Common Interest Services, Inc.

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CAI Single Mother’s Outreach

As a member of the CAI Community Outreach Committee, Ann Borowski-Bitter (CMCA) volunteers her time to help our community. Their first project of 2018 is with Single Mother's Outreach. Here are three ways you can help us support this project:

  1. Donation Drive - Stop by our office to say hi to Ann and drop off any of the following items for donation:
    • Diapers size 3, 4, 5 and 7
    • $25 gift cards to Target, Walmart, movie theaters or grocery stores
    • Non-perishable food items
    • Toiletries
    • New, clean/stainless gently-worn clothing for women and children for their "Closet on Main" resale boutique
  2. Closet on Main
    • Donate to Closet on Main, a resale clothing boutique in the Santa Clarita Valley. 
    • Like them on Facebook to help spread the word of this great cause
  3. Donate Online at here (select a contribution amount under "Register Now").
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FAQ: 1099’s and DE 542’s

Part I: 1099's

What: Form 1099 is a federal tax form used to report miscellaneous income to the IRS for those that do work for the association. Many associations pay independent contractors and other unincorporated entities for work throughout the year. Form 1096 is a summary of the 1099’s filed by the association and is provided to the IRS. Read more about Form 1099 here.

Who: 1099’s are required by the IRS.

When: 1099’s must be issued when the association pays over $600 to an independent contractor or other unincorporated entity.  They must be mailed by January 31st of the following tax year (i.e. 2017 payments must be reported by January 31, 2018).

Why: Accurate and timely filing of 1099’s ensures the association will avoid penalties. The penalty rates range from $50-$530 per form. For more details, click here.

How: All payments that the association has made for the calendar year are summarized by our accounting department and 1099’s are issued to all vendors that meet the federal requirements. We have controls in place to ensure we obtain all pertinent tax information from the association’s vendors to make sure the 1099 filings are as accurate as possible.

Part II: DE 542's

What: Form DE 542 is a report of independent contractors. The association is required to report independent contractor information when it hires an independent contractor and the following statements apply:

  • The association is required to file a Form 1099-MISC for the services performed by the independent contractor (see Part I: 1099’s).
  • The association pays the independent contractor $600 or more or enter into a contract for $600 or more.
  • The independent contractor is an individual or sole proprietorship.

Read more at the EDD website, here.

Who: DE 542’s are required by the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

When: A DE 542 must be filed within 20 days of either making payments of $600 or more or entering into a contract for $600 or more with an independent contractor in any calendar year, whichever is earlier.

Why: The information reported on a DE 542 is used to assist state and county agencies in locating parents who are delinquent in the child support obligations. Accurate and timely filing of the DE 542’s ensures the association will avoid facing penalties. The association may be charged a penalty of $24-$490 for each failure to report within the required time frames.

How: When a new vendor is entered into our software, we determine if these filing requirements will apply to them. Once any qualifying vendors reach payments of $600 or more, our accounting department generates and files a DE 542 for that vendor.

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CIS Proudly Announces Newest PCAM

Nels Atha, CEO of Common Interest Services, Inc., has earned his PCAM, the highest designation in the industry

CIS is proud to announce that Nels Atha, CEO is a Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM). CAI-GLAC surprised him in our Torrance office last week with flowers and a balloon to let him know he had successfully completed the PCAM Case Study, the final stage to earning the highest designation in the industry. 

Nels began his career as an association manager over 15 years ago and founded CIS is 2011. He has spent his many years in the industry working towards this professional goal. Education is a top priority of his, successfully completing an array of classes offered through CAI and becoming an expert in the industry. He has dedicated his time volunteering for CAI's California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC), putting his expertise into action in Sacramento and staying current with legislative changes. 

What does it take to become a PCAM?

  • Five years of community association management experience
  • Expertise in Facilities Management, Association Communications, Community Leadership, Community Governance, Risk Management and Financial Management
  • Completion of the PCAM Case Study, a comprehensive onsite examination of an actual community association
  • Strict adherence to CAI's Professional Manager Code of Ethics 

Congratulations Nels!

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And The Winner Is…

At last week's CAI-GLAC Industry Excellence Awards Luncheon, Ann was awarded the 2017 Rising Star Award!

The Rising Star Award is presented to a new CAI member (within the first two years of membership) who has become involved in the chapter and demonstrated a high level of commitment and participation.

Ann joined CAI shortly after becoming a member of the CIS management team. Within a year she became a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®). She is a member of the Golf Committee and the Community Outreach Committee. The Golf Committee organizes and executes the annual golf tournament each May. This is the chapter's largest fundraising event. Last September, the Community Outreach Committee organized a food drive for the LA Food Bank.  Ann spread the word about the food drive to those in the industry and collected food in our office. On the day the donations were dropped off, she spent the day volunteering at the Food Bank.  Our company, CIS, along with our partner companies MPI and C7 donated 433 pounds of food. Ann also volunteered her time for The Spark of Love Toy Drive in December.

Congratulations to Ann and all of the other winners!

For a complete list of award recipients, click here.

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Why Did My Assessment Amount Change?

You may have noticed a change to you assessment amount on your most recent statement. The fiscal year for many associations ends on 12/31 and a new fiscal year means a new budget and often a new assessment amount. Each year the board of directors reviews the needs of the association and the desires of its members to create a budget. Like your own personal expenses, many of the expenses of the association go up each year and an increase in the total expenses to the association results in a change to assessments. The annual budget is distributed to all members 30-60 days before the fiscal year end. You will find the detailed expenses that your board anticipates for the upcoming year in the budget package, which may also be downloaded by logging in to your online account. If you are new to our site, we highly recommend that you register for an online account for access to your complete account history, association documents, payment options and more. 

 

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