University of Delaware – 2021 Meet the Firms
2021-09-09 17:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | DE, United States
Please join the University of Delaware for their 2021 “Meet the Firms” virtual event. Connect with us to learn about our 2022 Summer Internship Program. This event is co-sponsored by the Accounting Department, the Association for Information Systems, the Accounting Students Association, and ALPFA.
Additional details can be found at http://www.udel.edu/students/career-services-center/careerfairs/.
September 9, 2021
5-7:30pm
If you would like to reach out to our college recruiter before the event, please contact Jenni Fleck Jones at jjones@belfint.com.

West Chester University - 2021 Meet the Firms
2021-09-09 17:00 - 19:00 | PA, United States
Join us for West Chester University’s 2021 “Meet the Firms” event. Connect with us to learn about our 2022 Summer Internship Program.
Additional details can be found at https://www.wcupa.edu/_services/STU.CAR/careerFair.aspx.
September 9
5:00pm-7:00pm
If you would like to reach out to our college recruiter before the event, please contact Jenni Fleck Jones at jjones@belfint.com.
Additional details can be found at WCU’s Career Services Center website.

2021 Millennial Summit
2021-08-02 08:30 - 2021-08-04 17:00 | DE, United States
BLS CPAs is a Venture Sponsor of the 2021 Millennial Summit #MILLSUMMIT!
The Millennial Summit is the region’s premier experience where young professionals, impact players, rising stars and innovators come together to connect and grow.

Expand your circle of influence
Create the career of your dreams
Impact your region

JOIN US VIRTUALLY FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR COMPUTER
#MILLSUMMIT inspires attendees to speak up and get involved with their community, grow professionally, and connect with visionaries and innovators who are moving the needle.
Go to the Millennial Summit website for additional information or to their registration page to register. We hope to see you there!

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Employers with Employee Benefit Plans
2021-07-30
ALL EMPLOYERS WITH EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS:
BENEFIT PLAN DEADLINE (12/31 year end):
Form 5500 and related schedules, as applicable (A, C, D, E, H, I, R), with opinion of qualified public accountant, 5500-EZ or Form 5500-SF, if not extending
Form 8955-SSA – Annual registration statement identifying separated participants with deferred vested benefits, if not extending
Form 5558 – Request for extension of time to file Form 5500 annual report and Form 8955-SSA
Form 5330 – Return of excise taxes related to Employee Benefit Plans – used to report and pay excise taxes on prohibited transactions and excess 401(k) Plan contributors that occurred in 2020.
For additional information on these deadlines or our employee benefit plan audit services, please click here to contact us.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Benefit Plans (12/31 year end)
2021-07-30
BENEFIT PLAN DEADLINE (12/31 year end):
Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) or Summary Plan Description (SPD) must be distributed within 210 days after the end of the plan year when a plan’s provisions have material changes
Corrective distribution for failed ADP/ACP without 10% excise tax (EACA only)
For additional information on these deadlines or our employee benefit plan audit services, please click here to contact us.

AICPA Engage 2021 Conference
2021-07-28 18:30 - 19:45
Jordon N. Rosen, CPA, MST, AEP, (Distinguished) and Karly Laughlin, CPA will be presenting at the AICPA Advanced Estate Planning Conference – AICPA Engage!
AICPA Engage 2021: Planning for Those Under $10 Million

July 28, 2021

6:30 PM — 7:45 PM ET

This session will cover wealth transfer and post mortem planning for clients with estates valued up to $10 million. We will look at why most Americans fail to do any planning and the top reasons why planning is so critical. We will cover the ins and outs of the portability election and how it compares to the use of conventional trusts, along with administrative and fiduciary elections and situations where the estate is an owner of a partnership or S corporation interest.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Employee Benefit Plans
2021-06-30
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS:
Corrective distribution for failed ADP/ACP without 10% excise tax (EACA only)
For additional information on these deadlines or our employee benefit plan audit services, please click here to contact us.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Individuals and Corporations
2021-06-15
INDIVIDUALS: Make a payment of your 2021 estimated tax if you’re not paying your income tax for the year through withholding (or won’t pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES. This is the second installment date for estimated tax in 2020. For more information, see Pub. 505.
CORPORATIONS: For calendar year corporations, deposit the second installment of estimated income tax for 2021. A worksheet, Form 1120-W, is available to help you estimate your tax for the year.
For additional information on these deadlines or our tax services, please click here to contact us.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: International
2021-06-15
Deadline for 2020, individual tax returns for US taxpayers residing abroad and partnerships which keep their books and records outside the United States (automatic 2-month extension from April 15). An automatic extension to December 15, 2021, using Form 4868 is available as long as individuals did not receive US wages. This is NOT an extension to pay.
For additional information on these deadlines or our international services, please click here to contact us.

Preparing Forms 5500, 5500-SF, and 5500-EZ: Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan
2021-06-10 13:00 - 15:00
Christopher J. Ciminera, CPA, QKA, will be a panelist at Strafford’s Webinar – Preparing Forms 5500, 5500-SF, and 5500-EZ: Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan
Topic: Preparing Forms 5500, 5500-SF, and 5500-EZ: Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan
Date: Thursday, June 10, 2021
Time: 1:00pm – 2:50pm ET
Panelists:

Christopher J. Ciminera, CPA, QKA – Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, CPAs
Jeanne Schanzenbach, QPA, CPC, ERPA – Limestone Pension Associates

This webinar will explain what plans are required to file Forms 5500, 5500-SF, and 5500-EZ, how to prepare these required information returns and related schedules, and the most recent changes to these forms.

The Form 5500, 5500-SF, and 5500-EZ satisfy the annual reporting requirements of the IRS, DOL, and the PBGC. These series of forms provide these federal agencies with information about an employer’s benefit plans. The Form 5500 generally must be filed by large employer plans (those that cover 100 participants or more at the beginning of the year). The Form 5500-SF may generally be filed by small employer plans (those that cover less than 100 participants at the beginning of the plan year. The Form 5500-EZ is generally filed for one-participant plans, which means the plan covers the owner (and spouse), one or more partners in a partnership, and does not provide benefits for anyone except an owner, spouse, or one or more partners.

Accurate reporting on these forms is important because the IRS and DOL monitor the forms and certain details may trigger an IRS audit or DOL investigation. Completing these forms completely and accurately, and filing these forms timely is extremely important. The SECURE Act increased the penalty for late filing a Form 5500.

The IRS penalty for late filing of a 5500-series return has increased ten-fold to $250 per day, up to a maximum of $150,000.
The DOL penalty for late filing can run up to $1,100 per day, with no maximum.

Tax advisers working with employers maintaining employer benefit plans must understand the due dates, filing requirements, and how to complete these returns properly.

For more information, visit Strafford’s Webinar Listing.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Individuals & IRAs
2021-05-17
INDIVIDUALS: On March 17, the Treasury and IRS enacted an automatic extended time period for individuals to file and pay 2020 taxes from April 15 to May 17. File a 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR and pay any tax due. If you want an extension of time to file the return to October, file Form 4868 and pay what you estimate you owe in tax to avoid penalties and interest. Then, file Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR by October 15. Learn more about the Individual Tax Deadline Extension Notice from the IRS.
IRA: On March 29, the IRS extended the time period to make contributions to 2020 IRA & Roth IRAs from April 15 to May 17. Learn more about these changes on the IRS website.
For additional information on these deadlines or our tax services, please click here to contact us.

Stroud Water Research Center Fore Fresh Water Golf Invitational
2021-05-17 | Bidermann Golf Course, 601 Adam's Dam Road, Wilmington, DE, United States
BLS is proud to be a Hole Sponsor of the 2021 Stroud Water Research Center’s Fore Fresh Water Golf Invitational!
Golf sponsorship and participation helps support Stroud Water Research Center’s freshwater research, environmental education, and watershed restoration efforts.
Date: May 17, 2021
Location: Bidermann Golf Course
Find out more here: https://stroudcenter.org/event/golf-outing/

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Nonprofits
2021-05-17
NONPROFITS:
Form 990 filing deadline for calendar year nonprofit organizations.

Delaware Bankers Association Annual Meeting (BLS Sponsoring)
2021-05-13 | DE, United States
BLS CPAs is proud to be a Bronze Sponsor of the Delaware Bankers Association’s 126th Annual Meeting.
The Delaware Bankers Association will be holding its 126th Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Due to the continuing social distancing requirements, we will be conducting this year’s event on-line. This year’s event promises to be a memorable occasion including appearances by many dignitaries, and our keynote speaker, Erin Arvedlund, author of Too Good To Be True, The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff.
Find additional details here: http://www.debankers.com/calendar.html

Christiana Rotary - Teeing it Up for the Kids Golf Tournament
2021-05-10 11:30 - 17:00 | Hartefeld National, PA, 19311, United States
BLS is a Drink and Tee Sponsor of the Christiana Rotary’s 26th Annual Tee it Up for the Kids Golf Tournament!
The Christiana Rotary has rescheduled their 2020 golf outing for 2021! Join the Christiana Rotary on Monday, May 10, at Hartefeld National Golf Club for this fun event. BLS is proud to sponsor the event!
The event details are listed below:
Schedule of Events
Registration & Lunch – 11:30
Shotgun Start – 1:00
Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/654512801955493/

Jewish Family Services of Delaware Broadway Event (BLS Sponsoring)
2021-05-02 19:00 - 20:00 | DE, United States
BLS CPAs is proud to be a Sponsor of the Jewish Family Services of Delaware Virtual Broadway Event: The Healing Power of Music.
The Jewish Family Services of Delaware will be holding its Virtual Broadway Event: The Healing Power of Music on Sunday, May 2, 2021. Nobody can deny the ways music can energize, soothe, inspire, and connect us…and that just may be exactly what we all need right now. It’s been over a year since the global pandemic began, which has resulted in increased isolation, sudden unemployment, anxiety and depression, and immeasurable loss in many forms. Join friends, family, and stars from the Broadway stage online for an evening of healing, entertainment, and charity with JFS Delaware.
Find additional details here: https://www.jfsdelaware.org/event/virtual-broadway/

2021 National Brain Tumor Walk and Race for Hope
2021-05-02 | PA, United States
BLS is proud to be a sponsor for the 2021 National Brain Tumor Walk and Race for Hope!
Community members from the Washington DC Metro area, New Jersey, North and South Carolina, San Diego, the Pacific Northwest, Denver and the Bay Area in California are all joining forces for one virtual event to kick-off Brain Tumor Awareness Month this May!
Please join us as we come together, for the first time, as ONE community, to conquer and cure brain tumors — once and for all. Participants can walk, run, get on your treadmill, do any activity that feels right for you and your team and share photos and videos on social media using our #NBTSWalk2021 and #NBTSRace2021 hashtags!

Date: May 2, 2021
Location: Virtual
Find out more here: https://secure2.convio.net/bts/site/TR?sid=2045&fr_id=3553&pg=informational

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Individuals
2021-04-30
2020 Delaware tax returns must be filed or extended. The balance due must be paid. An automatic 6-month extension using Form 1027 can be filed. This is NOT an extension to pay.
For additional information on these deadlines or our tax services, please click here to contact us.

2021 Delaware Salute to Service - Multiply Good at The Jefferson Awards
2021-04-29 17:30 - 19:30
BLS CPAs is proud to Multiply Good at The Jefferson Awards by being a Community Sponsor for the 2021 Delaware Salute to Service Virtual Event!
Event Details
Multiply Good at The Jefferson Awards – Delaware Salute to Service
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Virtual Awards Ceremony – 5:30pm
#multiplyinggood

ASPPA Spring National 2021: What to Expect from 2021 audits of 2020 Plan Financial Statements
2021-04-28 15:00 - 15:50
Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA, CPSP will be presenting at ASPPA Spring National.
April 28, 2021
3 – 3:50 PM: Workshop 5: What to Expect from 2021 audits of 2020 Plan Financial Statements
The SECURE Act, the CARES Act, and several IRS and EBSA Notices granted relief and offered guidance for late deferral deposits, mid-year safe harbor contribution suspensions or reductions. The resulting changes in plan provisions and plan processes have an impact on the plan financial statements and the related audit procedures. In this session, you will learn:

How audit information requests and risk assessments will change to reflect new plan provisions and operations.
What backup auditors need when new plan provisions are enacted operationally prior to a plan amendment.
How to best collaborate with the auditors and the clients to correct operational errors found during the audit.

ASPPA Spring National
April 28 – 29, 2021
Virtual
ASPPA Spring National — new event, new opportunities, new connections — combines the best of Spring Virtual and the Philadelphia Regional Conferences.
Find out more here: ASPPA Spring National 2021

The Value of Mentors in a World Gone Crazy
2021-04-23 14:45 - 15:45
Karly A. Laughlin, CPA, will be co-presenting at the 33rd RPTE Virtual CLE Conference.
Topic: The Value of Mentors in a World Gone Wild
Date: Friday, April 23, 2021
Time: 2:45pm – 3:45pm ET
Panelists:

Karly A. Laughlin, CPA – Belfint Lyons & Shuman, CPAs
Jennifer E. Smith – McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC
George P. Bernhardt – Baker Hughes Company
Elizabeth C. Lee – Womble Bond Dickinson

This presentation will inspire attendees to mentor young professionals in their organizations and networks in order to create a diverse and inclusive cadre of professionals to best serve 21st century clients. This panel will explore the benefits of mentoring, offer a variety of mentoring techniques, and highlight strategies for mentoring in a remote work environment.

For more information, visit RPTE’s Virtual CPE Conference Website.

Death, Taxes, and Retirement Plan Operational Failures
2021-04-19 14:00 - 15:00
Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA, CPSP will be presenting for Fidelity Investments during their Webinar Series.
April 19, 2021
2 – 2:45 PM EST: Death, Taxes, and Retirement Plan Operational Failures
Retirement plan administration is complicated — mistakes will happen, but thanks to the IRS and DOL, there is always a correction program! Everyone knows about the challenges involving late deferral deposits, but that is only the tip of the iceberg, and much easier to correct than operational failures related to eligibility, use of the wrong definition of compensation, participant loan repayment errors, unsubstantiated hardship distributions, and so much more.
During this seminar, Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA, will alert plan sponsors to the most common operational errors and how to correct them using the IRS and the DOL correction programs: the Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP), and the Voluntary Fiduciary Compliance Program (VFCP).

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Individuals, IRAs, C-Corps, Corporations and Trusts
2021-04-15
On March 17, the Treasury and IRS extended the time period to file and pay INDIVIDUAL taxes until May 17.
As of the March 17 notice, this does not extend first quarter estimates or state filings, except for the State of Maryland.
Learn more about this Individual Tax Day Extension.
On March 29, the IRS extended additional tax deadlines for individuals to May 17. Learn more about these changes on the IRS website.
INDIVIDUALS: On March 17, the Treasury and IRS extended the time period to file and pay INDIVIDUAL taxes until May 17.
C-CORPS: C-Corps file calendar year 2020 tax returns and pay any money still due. They can file an automatic 6-month extension using Form 7004 BUT this is NOT an extension to pay.
IRA: On March 29, the IRS extended the time period to make contributions to 2020 IRA & Roth IRAs until May 17.
INDIVIDUALS & CORPORATIONS: If you’re not paying your 2021 income tax through withholding (or won’t pay in enough tax during the year that way), pay the first installment of your 2021 estimated tax. Use Form 1040-ES. For more information, see Pub. 505.
CORPORATIONS: For calendar year corporations, deposit the first installment of estimated income tax for 2021. A worksheet, Form 1120-W, is available to help you estimate your tax for the year.
TRUSTS: 2020 tax returns must be filed or extended. The balance due must be paid. An automatic extension to September 30, 2021 using Form 7004 can be filed. This is NOT an extension to pay.

For additional information on these deadlines or our tax services, please click here to contact us.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: International
2021-04-15
Deadline to file FINCen 114 (Formerly known as Form TD F 90-22.1) (FBAR). Reporting is on a calendar year, regardless of the taxpayer’s fiscal year elected.
Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entities must paper file a pro-forma Form 1120 and Form 5472. An automatic extension to October 15, 2021 using Form 7004 is available.
For additional information on these deadlines or our international services, please click here to contact us.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Benefit Plans (12/31 year end)
2021-04-15
BENEFIT PLAN DEADLINE (12/31 year end):
Corrective distribution of 402(g) (excess deferrals)
For additional information on these deadlines or our employee benefit plan audit services, please click here to contact us.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Benefit Plans (12/31 year end)
2021-04-01
BENEFIT PLAN DEADLINE (12/31 year end):
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) beginning date for 5% owners and terminated participants who turned 72 in 2020. This deadline applies only to the first RMD. Subsequent RMDs must be made by December 31 of each year
For additional information on these deadlines or our employee benefit plan audit services, please click here to contact us.

CCCF - Sweet Charity à la COVID
2021-03-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
BLS is a Copper Sponsor for Chester County Community Foundation’s 2021 Sweet Charity Events!
Join the Chester County Community Foundation on Zoom Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 12pm for the second session of their Sweet Charity Event.
Sweet Charity à la COVID
Chef Jessica Perez, Carlino’s Market
March 30, 2021
12:00pm
Network, learn insider dessert creation tips from Carlino’s Executive Pastry Chef Jessica Perez, discover the vote-winning dessert, and see if you’ve won a Carlino’s Gourmet Food Basket.
Find out more here: https://chescocf.org/sweet-charity/

Webinar: Employee Benefit Plan Voluntary Correction Programs: Fixing Costly Errors and Preserving Tax Benefits
2021-03-23 13:00 - 15:00
Christopher J. Ciminera, CPA, QKA, will be presenting at Strafford’s Webinar – Employee Benefit Plan Voluntary Correction Programs: Fixing Costly Errors and Preserving Tax Benefits
Topic: Employee Benefit Plan Voluntary Correction Programs: Fixing Costly Errors and Preserving Tax Benefits
Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Time: 1:00pm – 2:50pm ET

This webinar will provide employee benefit plan auditors with best practices and the proper procedures to remedy serious and costly (but all too common) benefit plan errors through available IRS and DOL retirement plan correction programs. The panel will explain the processes and potential pitfalls that practitioners often encounter in correcting plan mistakes and outline how to address these issues based on real-world experiences.
Identifying an operational error during the plan audit is usually only the first step. As a valued service provider, your client generally will request your help to correct operational failures identified during the audit. To be able to appropriately guide them through the correction and to keep the plan in compliance, you must stay on top of the IRS’s and DOL’s ever-changing rules and regulations and understand the available options to correct mistakes once they are discovered.To appropriately assess risk in the audit and help correct identified errors, employee benefit plan auditors and advisers must understand the most prevalent errors and have familiarity with the government’s compliance programs. Our panel will explain how you can provide additional value to your client by helping identify and correct errors in their retirement plan operations–before an IRS audit or DOL investigation occurs.
Our panel will elaborate on the available options to fix plan errors. The panel’s insights will help you identify common errors and effectively collaborate with service providers, potentially including ERISA counsel, to present the client with the available correction options for their consideration. The program will help you gain an understanding of different types of corrective actions under the IRS’s Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) and the DOL’s Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance (DFVC) and Voluntary Fiduciary Correction (VFC) programs.
Listen as our panel offers insights based on real world experience for remedying high risk mistakes commonly identified during benefit plan audits. The panel will also outline approaches to correct plan errors before an audit or after a filing.

For more information, visit Strafford’s Webinar Listing.

NAIFA DE Spring Symposium: Tax Planning
2021-03-23 09:35 - 10:25
Michael D. Kelly, CPA, will be presenting at NAIFA DE’s Spring Symposium on the topic of Tax Planning
Topic: Tax Planning with Michael D. Kelly, CPA
Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Time: 9:35am – 10:25am ET

The show must go on – albeit virtual – NAIFA Delaware is continuing to offer the opportunity to network, learn, and earn CE credits. Attendees will receive credit for those presentations they are logged in for. The log of attendees is stored electronically. If a registrant is logged into 2 presentations, they will receive those 2 credits earned. The electronic log will show the start and end time for each participant. All attendees must pre-register to receive credit and provide their NPN# or license information for CFP, at registration in order to receive credit(s).

For more information and to register, visit NAIFA DE’s Website.

CCCF - Sweet Charity: Growing & Sourcing Locally
2021-03-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
BLS is a Copper Sponsor for Chester County Community Foundation’s 2021 Sweet Charity Events!
Join the Chester County Community Foundation on Zoom Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 12pm for the second session of their Sweet Charity Event.
Growing & Sourcing Locally: Where does my food come from?
Terry Brett, CEO, Kimberton Whole Foods
Pete Flynn, Owner, Pete’s Produce Farm
Emily Kovach, Editor-in-Chief, PA Eats
March 16, 2021
12:00pm
Don’t forget to purchase your Sweet Charity GOLDEN TICKET!
We know you yearn to gather at Sweet Charity to catch up with friends, enjoy an array of Chester County desserts, and support our mission. But not yet. Safety first. Instead, ‘til we have conquered COVID…

Show you care about community philanthropy by purchasing a Sweet Charity Golden Ticket for $100, $500, or $1,000.
Bring your Golden Ticket to Carlino’s Market in West Chester, anytime from 9am-5pm March 25–27.
Carlino’s Market: 128 W Market St, West Chester, PA 19382
Exchange your Golden Ticket for a box of 4 Sweet Charity mini-desserts.
Savor each mini-dessert at home, along with your favorite adult beverage.
Go online to vote for your favorite mini-dessert, and share your comments and critiques.
Zoom in on Tuesday, March 30 at noon to network with us, learn insider dessert creation tips from Carlino’s Executive Pastry Chef Jessica Perez, discover the vote-winning dessert, and see if you’ve won a Carlino’s Gourmet Food Basket.

Find out more here: https://chescocf.org/sweet-charity/
