Five Things to Do After Passing the CPA Exam
Many candidates like myself who have spent hundreds of hours studying over the course of several months (or years) and finally passing don’t really know what to do with themselves or their newly found free time. Here are five suggestions to help pass the time:
5. Peruse the internet and treat yourself to an item costing around $350…which is the cost of the new NTS you’re used to paying for plus two rescheduling fees. Your bank account is used to not having it anyway.
4. Now that you have time do to such things, pour a cup of coffee and reflect upon the irony of the AICPA testing the concepts of timeliness and real time data processing.
3. While you don’t really want to do so, grab your Regulation book and spend a few hours reviewing it so that you can answer your relatives’ tax questions over Christmas. The prospect of free CPA advice will be enticing to them and this will be the last Christmas you remember anything about taxes.
2. Put off applying for your license until after you file your tax return. This is the last tax year that you can be liberal with your tax deductions without the professional consequences of doing so.
note – criminal charges may still apply. Consult your local CPA.
(…this is tongue-in-cheek for everyone out there with the IRS Tipline on speed dial…)
1. You’re going to need a new excuse for skipping family reunions and other gatherings you would rather miss. “Sorry, I have my exam in two weeks and I need to study” will not cut it anymore. It’s time to think of a new one.
