A switch in time ... audits and appeals seminar planned for February; senior management program moved to May.

Recent changes in the IRS enforcement strategies and new initiatives to speed audits of large and mid-size companies have prompted TEI to advance the timing of the organization's 2004 audits and appeals seminar. Originally scheduled for May, the program will now be held on February 19 and 20 in Las Vegas.

TEI President Ray Rossi said that several developments prompted the Institute's Continuing Education Committee to move the audits and appeals program. "We've seen significant personnel changes in senior management positions, including a new Commissioner, new Deputy Commissioner, and new LMSB Commissioner. What's more, these officials have signalled the desire both to change the balance between customer service and enforcement activities and to make 'break-through' strides in audit currency. These changes--in tandem with new tax shelter regulations, corporate accountability developments, and judicial and legislative actions--make the current environment much different from last year's. To enable our members to stay on the cutting-edge of audits and appeals developments, we decided it was best to adjust our schedule."

Mr. Rossi commended Paul O'Connor, chair of the IRS Administrative Affairs Committee, and Kelly Nall, a vice chair in charge of the program, for adapting so nimbly to the new schedule. "Paul and Kelly, working with others on the committee, have done a marvelous job of lining up the top practitioners to address the most pressing issues."

Mr. Rossi stated that the complete program will be available by mid-November, noting that this year's session will be called "Improving the Odds: Successful Audit and Appeals Strategies."

"With the Las Vegas locale, we couldn't resist the gaming tie-in," he said. "Everyone knows, however, that successfully navigating the audit process is not a matter of chance. It requires preparation and true skill: a knowledge of the process and an ability to communicate effectively. Year after year, this program has proven successful in providing our members with the skills necessary to prepare themselves and their companies for the challenges of tax controversies. This year's seminar is no exception."

The first day of the seminar will focus on preparing for, managing, and closing the audit, including a discussion of the IRS's latest initiatives (e.g., the joint audit planning process, limited issue focused examinations, and pre-filing agreements) and interaction with Appeals. On the second day, participants will choose among concurrent sessions on the effect of Sarbanes-Oxley on tax audits, incentive-based compensation, international audits and appeals issues, joint audit planning, information document requests, tax shelter disclosure regulations, and financial products. This year's program will feature a session on tax accrual workpapers, and another on mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions.

More information about the two-day seminar will soon be posted on www.tei.org.

Advancing the timing of the audits and appeals seminar required TEI to defer its two-day tax management program, which had been originally assigned the February time slot. The program, which will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 13-14, is tentatively entitled "Managing the Tax Department in the Age of Transparency." The program will feature not only formal presentations but also roundtable discussions on staffing (recruiting and training); section 404 internal control reviews, interaction with audit committees and senior management, and risk assessment; and the effective use of technology. Details will be forthcoming later in the year.