December '08

I wish you all happy and safe holidays as well as a happy and safe New Year!

Our December luncheon featured Donna Evered, who spoke to attendees regarding key 2008 federal tax issues.  For those of you who prepare your own tax returns, or do so for others, make sure to check the three major tax acts recently passed: (1) Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act; (2) Housing Assistance Tax Act; and (3) Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.  Note that for those of you who are paid preparers, the standard for assessing a preparer penalty for an unreasonable position has been raised from “substantial authority” to “more likely than not”, which is a higher standard than a taxpayer who prepares his/her own return is held to.

I’d like to remind you that it’s never to early to get a few CPE’s under your belt.  Our January 12th luncheon speaker is Tom McAndrew, President of Seattle ISACA.  He will address the subject of Identity Fraud from an Agency Perspective.  Please join us on that date at the GAO 28th Floor Conference Room.  And our Monday, February 9, luncheon to be held at the Columbia Tower Club will feature Robert Adachi of EPA IG, on Forensic Auditing.

For those of you planning to attend this year's Professional Development Conference June 21-24, 2009 in New Orleans, we have a total of two hotel scholarships, for use at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity.

Elizabeth Naftchi,
Seattle Chapter President