Dear CCH Learning Center Subscriber,

Welcome to the January issue of Focus on Learning, the monthly newsletter for the CCH Learning Center that provides insights on how to use the Learning Center to your full advantage and updates on new courses and features available to you. In each issue we highlight a course (or series of courses) on a timely topic, and let you know about new courses released in the Learning Center. We also inform you of new useful features, provide helpful tips on existing features, and help you use the CCH Learning Center to meet your professional development and CPE needs.

Course Spotlight

Individual Income Tax Refresher series. Noted tax educator Sidney Kess provides insights on the latest new developments affecting 2004 individual income tax returns in this Learning Center series. CCH's Individual Income Tax Refresher Series (2005 Edition) takes you step-by-step through the 2004 Form 1040. It informs you about tax preparation basics and new developments including new credits, exclusions, form changes, and planning tips. You can complete the entire series, or just the topics you need to brush up on. The numerous and important changes from the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 and the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 are fully integrated throughout the series. 

This series is perfect for helping novice tax preparers learn the basics, or for seasoned professionals who need to refresh themselves on individual income tax preparation prior to the busy tax season. It provides a comprehensive review of the basic principles of income tax return preparation. Each course is fully updated to reflect legislative changes and other key new developments. The latest provisions that have an impact on 2004 returns are helpfully highlighted throughout the series and refund opportunities for prior year returns are noted. To further assist practitioners in accurate preparation of returns, the courses also point out common errors that have been identified by the IRS compliance team. Courses in the series include:

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 1: Form 1040 New Developments and Filing Requirements (2005 Edition) 

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 2: Form 1040 Gross Income (2005 Edition) 

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 3: Form 1040 Exclusions (2005 Edition) 

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 4: Form 1040 Adjustments to Gross Income (2005 Edition)

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 5: Form 1040 Business Income and Expenses (2005 Edition)

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 6: Form 1040 Itemized Deductions (2005 Edition)

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 7: Figuring the Tax (2005 Edition)

• Individual Income Tax Refresher Course Part 8: Tax Credits and Estimated Tax Rules (2005 Edition)

New Learning Center Courses

CCH is committed to keeping you up-to-date and knowledgeable on the latest issues that impact your firm or corporation. In addition to the last four courses in the Individual Income Tax Refresher Series, several new or revised courses have been released to the Learning Center since our last issue of Focus on Learning was issued in December. A few other titles have been updated to reflect changes from the new tax acts. See the new or updated titles released to the Learning Center here. 

• Alternative Minimum Tax: Possible New Tax Regime  

• Depreciation Course (2005 Edition) 

• Partnership Sales and Distributions: Making Sense of the Complex Rules Part 1: Sales of Partnership Interest 

• Partnership Sales and Distributions: Making Sense of the Complex Rules Part 2: Partnership Distributions and Elections 

• S Corporations: Formations and Liquidations 

• Tax Exempt Organizations: Special Tax Rules for Employees 

• Tax Shelters and Scams 

Upcoming Courses

We will release many new courses in the CCH Learning Center in the weeks and months ahead to give you even more choices and more value. Learn more about the new Learning Center courses in development. Among the new and updated courses that are in development now, look for courses in the following areas soon:

• Accounting and auditing

• Capital gains

• Corporate taxation

• Education tax incentives

• Sales and use taxation

• California state issues