Winter is fast approaching, so now is the time to get your CPE credits in for the upcoming tax season!  We have both Gear Up and Jennings seminars available on individual tax.  Come to Hudson on December 8th and 9th and in the WI Dells you will find Jennings 1040 tax on December 1st and 2nd.

We have a new website design and with that you have your own personal login so you can manage your profile and track your seminar attendance.  When registering for seminars you will have to login with your own password.  This ensures you are signing up as a member of the WAA and receiving the member rates on seminars.  If you have forgotten to pay your dues, the website will remind you of that too!

Make plans to register now for our last two seminars  - simply go to www.waainc.org  

Treasure Report:

Checking account balance:  $ 1,820.70

CD will mature 4/15/15  $ 1,009.52

Motion was made that the SW WAA would purchase a beverage for each member attending meeting.

All members enjoyed a beverage of choice.

Veterans were honored for their service and gifts given out

Veterans that attended:  Jim Weickgenant

Walt Smith

Tom Jankowski

Our special speaker for this meeting was Craig Krammen from Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue, He talked about how the adjustment (addition or subtraction) modifications for WI basis of depreciation or amortized assets are done and common questions asked. He passed out a handout with these questions and answers for reference.  These are also available on the WDOR website.

Our next meeting will be 1/13/15 at Fitzgerald's of Middleton at 5:00pm cocktails and 6:00pm meeting.

Members in attendance:

Walt Smith

Mitch Jones

Jim Weickgenant

Arland Stone

Diane Wollack

Meg Schell

Ryan Todd

Tom Jankowski

Jolynn McIntosh (Jim)

Tom Adler

Stephan Mesdjian

Brian Valiquette

Wendy Richards

Tom Adler (Rose)

Special guest from the Milwaukee Chapter---Jim Molenda

President of the WAA - State of Wisconsin---Paul Kersten

Wendy Richards

Secretary of SW Chapter of WAA

Notice 2014-76 provides a list of the § 5000A hardship exemptions that taxpayers may claim on a Federal income tax return without obtaining a hardship exemption certification from the Marketplace. 

Many people give to charity each year during the holiday season. Remember, if you want to claim a tax deduction for your gifts, you must itemize your deductions. There are several tax rules that you should know about before you give. Here are six tips from the IRS that you should keep in mind:

1. Qualified charities. You can only deduct gifts you give to qualified charities. Use the IRS Select Check tool to see if the group you give to is qualified. Remember that you can deduct donations you give to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and government agencies. This is true even if Select Check does not list them in its database.

2. Monetary donations.  Gifts of money include those made in cash or by check, electronic funds transfer, credit card and payroll deduction. You must have a bank record or a written statement from the charity to deduct any gift of money on your tax return. This is true regardless of the amount of the gift. The statement must show the name of the charity and the date and amount of the contribution. Bank records include canceled checks, or bank, credit union and credit card statements. If you give by payroll deductions, you should retain a pay stub, a Form W-2 wage statement or other document from your employer. It must show the total amount withheld for charity, along with the pledge card showing the name of the charity.

3. Household goods.  Household items include furniture, furnishings, electronics, appliances and linens. If you donate clothing and household items to charity they generally must be in at least good used condition to claim a tax deduction. If you claim a deduction of over $500 for an item it doesn't have to meet this standard if you include a qualified appraisal of the item with your tax return.

4. Records required.  You must get an acknowledgment from a charity for each deductible donation (either money or property) of $250 or more. Additional rules apply to the statement for gifts of that amount. This statement is in addition to the records required for deducting cash gifts. However, one statement with all of the required information may meet both requirements.

5. Year-end gifts.  You can deduct contributions in the year you make them. If you charge your gift to a credit card before the end of the year it will count for 2014. This is true even if you don't pay the credit card bill until 2015. Also, a check will count for 2014 as long as you mail it in 2014.

6. Special rules.  Special rules apply if you give a car, boat or airplane to charity. For more information visit IRS.gov.