Agenda – Tax Practitioner Institute
10/22/25
Preliminary and Subject to Change Prior to the Event
Register
- 7:45 AM - 7:50 AM
VIRTUAL SESSION SIGN-IN
- 7:50 AM - 8:00 AM
Opening Announcements & Remarks
Tim Hobbs - Deputy District DirectorUS Small Business Administration’s Maine District Office - 8:00 AM - 8:55 AM
1040 Update: Navigating the 2025 Tax Act
Learn how the 2025 Tax Act impacts Form 1040 and key individual tax forms. This session covers new provisions, phaseouts, and compliance issues that may affect your clients—and your workflow—this filing season.
Echo Palmer, PrincipalPalmer Accounting - 8:55 AM - 9:50 AM
Breakout Session – 2025 Maine Tax Update: Forms, Legislation & Year-End Planning
Get a comprehensive look at Maine’s 2025 tax form revisions and legislative updates. Learn how these changes impact your clients and explore planning moves to make before year-end.
This session does not qualify for IRS continuing education credits
TBDMaine Revenue Service - 8:55 AM - 9:50 AM
Breakout Session – Asset Protection & SECURE 2.0: What Advisors Need to Know
Review the latest guidance on inherited IRAs under SECURE 2.0 and how these changes create new risks—and opportunities—for asset protection. Understand when and how to use trusts and trust protectors to help clients protect generational wealth.
Rick Abbondanza, PartnerHopkinson & Abbondanza - 10:00 AM - 10:55 AM
Helping Clients Navigate Cyber Risks: A Guide for Tax Advisors
Whether it’s a real estate client hit by wire fraud or a nonprofit exposed in a data breach, cybercrime is becoming a common issue across client types. This session equips you to talk confidently about risks, recovery, and preventative practices your clients need to consider.
Mark Scholl, Consultant, Retired PartnerWipfli - 10:55 AM - 11:50 AM
Schedule C Essentials: Preparation, Related Forms, and Tax Impact
Dive into the rules and reporting strategies behind Schedule C. Learn how to help clients avoid missteps, improve documentation, and optimize tax outcomes through better handling of sole proprietor returns.
Justin Freeman, PrincipalFreeman & Co. CPAs - 11:50 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch Break
- 12:30 PM - 1:25 PM
Real Estate Tax Topics: Short-Term Rentals, Grouping Elections, and TCJA
Explore the evolving tax landscape for real estate clients. We’ll review REP status qualifications, short-term rentals compliance pitfalls, and tax-saving strategies tied to grouping elections and TCJA phaseouts.
Jeff Hiatt, PrincipalCost Segment StudiesMike Smith, PartnerCost Segment Studies - 1:25 PM - 2:20 PM
Discussion of Key Tax Considerations related to Cryptocurrency
This session breaks down how the IRS defines, regulates, and taxes cryptocurrency and digital assets. Learn how to advise clients on reporting requirements, transaction types, and the tax implications of buying, holding, and selling virtual currency.
Cynthia Pedersen, Director Cohen & Co. - 2:30 PM - 3:25 PM
Estate & Gift Planning Ahead of the TCJA Sunset
With elevated exemption limits set to expire after 2025, this session outlines what professionals need to know about potential changes to federal estate and gift tax law—and how to help clients act before it’s too late.
Parker Towle, PartnerLeblance & Young - 3:25 PM - 4:25 PM
Ethics Essentials: Circular 230 and IRS Expectations
Get a clear overview of IRS ethics rules, including recent updates to Circular 230. This session covers what the Office of Professional Responsibility looks for, how violations are enforced, and how to protect your reputation and credentials.
Dan Doiron, PrincipalAlbin, Randall & Bennett, CPAs - 4:30 PM
Adjourn
VIRTUAL SESSION SIGN-IN
Opening Announcements & Remarks
1040 Update: Navigating the 2025 Tax Act
Learn how the 2025 Tax Act impacts Form 1040 and key individual tax forms. This session covers new provisions, phaseouts, and compliance issues that may affect your clients—and your workflow—this filing season.
Breakout Session – 2025 Maine Tax Update: Forms, Legislation & Year-End Planning
Get a comprehensive look at Maine’s 2025 tax form revisions and legislative updates. Learn how these changes impact your clients and explore planning moves to make before year-end.
This session does not qualify for IRS continuing education credits
Breakout Session – Asset Protection & SECURE 2.0: What Advisors Need to Know
Review the latest guidance on inherited IRAs under SECURE 2.0 and how these changes create new risks—and opportunities—for asset protection. Understand when and how to use trusts and trust protectors to help clients protect generational wealth.
Helping Clients Navigate Cyber Risks: A Guide for Tax Advisors
Whether it’s a real estate client hit by wire fraud or a nonprofit exposed in a data breach, cybercrime is becoming a common issue across client types. This session equips you to talk confidently about risks, recovery, and preventative practices your clients need to consider.
Schedule C Essentials: Preparation, Related Forms, and Tax Impact
Dive into the rules and reporting strategies behind Schedule C. Learn how to help clients avoid missteps, improve documentation, and optimize tax outcomes through better handling of sole proprietor returns.
Lunch Break
Real Estate Tax Topics: Short-Term Rentals, Grouping Elections, and TCJA
Explore the evolving tax landscape for real estate clients. We’ll review REP status qualifications, short-term rentals compliance pitfalls, and tax-saving strategies tied to grouping elections and TCJA phaseouts.
Discussion of Key Tax Considerations related to Cryptocurrency
This session breaks down how the IRS defines, regulates, and taxes cryptocurrency and digital assets. Learn how to advise clients on reporting requirements, transaction types, and the tax implications of buying, holding, and selling virtual currency.
Estate & Gift Planning Ahead of the TCJA Sunset
With elevated exemption limits set to expire after 2025, this session outlines what professionals need to know about potential changes to federal estate and gift tax law—and how to help clients act before it’s too late.
Ethics Essentials: Circular 230 and IRS Expectations
Get a clear overview of IRS ethics rules, including recent updates to Circular 230. This session covers what the Office of Professional Responsibility looks for, how violations are enforced, and how to protect your reputation and credentials.
Adjourn
Register
Maine Tax Workshops Advisory Team
We greatly appreciate the assistance of the Maine Tax Workshops Advisory Team in planning this agenda. Their experience with the chosen topics was a great resource for the SCORE planning team.
Bryce Morrison – Bernstein Shur
Christopher Stevenson – Drummond Woodson
Jeff Hiatt – Performance Business Solutions, Inc.
Joe Balchunas – SCORE
Justin Coffin – Apollon New England
Mike Santo – Wipfli LLP
Nat Hussey – Nat Hussey Law
Timothy Woodhouse – Aries Wealth Management
Rick Abbondanza – Hopkinson & Abbondanza
Holly Gerard – Maine Revenue Services
Larry LaPlante – SCORE
Sno Barry – Berry Dunn
Frank Schoenrock – SCORE
Echo Palmer – Palmer Accounting LLC