R. Michael Sorrells CPA

Mike is the National Director of Nonprofit Tax Services for BDO in our Greater Washington, D.C. regional office. He provides tax consulting and compliance services to a wide spectrum of national and regional tax-exempt organizations. He has specialized solely in exempt taxation for over 20 years and directs a large local nonprofit tax practice. Mike is also the tax leader for the BDO Institute for Nonprofit Excellence.

His extensive experience includes:

• Consultation with BDO and BDO Seidman Alliance firm offices across the U.S. on complex exempt organization issues.
• All aspects of tax compliance and information reporting for organizations, including preparation, review, and quality assurance reviews of tax returns
• Tax research on a wide variety of issues affecting exempt organizations.
• Set-up of new organizations and exemption application.
• Unrelated business income review, analysis, and planning.
• Representation of clients during IRS field audits.
• Consultation on state/local issues affecting exempts.
• Management of tax compliance practice, including the design, development, and implementation of policies and procedures for tax preparation and review.
• Teaching/lecturing professional and client groups.

Mike has written numerous newsletter and journal articles and has spoken to many groups of nonprofit executives on a variety of tax issues concerning their organizations and has also authored several publications on nonprofit tax issues. Mike has actively participated on the AICPA task forces providing comments to the IRS on proposed regulations. As volunteer treasurer for two local charitable organizations, he has firsthand familiarity with the financial responsibilities of a nonprofit board.

Mike recently received the Charles J. Delany award for the most outstanding article for 2009 in Contract Management Magazine, the national publication of the National Contract Management Association. Mike has also been designated by SmartCEO Magazine as a 2010 and 2011 Most Notable CPA.

Professional Affiliations:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants
• Finance and Administration Roundtable
• Greater Washington Society of CPAs (board member and frequent speaker)

Education:

• B.A., Government & Politics and Accounting, University of Maryland

By This Author:

• 2010 Changes to Form 990: Mostly Good Tweaks
• 501(c)(4) Organizations and the IRS: A Little Background on the Controversy
• 990N
• Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions: A Requirement for Nonprofit Financial Statements
• Charity Auctions: Reporting and Tax Rules
• Corporate Sponsorships: Do Them Right and Avoid Tax
• Foreign Account Reporting— More IRS Guidance is Here!
• Important Notice for Small Organizations - New Filing Requirement
• IRS 2013 Exempt Organization Workplan—A Guide to IRS Hot Issues and Initiatives
• IRS Exempt Organizations Annual Report and Workplan: What the IRS is Up To!
• IRS Releases Guidance on Taxable Parking Expenses and Provides Relief for Some Organizations
• Key Considerations for Audit/ Finance Committee Review for Form 990
• Lobbying by Public Charities: The 501(h) Safe Harbor
• New Form 990: Challenges and Lessons Learned
• Payroll Audit Program by IRS, Many Nonprofits to be Examined
• Payroll Taxes -- A Hot IRS Initiative -- With a Burning Question: Employee or Independent Contractor
• Sales and Use Tax
• Schedule A: The Key to Maintaining Public Charity Status
• State Registrations
• Unclaimed Property
• Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT)
• Withholding

Mike is the National Director of Nonprofit Tax Services for BDO USA, LLP in its Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area office. He provides tax consulting and compliance services to a wide spectrum of national and regional tax-exempt organizations including many universities/ colleges, large complex public charities and private foundations. He has specialized solely in exempt taxation for over 25 years and directs a large local non-profit tax practice. Mike is also the tax leader for the BDO Institute for Nonprofit Excellence. He writes, blogs and speaks frequently throughout the US on a variety of tax issues of interest to exempt organizations. Mike is a Past President of the Greater Washington Society of CPA’s and a Council Member of the AICPA.