST
No Assessment Test Required
CPA, EA, CRTP eligible

Live Replay Webinar: October 27th 10am – 12pm PST
No Assessment Test Required
CPA, EA, CRTP eligible

On-demand: Available October 9th
Assessment Test Required
EA, CRTP eligible

The course will connect these professional standards to paid preparer due diligence requirements, including Form 8867, and to the civil, criminal, and disciplinary consequences that can result when those standards are ignored.

Throughout the course, participants will work through real-life examples, practical scenarios, and actual enforcement matters to see how ethical rules apply when the facts are messy, clients’ interests conflict, and the correct answer is not always obvious.

Learning Objectives

2. Identify conflicts of interest in tax practice and apply the requirements of Circular 230 §10.29, including conflicts involving spouses, shareholders, members, and business partners, and the requirements for informed consent confirmed in writing within 30 days and retained for at least 36 months after the representation concludes.

3. Identify and apply professional responsibilities associated with artificial intelligence and technology, including competence under §10.35, firm procedures under §10.36, written advice under §10.37, verification of AI-generated work, confidentiality, and protection of taxpayer information.

4. Apply practitioner diligence standards to the heightened due diligence requirements associated with Form 8867, including knowledge, computation, documentation, and record retention for head of household filing status, the earned income credit, child tax credit, additional child tax credit, other dependent credit, and American opportunity tax credit.

5. Identify significant civil, criminal, and disciplinary consequences for practitioner misconduct, including IRC §§6694, 6695, 6713, and 7216 and circumstances that may result in referral to the Office of Professional Responsibility.