[jeff]

Free Study Planner, Notes, Audio, Flashcards: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-plan/

Free CPA Exam Survival Guide: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-survival-guide/

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[LaComptable]

Hi Amor D,

Good question. I agree that the actual calculation of this phase out is not really explained in the Becker text (unless I missed something.) I imagine that's because Becker doesn't think we'll be tested on it.

I actually don't think Becker calculated this phase out correctly. Your question made me dig around in the IRS publications. I'm not in tax, so someone correct me if I'm misinterpreting what I'm reading here. Publication 590, Chapter 2, Worksheet 2-2 (which is for Roth IRA's) calculated the phaseout by dividing excess AGI by $10,000 to arrive at a phaseout percentage. That is consistent with the Becker example, but that is for Roth IRA's (not a regular IRA which I believe the Becker example is supposed to be.) For regular IRA's, it looks like the phaseout is calculated differently according to Publication 590 Chapter 1, Worksheet 1-2. Based on looking at the IRS worksheets, it looks like the example in the Becker text is incorrect or is for a Roth IRA – not a regular IRA. You might report it to Becker as a possible error in their text.

BEC - 88
AUD - 74, 87
REG - 77
FAR - 63, 82

CIA certified in 2013

[Kimboroni]

My Wiley book is frustrating me– it seems really inconsistent on calculating the treatment of organizational costs. It always talks about reducing them when they are over $50K, but then doesn't seem to reduce it.

As far as deducting them over 180 months, sometimes it takes the full amount and calculates the per-month deduction, then just deducts the 6 months' worth for the first year. And sometimes it subtracts the $5K, then calculates the amount for each of the 180 months, and adds the $5K back in, so it's deducting the partial first year amount plus $5K.

It's driving me nuts.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Nramona]

Hi All, so i have around 2 weeks till my test date but I havent started R8 (becker)… I honestly feel like skipping it and focusing on tax.. any thoughts?

FAR (2/14): PASSED!
AUD (5/14): PASSED!
REG (7/14): TBD
BEC (8/14): TBD

[Anonymous]

Nramona,

Why skip it? It'll take you 2-3 days to cover the material and complete the homework thus leaving you with plenty of time to review for your test date.

I wouldn't ever skip any material.

[JMOR]

One week from tomorrow until test day for me. I've completed all of the MCQ's and have been doing 30 question sets of random topics. Any pieces of advice for my last week?

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[Anonymous]

JMor, I'm the day after you!

You studying all day or do you have work as well?

[JMOR]

Nick, I work all day and have a wife, a 16 month old and one more on the way. I study when I can, usually really late at night, early in the morning and lunch. Are you full time studying?

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[Anonymous]

Ugh, I just feel like I'm going to go back to review c-corps and forget everything 🙁

[The Ex Lurker]

Darn you SUMMER! Anyone out there using Becker? If so, I'm hoping to get some assurance on my study plan. I'm in the middle of R3 HW and halfway through R4 lectures. I plan to sit late in July. This will leave me with 4-5 weeks for BEC. I'm unsure if this will be enough time to get through both. I hope to be more aggressive on my studies. 3-4 hours during weekdays and 6-7 during weekends. Like many, my mind gets distracted and I'm often gazing or taking breaks. I could be “studying” for 6 hours but truly get about 4 hours in. Please provide your thoughts.

Also, has anyone use the strategy to view all of the lectures (the entire book) first, go back and then do a hard review followed by HW for each chapter? Did you find this more or less effective?

thanks,

F: Apr 14' Passed
A: May 14' Passed
R: Jul 14' Passed
B: Aug 14' Rematch in Oct *Passed*

[Anonymous]

Im using becker and i do about half or under half of the HW when i go through the lectures. But i also make pretty detailed notes so when i go back and review my notes will be enough instead of 50 pages of reading. I just find it too hard to just sit there and do 200 MCQ's in a row, especially when your scoring 50-70%

[The Ex Lurker]

@Nramona, No!!! don't skip it. At the very least, spend the 4 hours on lectures to highlight the main topics and review the pass keys. I find them and the examples within the text very helpful in getting a quick understanding. I've skipped HW and Sims in the past but I made sure I completed all lectures and a through-all review for each section. If I did not complete all HW and Sims with about 10 days til exam date, I would go though each chapter and hand write the Key topics and notes that I deemed important. Once that's done, I make sure I get at least one practice exam completed about 5 days before exam date. I review that exam and write down the topics that I got wrong. The next couple days, that notebook and I would be best friends. 2 days before exam, I take the second practice exam and write down the topics I got wrong on that exam. The last day, I take it easy on the studying and relax my mind as best as I can. I would go run a mile or two to get fresh air and try to get to bed early. Of course, this is all ideal and most of the time does not work out exactly as planned but I try to get is close.

Good luck!

F: Apr 14' Passed
A: May 14' Passed
R: Jul 14' Passed
B: Aug 14' Rematch in Oct *Passed*

[The Ex Lurker]

@eliasm6, do you mind letting me know where you are at with your studies? My target exam date is a week later than yours.

F: Apr 14' Passed
A: May 14' Passed
R: Jul 14' Passed
B: Aug 14' Rematch in Oct *Passed*

[ske118]

Has anyone been studying MACRS? Becker doesn't seem to have too many questions for it. I know the big thing is no salvage value but what else??

@eliasm6 I try to muddle through the homework problems as best I can and then I do 24 question progress tests. I also go back through my notes in the text and right down the key items.

@JMOR I am doing the same thing as you! Wife, 19 month old girl, and studying in between. I try to do 15 – 30 minutes in the morning, 30 – 45 minutes at lunch and then 2 hours a night and then 3 – 5 hours on Saturday or Sunday. Depending on how much the baby naps. 🙂

AUD - 39, 69, 82! (Feb 2014)
FAR - 52, 73, 70, 72, 81! (Apr 2014)
BEC - 81! (May 2014)
REG - 70, October 3rd... waiting

[Anonymous]

Wow. Your guys' ability to balance work, family and study is impressive.

I just graduated in May, and my start date isn't until October. I just study all day.

[Mamabear]

You're lucky Nick. Take advantage of all that time and knock this exam out. I really wish I had done this before working and having a family. I feel like I have to reread and restudy things over and over because I can only get an hour or two here and there of studying during the week and I tend to forget things if I put too much time in between study sessions. Studying full time gives you the ability to get this stuff done in a relatively short amount of time. 🙂

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Author]

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