Fundamentals of Cooperative Taxation

Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Time: 02:00 PM ET / 01:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT / 11:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenter: Meegan Moriarty
Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Education Director, National Society of Accountant for Cooperatives
Learning Objectives:
• Become acquainted with the types of cooperatives and the sources of tax and other laws that regulate cooperatives including Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 521 farmer cooperatives.
• Understand how a cooperative’s structure and operation determines its taxation with a particular focus on the definition of patronage, how patronage refunds are distributed, how per-unit retains operate, and how cooperatives deal with losses. Recognize how effective hedging strategies support sound financial management and member value.
• Understand the taxation of patrons as well as additional tax concepts including the operation of the domestic production activities deduction under IRC section 199A(g).
Field of Study: Taxes
Program Level: Basic
CPE Credit: 1.5 Credit Hour
Delivery Method: Group Internet-based
Prerequisite(s): No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.

Course Description

A cooperative is a special type of C-corporation that receives a deduction when it distributes patronage refunds. This webinar will provide an overview of cooperatives and cooperative regulation focusing on how the operation of a cooperative determines how it is taxed. Patronage refunds occur when earnings on business done with or for patrons of the cooperative are distributed to the patrons. The webinar will describe the rules governing these distributions including the distinction between patronage and non-patronage business. Additionally, the webinar will address the treatment of losses, the taxation of patrons, and the special domestic production activities deduction available to farmer cooperatives.

Presenter and Moderator Bios

Presenter: Meegan Moriarty

Meegan Moriarty provides consulting services to cooperatives and small businesses and advocates for cooperative development through webinars and written publications. Until September 30, 2025, she was the senior legal policy analyst for USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs. In that position, Meegan tracked and advised on cooperative legal policy developments in state and federal tax, antitrust, securities, and agricultural law areas. She led a congressionally mandated interagency working group on cooperative development that was created to assist with coordination among federal agencies and private sector cooperative stakeholders on cooperative policy. She also led a nationwide project researching and comparing state cooperative statutes. Additionally, she was a national point of contact for Rural Development grant, loan, and guarantee programs that apply to cooperatives. She is the editor of the Small Cooperative Forum for the National Society of Cooperative Accountants’ Cooperative Accountant Magazine. She is also active with the Cooperative Professionals Guild. Previously she worked in the National Tax office of Ernst and Young analyzing federal tax legislation and regulations and consulting with clients on business opportunities presented by tax law changes. She has a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA from the University of Notre Dame.

Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Education Director, National Society of Accountant for Cooperatives

After retiring as Tax Director of a regional supply cooperative on the East Coast, Wayne Sine was asked to serve as Education Director for NSAC. As an active and long-term member of NSAC, Wayne previously served as Chair of NSAC’s Tax Committee, President of the Atlantic Chapter, and was a recipient of NSAC’s Silver Bowl Award. In addition to his work with NSAC, Wayne has also served on the Legal, Tax, and Accounting (LTA) Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Chaired the Tax Committees for both the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturers Association, served on the Tax Policy Committee of the Virginia Society of CPAs, and served as Region Vice President for Tax Executives Institute.

Cost
Free for NSAC Members / $65.00 for Non-Members

Online Registration

Delivery System

All programs are delivered using the Zoom platform.
Confirmations will include log-in instructions.
Participants are able to participate using any device with an Internet connect (if the device does not have speakers, the participant can also dial-in) or they can participate with audio only by dialing in.
All registrants will receive a link to the CLN’s recording by email within 48 business hours of event’s conclusion.
There will be assistance available to help with technical and connectivity issues up to 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

All registration is done on-line and each guest must provide their name and email address to participate. All NSAC members may register for free. Non-members may register for a nominal fee.

NSAC will not issue refunds for CLNs. If a registrant is unable to participate in the CLN and provides notification to info@nsacoop.org 48 hours prior to the session, a credit will be provided for a future CLN. Alert the NSAC staff member monitoring the CLN if technical difficulties are encountered and technical support will be provided to eliminate problems with future CLNs.

Live participation is required for CPE credit and polling questions must be answered to document your active participation. All registrants will receive an email following the session with links to the slides and/or handouts, and a link to the CLN recording (unless otherwise stated). If you are unable to participate in the live session, you can still watch the recorded session, but you will not be eligible for CPE credits. Those eligible for credits will receive their certificate by email with 7 business days.

For more information regarding NSAC CLNs or administrative policies such as complaint and refund, contact the NSAC Headquarters, 7946 Clyo Road, Suite A, Centerville, OH 45459, 937-222-6707, or info@nsacoop.org.

What is NSAC's Cooperative Learning Network?
The NSAC Cooperative Learning Network is a live, interactive webinar, and you can attend from any location with internet and/or telephone access. NSAC members can attend an unlimited number of CLNs at no charge!

Each Cooperative Learning Network will have one or more speakers who are recognized experts on the topic. CLNs typically include a Q&A session where participants can ask questions live or by chat. No advance preparation or prerequisites are required, unless otherwise stated in the course information. Attendees are able to download copies of the slides and/or handouts and are provided a link to view the recording (unless the description states the session will not be recorded). These tools help continue your learning experience after the session.

CPE Credits
The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor (#103068) of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Delivery Method: Group-Internet Based.

Why NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks?

Fast.
No wasted time. Get right to the heart of the matter in a course designed to easily fit into your busy schedule.

Convenient.
No travel. No time out of the office. Listen and follow along from the comfort and convenience of your desk, device or conference room.

Easy.
A device with an Internet connection is all you need. If your device does not have sound capabilities, the ability to dial in from a telephone is available.

Ideal for multiple attendees.
Use a speakerphone and projector/monitor and invite as many people as you want to participate - at no extra cost to you.

Affordable.
NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks are free for members and available to non members at a fraction of the cost of travel and attendance fees for other high-priced conferences or seminars.