preSiDeNt’S MeSSAge
iNtereStiNg tiMeS
By Robert L. Cross
i simply can’t think of a better own. The NSA Board of Governors has
year to be serving nsa as president. launched an effort to strengthen our
Change is everywhere and I believe that, partnership with our Affiliated State
where there is change, there is opportunity. Organizations and to improve the posi-
As we all know, IRS Commissioner tion of State Director so NSA can best
Shulman has released his proposal for new serve our members, especially as the fed-
tax preparer regulations. We continue to eral tax preparer regulation effort gets
work with the IRS and other professional underway. We want to ensure that NSA
organizations to make sense of the pro- and State Organizations are positioned
posals and to ensure that the regulations to take advantage of any opportunities
fill in some of the gaps. For example, the that may arise, whether from testing or
proposal speaks in terms of “federal tax providing required CPE to newly-minted
returns” but the discussion of an exami- “federal tax return preparers.”
nation focuses on Form 1040. What about The Membership Committee is launch- The staff in Alexandria continues to
NSA members who only prepare corporate ing efforts to recruit new members while produce at a terrific rate. They are heavily
returns or only have a part-time practice maintaining existing ones. Our Educa- involved in the Board of Governors initia-
preparing only Form 990 for clients? Will tion Committee is solidifying plans for tive to strengthen the partnership between
they have to take a test on individual expanding our webinar offerings and staff and members. This new digital NPA
taxes? Volunteers and staff are reviewing improving the CPE that will be presented is one example of the efforts of the NSA
the Commissioner’s proposal to discover at our Annual Meeting. NSA will again team at headquarters to utilize new tech-
these discrepancies and try to minimize be represented at the IRS Nationwide nology and keep NSA at the forefront of
any adverse impact. You should know, Tax Forums in the summer of 2010. our industry.
however, that Nina Olson, National Tax- The Leadership Development Commit- Throughout this report you have
payer Advocate, has already voiced her tee and Right to Practice Committee are noticed my use of the phrase “strengthen
concern that the proposal does not do developing plans for a Leadership Net- the partnership” in reference to ASOs, our
enough. Interesting times. working/Legislative Strategy Conference staff and our volunteers. Here is a short
NSA is also working for you at the state in September 2010. list of the goals for those initiatives:
level. Some state legislatures have already Meanwhile, ACAT has been working
•
An NSA that is continually building
looked at tax preparers as a possible revenue to build the question bank and database new capacity to serve our members;
source to help balance state budgets while that will be required for our tax cre- • An NSA where every operational
others have expressed an interest in crafting dentials. The change to computer-based system is aligned with our core values;
their own tax preparer regulation proposal. testing is progressing and all ACAT • An NSA that enjoys an effective
Members of the Right to Practice Commit- examinations are now administered by partnership between volunteers, staff
tee traveled to New York, New Jersey and Professional Credentialing Services, the and ASOs;
Alabama to work with ASO’s in address- organization charged with administering • An NSA where every Officer, Gov-
ing state tax preparer legislation. NSA will the CPA examination. ernor, State Director, committee vol-
continue to work with ASO’s where the The Scholarship Foundation contin- unteer and staff member is constantly
need arises. The IFRS v. GAAP accounting ues to find success under the leadership asking, “What more can I do to make
standards debate continues and expands of NSA Past President Harold F. Krieger, NSA more effective?”
even as a huge majority of state jurisdic- Jr. Donations are at the highest level in We will pursue these goals with unre-
tions have adopted some version of the recent years while expenses remain min- lenting diligence as we concurrently
AICPA/NASBA mobility model, questions imal. Two NSA Past Presidents have respond to all the external challenges and
about the enforceability and international made significant new grants to our Foun- opportunities that present themselves to
elements remain. dation. Robert Grille of Virginia and Mil- our attention. Have a great tax season,
These are only the external factors that ton Brown of New Jersey have been most or as one of my colleagues describes it,
impact our society and require the atten- generous and deserve special recognition “the green season.”
tion of our staff, volunteers and members. and thanks. Currently, the Foundation
NSA will continue to monitor these issues is considering the possibility of one-time
Respectfully submitted,
on behalf of members at the federal and grants to employees of member’s firms
state level throughout the year. Again, for specific educational events. This is in
interesting times. line with an IRS approval of these types
Over the past several months, NSA of grants received by ACAT when ACAT
Robert L. (Bob) Cross
has been busy with some changes of our recently changed its bylaws. PA, ABA, ATA
2 NPA Magazine February 2010
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