Accounting instructors James Hopkins and Mark Nielsen wrote an article that appeared in the Tax Pro Journal.

Sioux City, IA – “Scholarships, Unearned Income, and the Kiddie Tax: Using the 2019 estate and trust tax rates,” an article written by James Hopkins, retired professor of accounting at Morningside College, and Mark Nielsen, assistant professor of accounting at Morningside College, appeared in Volume 27/Issue 2 of the 2020 Tax Pro Journal published by the National Association of Tax Professionals. 

James Hopkins started his teaching career at Morningside College in 1986. Prior to joining Morningside, he worked 13 years in public and private accounting, primarily in the tax area. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Ferris State University, a Master of Arts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Hopkins has written several articles on income tax issues, including how student scholarships affect a student’s support for tax purposes, tax benefits for qualifying relatives, head of household filing status issues, income tax dependency exemptions for blended families living together, and definitions of qualifying child and qualifying relative for income tax purposes. In May 2017, he authored the book “Family Tax Benefits for Qualifying Child and Qualifying Relative Dependents – 2016 Edition.” The book was updated in January 2018 as the 2017 Edition.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants, and National Association of Tax Professionals.

Mark Nielsen has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa and an undergraduate degree in business from Augustana University.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and worked in public accounting for ten years where he prepared and reviewed tax returns, GAAP financial statements, and audit work papers. Nielsen has seven years of higher education teaching experience and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants. 

Morningside’s public accounting major is designed to prepare students for the Certified Public Accountant exam with consideration for CPA requirements in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. With a comprehensive curriculum taught by faculty with extensive accounting and business experience, the public accounting major at Morningside produces well-rounded professionals ready to enter the workforce after graduation.