IRS Representation Series - Circular 230 Ethics and Updates

Learning Objectives

• To identify IRS representation, client conflicts, advertising limitations, and privacy issues.
• To discuss which information should be noted that may help persuade the contact to be more polite and/or pleasant when documenting conversations with the IRS.
• To analyze what an individual who is an officer or employee of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the United States Government; an officer or employee of the District of Columbia; a Member of Congress; or a Resident Commissioner can do.
• To evaluate whose signatures are non-compulsory even though they might prepare tax returns for taxpayers.
• To describe the consequence of enrolled agents requesting to be placed in inactive retirement status.
• To explain what is generally allowable according to Circular 230 about tax return fees.
• To identify who may represent an individual or entity before personnel of the IRS.
• To analyze what an unenrolled preparer may do.
• To inspect when a taxpayer living outside the United States needs representation.

Course Description

Einstein was not wrong- taxes are hard to understand and conform to. Besides that, the IRS has standards and rules to follow as reflected in Circular No. 230. 

Circular 230 is the guide for specifics on the responsibilities and duties required of those who prepare tax returns and, give tax advice, as well as detailing who may represent taxpayers before the IRS. It details the regulations governing tax practices. It lists specific rules of appropriate behavior, basically making it the ethics guide to the tax practitioner.

Circular 230 prohibits practitioners from representing a client if the representation involves a conflict of interest. Circular 230 practitioners must recognize and avoid conflicts of interest, as well as when to step away from clients who experience them. A conflict of interest exists if there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the practitioner’s responsibilities to another client, a former client, a third party, or by the personal interest of the practitioner.

In this online webinar, you will learn everything about managing conflicts of interest between spouses, business partners, and tax professionals. It covers the power of attorney, IRS interactions, client privacy issues, and guidelines for professional advertising.

This CE Tax course will cover the following major topics:

• Overview of Circular 230
• Interacting with OPR
• Brief Glossary
• Practitioners: POA
• Conflicts of Interest
• Advertising and Fees

This CPE webinar by Eva Rosenberg is a part of the 10-part IRS Representation Series designed to provide a solid foundation for tax practitioners to handle all areas of IRS representation. 

Overview

• Documentation tools

  13 mins
• Who can practice before the IRS?

  20 mins
• Failure to meet requirements - CPAs

  36 mins
• Due diligence as to accuracy

  54 mins
• Potential client conflicts

  72 mins
• Bottom line - On ethical solicitations

  87 mins