The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and the UK department of agricultural economics is sponsoring a series of workshops in November and December for tax practitioners.

The two-day workshops will be held at 14 locations around the state and are designed to help refine tax preparation skills and to provide updates on new rulings and the latest tax law changes.

The workshops are designed to educate those who assist taxpayers in preparing and filing both federal and state income tax returns, according to Dick Trimble, state coordinator for the workshops.

The program is conducted in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service and Kentucky Revenue Cabinet.

Topics for this year's seminars include individual and small business problems, agricultural issues, What's New, electronic filing, compliance issues, tax issues involving older taxpayers, sale of a going business, death of a taxpayer, gifting, divorce, form 1099, professional responsibilities, investments, retirement, loss and deduction limitations and depreciation.

The program is designed for accountants, tax preparers, attorneys, enrolled agents, certified financial planners, banks and financial institutions, insurance professionals, estate planners and corporate business managers.

Continuing education credits are available for the first time this year for 16 credit hours from the Kentucky Department of Insurance. There are also 16 hours of continuing education credits approved by the Kentucky State Board of Accountancy and Enrolled Agents and 1.6 university credit hours for professionals. Attorneys must directly apply to the Kentucky Bar Association for credit.

The first workshop is Nov. 8 and 9 in Frankfort and registration must be made by Oct. 25. Other locations are Bowling Green, Bardstown, Somerset, Paducah, Jenny Wiley State Park, Owensboro, Lexington, Morehead, Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Hopkinsville, and Mayfield.

A limited number of registration forms are available at county Extension offices. For further information or additional registration forms contact Carol Eads, UK Income Tax Workshop Office, 640 South Broadway, Suite 210, Lexington, KY 40508, (859) 252-3769 and fax, (859) 225- 9043.