ABUSIVE TAX SCHEMES, IRS DEBT COLLECTION
AND
TERRORIST FINANCING AMONG ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED
AT ABA TAX SECTION 2003 MAY MEETING
WASHINGTON, DC—More than 2,000 tax lawyers from
around the country will gather to debate and discuss the latest
developments in tax law at the American Bar Association Section
of Taxation 2003 May Meeting.
Among the highlights are programs on such diverse
issues as proposals to eliminate or reduce taxes on dividends, the
pros and cons of outsourcing IRS collection activities, concerns
about terrorist financing and tax-exempt organizations, and the
problems associated with new tax shelter disclosure and listing
regulations. The meeting, to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in
Washington, D.C., will take place May 8–10.
“The May Meeting is a great opportunity for tax
professionals to network with and learn from the country’s
leading tax attorneys and to hear from numerous government tax officials
about the latest federal tax policy initiatives, regulations and
legislative proposals,” said Herbert N. Beller, chair of the
ABA Section of Taxation.
IRS Commissioner-nominee Mark W. Everson has been
invited to deliver the keynote address at the Section Luncheon on
Saturday, May 10. The Section will also present its two highest
awards, the 2003 Distinguished Service Award and the 2003 Pro Bono
Award, at the luncheon.
More than 60 educational meetings and programs are
scheduled over two days. Among the dozens of government officials
and policy makers scheduled to speak are IRS Chief Counsel B. John
Williams and IRS National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson.
Terrorism and its effect on tax policy will be the subject of several
programs during the meeting. On Friday, May 9, representatives from
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Open Society Institute
and other charitable organizations will join government and private
industry experts in back-to-back programs: “Terrorist Financing
Concerns: Following the Flow of Funds Overseas” and “Flow
of Funds Overseas: The Charities Perspective.”
On Saturday, May 10, “The New International Tax Enforcement
Paradigm” will feature a panel discussion on international
tax investigations and enforcement since September 11, including
the offshore credit card initiative, new U.S. information exchange
agreements, and the impact of the Patriot Act on tax enforcement.
Other program highlights include:
- “Discrimination Redux: Earnings Stripping, Dividend Exclusions,
Etc.,” a panel discussion on the Bush Administration’s
dividend exclusion proposal and its possible effect on international
tax policy;
- “Outsourcing IRS Collections,” a panel discussion
on the practical limitations of using outside sources to collect
federal income taxes; and
- “Tax Stories: What Famous Old Tax Cases Can Tell us About
Today’s Tax Law,” a panel of law professors examining
the legal and historical context of leading federal income tax
cases and their continuing importance in shaping tax law.
In addition to the terrorism-related programs on the
agenda, on Thursday, May 8, the Section will present its “Tax
Exempt Toolkit,” a program designed to provide directors, executives,
volunteers and others associated with small tax exempt organizations
an overview of pertinent tax rules and other legal requirements.
The May Meeting will follow the Fifth Annual Workshop on Low Income
Taxpayer Clinics, co-sponsored with the American University Washington
College of Law, which will take place May 6–7.
For more information about the Section of Taxation’s
May Meeting, including a complete list of all programs and meetings,
visit the Section of Taxation 2003
May Meeting website.
With approximately 20,000 lawyers nationwide, the
American Bar Association Section of Taxation is the national voice
of America’s tax lawyers. Its goals include helping taxpayers
better understand their rights and obligations under the tax laws
and working to make the tax system simpler, more fair, and easier
to administer.
The American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional
membership organization in the world. With more than 410,000 members,
the ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education,
information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges
in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the
public.
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Editor’s note: Reporters are welcome
to attend any or all sessions free of charge. For further information
or to arrange for press credentials, contact Maureen Collins at
202/662-8648.
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