SCHEDULE FOR
FIRST DAY: MONDAY, January 19 & TUESDAY, January 20
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Registration & Networking – Monday
1:00 – 2:40 PANEL 1: Tax Law Update – OBBB UPDATE FOR INDIVIDUALS
Key Individual Income Tax Updates based on the new OBBB & TCJA including:
- SALT
- 199-A
- Standard Deductions
- Tip Income
- Overtime
- Auto Interest deduction
- Senior deduction
- Trump Account
- Itemized deductions
Anthony V. Ricci, CPA – Anthony V. Ricci CPA Inc.
2:40 – 4:30 PANEL 2: Tax Law – EMPLOYEE vs INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Discuss will include the federal guidelines to determine status. How Massachusetts law can lead to a different result than the federal. Sanctions that may be applied by the differing agencies. Possible issues with compensation earned in different states.
Tim Burke, Esq. – Burke & Associates
Scott Buss –District Sales Manager, Paychex
7:45 – 8:15 a.m. Registration & Networking – Tuesday
8:15 – 10:10 PANEL 3 Tax Law – BUILDING YOUR CYBER FORTRESS: The 8 Essential Defenses
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, accounting professionals face an unprecedented array of cyber threats that can jeopardize sensitive client data, disrupt operations, and undermine trust. With financial records, tax information, and personal identifiers at stake, accountants are prime targets for cybercriminals—and the consequences of a breach can be devastating. Regulatory requirements such as the FTC Safeguards Rule, IRS Publication 4557, SOX, and GDPR demand rigorous protection of client data and ongoing compliance. Building a resilient cyber fortress requires more than just technology—it demands a comprehensive strategy that integrates regulatory compliance, robust policies, secure development practices, vigilant vendor management, empowered users, financial safeguards, advanced technical controls, and proactive vulnerability management. This presentation explores the eight essential defenses every accounting firm must deploy to protect its assets, ensure business continuity, and foster a culture of security and trust from the ground up.
Michelle Drolet – Founder & CEO, Towerwall
10:10 – 12:00 PANEL 4: Tax Law Update – ESTATE PLANNING AFTER H.R.1
Opportunities in gift splitting and the increased permanent exemption. A discussion of the potential benefits of the widely publicized “Tax Trifecta Trust”.
Timothy Burke, Esq. – Burke & Associates
SCHEDULE FOR
SECOND DAY: WEDNESDAY, January 21 & THURSDAY, January 22
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Registration & Networking – Wednesday
1:00 – 2:40 PANEL 5: Tax Law – MA DOR STATE TAX UPDATE
Review of significant TIRS and regulations, tax decisions, available credits, carry overs, etc.
Mirielle Eastman – Taxpayer Advocate, DOR
Patrick Shirley – Chief of the Personal Income Tax Bureau, DOR
2:40 – 4:30 PANEL 6: Tax Law Update – OBBB UPDATE FOR BUSINESSES
Key provisions of the OBBB to include: Section 179; Bonus depreciation and the new addition of qualified production property as eligible for bonus depreciation; Research and development expense deduction and the planning for small businesses to amend 2022-2024 tax returns; Business interest limitation; Excess loss limitations and its impact on planning; Section 1202 stock; Charitable contribution limitation and Information reporting changes.
Gregory A. Pocaro, CPA/ABV, MST, CFF – Principal, Otrando Porcaro & Association, Ldt.
7:45 – 8:15 a.m. Registration & Networking – Thursday
8:15 – 10:10 PANEL 7: Tax Law Update – INTERNATIONAL TAXATION
This panel will cover various international tax topics, including:
- Federal tax withholding related to the sale of US real estate by a non-resident (FIRPTA withholding)
- The US tax residency rules and how to determine if a taxpayer is a US tax resident
- US Income Tax Treaties, including the treaty tie-breaker rule to determine tax residency
- Tax matters associated with expatriation from the US (giving up citizenship or green card)
Kenneth J. Vacovec, Esq. – Founder, Vacovec, Mayotte & Singer, LLP
Tonya James, Esq. – Partner, Vacovec, Mayotte & Singer, LLP
Yao Tang, Esq. – Partner, Vacovec, Mayotte & Singer, LLP
10:10 – 12:00 PANEL 8: Tax Law – HOW AI IS CHANGING THE TAX WORKFLOW
Forward thinking firms are already using AI to drive efficiencies and automations. This session will provide real world examples of the impact AI & Agentic AI are already having on the Tax Workflow. We will also discuss the rapidly evolving sentiment towards AI across the industry and share where we see Agentic AI’s potential to drive even more impact in the future.
Objective 1: Participants will be able to recognize real-world implementations of AI technology in tax workflows and assess their impact on efficiency, accuracy, and resource allocation in professional tax environments.
Objective 2: Participants will be able to explain the fundamental differences between conventional AI tools and agentic AI systems and articulate how these differences create new opportunities for tax workflow automation and decision support.
Objective 3: Participants will be able to formulate an approach for evaluating where agentic AI can be most effectively deployed within their organization’s tax processes, including considerations for staff training, ethical guidelines, and measuring return on investment.
Panelist/s – Thomson Reuters
Workforce Training Express Fund Course #C-14648 Apply for a maximum 100% reimbursement: Express Program – Workforce Training Fund
Registration Form: 2025 NEI Registration Form
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