Chapter Overview

The Mid-Willamette Valley Chapter covers a rectangle on the west side of the state from Depoe Bay east to Detroit, south to McKenzie Bridge, and west to Waldport. Currently, our regular evening meetings are on the 2nd Thursday of the month at the Bing's Kitchen in Lebanon, OR. During tax season we also hold a non-CE credit, round-table 7:00 am morning meetings at Novak's (Albany) on the 4th Thursday of the month through March. As always, you should check our Meeting/Education Schedule for variances.

OUR HISTORY

Our Chapter was formed in February 1977 about 5 years after the Association of Tax Consultants was formed and long before our organization became Oregon Association of Tax Consultants. It was a small group of about 13 members and they met in the member’s homes.

We have progressed over the years to a Chapter of over 80 members and meet January through April in Albany, May through August in Lebanon and September through December in Corvallis.

Our meetings are held in restaurants to give us the opportunity to enjoy a meal and conversation prior to our business meeting. We are a very diverse Chapter in having members from large firms as well as the single member firms. Our geographical area covers Linn, Benton and the Mid-Coast area from Waldport to Depoe Bay.

This past year we have invited the OSTC, Santiam Unit members to join us for meetings and education. It is working well and we all enjoy the networking opportunities.

Our Chapter provides at least 10 meetings per year with 2 hours of free education after the business meeting. We have a 6-hour seminar in the fall at a “break even cost”. Many years we will provide another 4-hour class at some time during the year.

While there are many of us “old timers” in our Chapter we are fortunate to have some younger members who are stepping up to the plate and taking strong leadership positions.

As you can tell, I am extremely proud of Mid-Willamette Chapter. They are a great group of people.

Written by: Beverley Diercks, OATC 2nd VP

Contact Information

NEW! OATC Now On Facebook

Kari Lasswell, President of Mid-Willamette Chapter, has created an OATC Facebook page so you can join in the conversation.

"I am sending out a call to arms to all of those that would like to participate in growing this group. Suggestions are not only welcome but requested...Feel free to post questions and answers to specific problems as well as post items that we need to be concerned about or would like to make sure others are aware of. Check it often once you have joined, maybe you can help someone join as well. This also might be an area where you want to post job openings."

Kari Lasswell

2010 OATC Individual Member Supply Order

Time to prepare for the next tax season! One of the benefits of being an OATC member is being able to order professional supplies at a nice discount.

Click on the image at the right to download a copy of the 2010 OATC Individual Member Supply Order Form.

Mail the completed form along with your check or credit card authorization to your Chapter Representative no later than October 1, 2010. Refer to the last page of the order form for appropriate mailing instructions.

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2010 Annual OATC Basics and Beyond Seminar (6 hours CPE)

Chris Culver will be traveling throughout Oregon this September and October, conducting a 6-hour seminar on the topic Particulars of Schedules A, B, C, D, E & F.

Chris is a CPA and an MBA and has taught in the Business Department at Lane Community College since 2000. He is teaching full time in the accounting program there, as well as maintaining a small CPA practice. He also holds a FINRA Series 7, 63 & 66 License. Sign up to attend any of the eight seminars:

The cost for this 6-hour seminar is $30.00 for OATC members, $50.00 for NATC members, and $70.00 for all others. Registration must be postmarked by 9/11/2010 to avoid a $15.00 late fee. CLICK HERE to download registration materials.

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Basic Income Tax Course: Licensed Tax Preparer (LTP) Prep Course (80 hours CPE)

OATC and Linn-Benton Community College have joined forces to present this 80-hour intensive course that gives you:

• Classroom instruction, practice exams and many applied practice exercises
• A solid understanding of the theory and laws governing the preparation of basic individual income taxes
• The required Certificate of Completion to take the Licensed Tax Preparer’s exam administered by the Oregon State Board of Tax Practitioners

CLICK HERE to download a flyer which contains the following information.

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2010 IRS/Practitioners Forum (8 hours CPE)

The OATC is a co-sponsor for the 2010 IRS/Practitioners Forum to be held Friday, October 22, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Portland Airport.

Anyone who interacts with the IRS won’t want to miss this forum! This unique program will provide you with an update and review of current issues from both IRS and Practitioners as well as an opportunity to interact with IRS representatives. This program will provide cutting edge tools to assist clients with IRS issues.

Speakers and topics include:

• Teri Malone (IRS, Oakland CA) – Bank Secrecy Act
• Michael Cvitkovic (IRS, Seattle WA) – 2010 Tax Updates
• Roberta Mann (U of Oregon School of Law, Eugene, OR) – Energy Credits
• Jeffrey M. Wong (Attorney, Portland OR) – Cancelled Indebtedness with Distressed Real Property
• Brian Wozniak (IRS, Portland OR) – Electronic Tax Updates

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OATC 2010 Super Star Seminar (13 hours CPE)

OATC brings you their annual 2-day Super Star Seminar this October 27-28 at the Holiday Inn in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Speaker Lucy Clark, EA, JP, is a retired IRS National Technical Advisor. Lucy is the primary author of the Passive Activity Loss Guide, which is widely used by IRS Agents and Tax Compliance Officers as well as the public. She will be speaking on:

• Wednesday: Passive Income and Losses
• Thursday: Passive activity rules: Rentals, Partnerships and Corporations, i.e. entities
  As a bonus, on Thursday, Brian Wozniak, IRS SE/SB CLD, will open the session with information on New Preparer Regulations.

CLICK HERE to download registration materials.

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Education on the High Seas 2010 (18-21 hours CPE)

The Portland Chapter of the OATC is hosting another education cruise. Holland America’s Mexican Riviera is a seven-day cruise from San Diego, California, which docks in Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta, and the beautiful Cabo San Lucas. You will spend three full says at sea, allowing us 18 to 21 hours of education. (There will be no education on days while in port.)

The ship will leave San Diego at 5:00 pm on November 6, make port in Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas and then return to San Diego at 7:00 am on November 13.

The prices quoted at this time by Holland America are from:

• Inside Stateroom: 699.00 + 88.59 = 787.59
• Ocean veiw Stateroom: 849.00 + 88.59 =937.59
• Verandah Stateroom: 1,049.00 + 88.59 =1,137.59
• Superior Verandah Suite: 1,599.00 + 88.59 = 1,687.59
• Deluxe Verandah Suite: 2,149.00 + 88.59 = 2,237.59

Airlines will be done by the individual. Currently United Air Lines is listing round trip fare from Portland to San Diego at $323.00. There will also be an education charge of $180.00 for members and $290.00 for non-members.

We are also still asking for volunteers to provide the education. Those providing education will not be required to pay the education fee. If you have questions contact Neil Gibson at 503-232-9050.

To make a reservation or to receive more information regarding fares, travel insurance or cancelation policies call Bradlee Haley, Holland America at 800-355-3017 ext. 29300. Our group number is TP5 and our group name is OATC Group. You will be asked for the space you wish to reserve, a deposit, and any insurance you wish to include. Call today – Don’t miss out on this exciting adventure.

CLICK HERE to download an information flyer for the November 2010 Education on the High Seas cruise.

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FROM THE OATC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

• OATC Tax Preparer Scholarship Available – Do you know someone who wants to be a Tax Preparer, but may not have the necessary financial resources? There is a scholarship offered by the Oregon Association of Tax Consultants to help someone in financial need prepare for and take the state licensing test. For more information, call Linda Musson at the OATC office 503-726-0100.

Do You Speak A Language Other Than English?

from an email sent by the Board of Tax Practitioners

Dear Licensees,

The Board of Tax Practitioners often receives calls from consumers asking if we know of a tax preparation business that offers services in languages other than English. The Agency is developing a list of tax preparation businesses that offer such services.
If your business offers tax preparation services in other languages, and you would like to be included on this list, please provide the following information:

• Name of the business
• City the business is located
• Contact person
• Telephone number of business

What? Some of these fields are out-of-date?

An authorized chapter member who knows the chapter-specific password can click on the Administer Chapter Info link in the menu on the left to go to a maintenance screen.