TEI sets calendar for coming year: seminars planned on international tax, FAS 109, and audits & appeals developments.

Tax Executives Institute's Continuing Education Committee has tentatively set the organization's educational calendar for the fiscal year, beginning in July. Together with seven week-long courses and the Institute's Annual and Midyear Conferences, the committee has agreed to hold at least three seminars: one in September on international tax planning and compliance developments; a second in November on FAS 109; and a third in February 2005 on IRS controversies. In addition, a federal tax seminar on mergers and acquisitions is already scheduled for June of this year, and another seminar might be scheduled in May 2005 should the need arise. Finally, telephone seminars and webconferences will be held throughout the year on breaking topics.

In announcing the new schedule, Judy Zelisko, chair of TEI's Continuing Education Committee, said the Institute's committee chairs have already made strides in planning the organization's 2004 Annual Conference, which will be held in New Orleans in October. "We've decided to continue the practice of having three sets of concur rent sessions," she said, "thereby giving participants a wide array of choices. Details will be posted on TEI's website by mid-June." In addition, she said the Institute will host international, federal, and state and local tax courses, all designed to provide core training to in-house tax professionals.

Ms. Zelisko said that building upon the success of this year's educational program (which will conclude with a June seminar on mergers and acquisitions), TEI will repeat two seminars from the current year--a September redux of the Institute's international tax planning and compliance seminar, and a February program on IRS audits and appeals. Complementing these two mainstays will be a third seminar--to be held in November--on FAS 109.

According to Ms. Zelisko (who will serve as TEI's 2004-2005 President), the November seminar will break new ground. "With heightened scrutiny of financial statements and the renewed emphasis on transparency in GAAP reporting, tax executives are being called upon to document their companies' tax positions with increasing precision. This two-day program will help members and their staff navigate the demands of the SEC, FASB, and external auditor requirements." The seminar will be planned by TEI's Federal Tax Committee, but will cover state and local and international topics. Neil Traubenberg, the committee's chair, explained: "The seminar will cover the waterfront of managing a company's reported tax liabilities, from the basics to the value-added judgments necessary to manage the company's effective tax rate."

Scheduled for mid-November, the seminar's timing is excellent, according to Mr. Truabenberg. "Most companies have been through one cycle of compliance with the requirements of section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley and will be seeking to increase their proficiency in FAS 109 as well as improving their compliance, documentation, and provision processes. The seminar will provide an opportunity for tax professionals to network and compare best practices."

TEI's calendar of events is printed below. Information on location and fees will be distributed to the membership later this spring.

2004

June 16-18        Federal Tax: Mergers and Acquisitions
                  (Chicago)

July 12-16        State & Local Tax Course
                  (UCLA)

August 16-20      Federal Tax Course Level II
                  (Indianapolis)

September 21-22   International Tax Seminar
                  (Chicago)

October 17-20     Annual Conference
                  (New Orleans)

November 18-19    Federal Tax Seminar: FAS 109
                  (Location TBD)

December 13-17    International Tax Course
                  (Inidanapolis)

2005

February 24-25    IRS Audits & Appeals Seminar
                  (Orlando)

April 3-6         Midyear Conference
                  (Washington)

May 2-6           Federal Tax Course Level I
                  (Michigan State)

June 6-10         State & Local Tax Course
                  (Location TBD)

July 11-15        Federal Tax Course Level II
                  (Location TBD)

August 15-19      Advanced International Tax Course
                  (Location TBD)