September 2009

Welcome to the September 2009 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 CCH 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: Codification and the New GAAP Hierarchy: FAS 168
On July 1, 2009, the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification completely changed the way that U.S. GAAP is documented, updated, referenced, and accessed. Beginning on that date, the Codification officially became the single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. GAAP, superseding existing FASB, AICPA, Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), and related literature. Only one level of authoritative GAAP exists now. All other literature is considered non-authoritative. This CPE course distills the guidance found in FAS 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles-a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162. Topics covered include:

• What is included in the Codification

• How to do research in the Codification

• How to cite to the Codification

New Learning Center Core Library Courses
CCH is committed to keeping you up-to-date and knowledgeable on the latest issues that impact your firm or corporation. Many new or revised courses covering a wide range of topics have been released to the CCH Learning Center Core Library over the past two months, including:




• Codification and the New GAAP Hierarchy: FAS 168

• Divorce and Taxes: Child-Related Issues (Second Edition)

• FAS 162: The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

• FAS 163: Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts

• Financial Accounting Issues

• Home Ownership: Tax Incentives for Buying and Maintaining a Home

• IFRS and Other Major Changes Coming to GAAP

• Recent Auditing Standards: SAS 113-114

• Recent Tax Developments (July-August 2009)

• S Corporations (Sixth Edition)

• SAS 115, Communicating Internal Control Related Matters Identified in an Audit

• Tax Accounting Methods (Third Edition)

• Tax Accounting Periods (Third Edition)

New Courses: Accounting and Audits Specialty Library
In addition to the titles listed above, new courses have been released exclusively to the CCH Specialty Library: Accounting and Audits. This library covers a broad range of accounting and auditing courses including specialized topics. The new courses released are:

• Accounting for Business Combinations
  
  

• Balance Sheet Classification (Third Edition)
  
  

• Cash Flow Statements: Content and Form
  
  

• Derivatives and Hedging — Overview of Statement 133 (Second Edition)
  
  

New Courses: State Taxation Specialty Library
New courses have also been released exclusively to the CCH Specialty Library: State Taxation. The courses in this library provide insights on basic and emerging state tax issues. Written by top experts in the field, these courses offer timely coverage, current information and in-depth analysis, giving you the guidance you need to keep a step ahead of important state tax issues. The new courses released exclusively to this library are:

• Sales and Use Taxes: Compliance Issues
  
  

• Sales and Use Taxes: Conducting the Sales and Use Tax Audit
  
  

New Course: Wealth Management Specialty Library
In addition to the titles listed above, a new course has been released exclusively to the CCH Specialty Library: Wealth Management. This library provides insights on important or emerging financial and estate planning issues. It addresses a wide range of wealth management issues, from strategic planning to preparation of the appropriate tax forms. The new course released is:

• Charitable Giving Tax Strategies (Fourth Edition)
  
  

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. Among the new and updated courses that are in development now, look for courses in the following areas soon:

• Education Tax Incentives

• Emerging Auditing Issues

• Estate Planning Strategies

• FAS 123R: Share-Based Payments

• Home Sales and Foreclosures: Tax Breaks and Alternatives

• International Convergence

• Latest Developments on the Accounting Front

• Obama Administration’s Proposal to Reform the U.S. Financial Regulatory System

• Recent Tax Developments (September-October 2009)

• Service Organizations

• Tax Relief and Incentives for Individuals

Audio Seminars
CCH’s wide range of interesting, educational CPE options now includes audio seminars. Each audio seminar allows an unlimited number of users at your firm to get up-to-speed on a hot topic using nothing more than a telephone connection. Plus, participants can earn up to 2 CPE Credits. Learn about upcoming audio seminars here.

CCH’s audio seminars, presented by top experts, are designed to provide you with updated information on the hottest tax and accounting topics. Along with detailed handout materials, each site registering for an audio seminar receives topically-related bonus items such as books, journals, newsletters or self-study CPE courses. Check out the latest Audio Seminars schedule for details on upcoming seminars.

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