Tax Controversy Conference

October 24, 2024 | The Beverly Hills Hotel

40th Annual Conference

UCLA Extension’s Annual Tax Controversy Conference is the preeminent conference exclusively dedicated to tax controversy and tax litigation. The conference provides an open forum for distinguished presenters and panelists to discuss, and often debate, sensitive tax practice issues with an engaged audience.

This year we are celebrating our 40th Anniversary of the conference with special guest speakers, industry panels, and more!

This conference is ideal for tax attorneys, accountants, CPAs, enrolled agents, financial advisors, and other tax professionals. Accounting, tax, and law students are also encouraged to attend.

What you can expect:

Attend high-quality keynote presentations and panel discussions to learn the latest trends and practices surrounding tax controversy issues
Speakers include top IRS representatives and private practitioners
Convenient, day-long format held at the prestigious Beverly Hills Hotel that includes continental breakfast, Annual Bruce I. Hochman Award Luncheon, and evening reception
Networking opportunities with leading tax professionals

inside the ballroom at beverly hills hotel

Join Us

2024 will mark the 40th Anniversary of our Tax Controversy Institute.

Date
Thursday, October 24, 2024

Time
8:30am - 6:00pm (evening reception to follow)

Location
The Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 Sunset Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Attendees
This conference is ideal for tax attorneys, accountants, CPA's, enrolled agents, financial advisors, and other tax professionals. Accounting, tax, and law students are also encouraged to attend.

Fees
Registration: $595
IRS Employees, Students and Instructors Registration: $200

Please note: No on-site registrations will be permitted. You must register and pay prior to attending the conference. No refunds after October 11.

Special Discounts
Members of CalCPA, NAEA, and FPA receive 10% off the registration fee. Please email us at taxconference@uclaextension.edu to confirm eligibility and receive your discount code.

The Annual Tax Controversy Conference at UCLA Extension has become the premier tax controversy program in the United States, where practitioners and government officials learn from each other in a collegial setting.

Steven Toscher, Esq.

Conference Co-Chair; Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez, P.C.

2024 Keynote Speakers

Luncheon Keynote Speaker

Commissioner Danny Werfel

Danny Werfel serves as the 50th Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. As Commissioner, he presides over the nation's tax system, which collects approximately $4.1 trillion in tax revenue each year representing about 96% of the total gross receipts of the United States. Commissioner Werfel oversees an agency of about 85,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $12 billion.

Commissioner Werfel has an extensive range of experience inside and outside of government. Prior to becoming Commissioner, he was the global leader of Boston Consulting Group's (BCG) Public Sector practice. Previously, he was the leader of BCG's Public Sector practice in North America. In these roles, he worked with government agencies worldwide on finances, service delivery, transformation plans and risk-assessment initiatives.

Keynote Speaker

Kathleen M. Kerrigan, Chief Judge

Chief Judge Kerrigan was appointed by President Barack Obama as Judge United States Tax Court on May 4, 2012, for a term ending on May 3, 2027. She was elected to serve as Chief Judge for a two-year term commencing on June 1, 2022. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Chief Judge Kerrigan has been married since 1998 and has two stepchildren. She received her B.S. from Boston College and her J.D. from University of Notre Dame Law School. She was a Legislative Director for Congressman Richard E. Neal, Member of the Ways and Means Committee from 1990 to 1998, an associate and partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP, Washington, D.C. from 1998-2005, and Tax Counsel for Senator John F. Kerry, Member of Senate Finance Committee from 2005-2012.

2023 Conference Agenda

Please note: This agenda is for the October 2023 conference.

8:30 A.M.

Event Opens

❧

8:30-8:40 A.M.

Opening Remarks

❧

8:40-9:00 A.M.

Morning Keynote

Speaker: Erin M. Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate
Introduction by: Steven Toscher

❧

9:05-10:00 A.M.

IRS Examinations for High Wealth Individuals and Partnerships - What to Expect in Tax Enforcement After the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

❧

10:00-10:10 A.M.

Coffee Break

❧

10:10-11:10 A.M.

Employee Retention Credits – Promoters, (Ghost) Preparers and the Employers Caught in the Middle

❧

11:10-11:50 A.M.

Tax Court Updates

❧

12:10–1:45 PM

Lunch, Awards, and Keynote Address

Opening Remarks
Presentation of Bruce I. Hochman Award & Chillin' and Grillin' Award
Update on Vets Count Scholarship Fund
Keynote speaker, Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner

❧

1:55–2:45 P.M.

An Update on Cryptocurrency Enforcement and Voluntary Disclosures

❧

2:45-3:35 P.M.

The New IRS Collection Process – The Best Ways to Resolve an IRS Debt

❧

3:35-3:50 P.M.

Afternoon Keynote

Speaker: James Lee, Chief Criminal Investigation, IRS
Introduction by: Steven Toscher

❧

3:50-4:40 P.M.

Valuation In Tax Cases—Best Practices and Emerging Issues

❧

4:40-5:30 P.M.

Criminal Tax, Parallel Investigations and Joint Investigations – When Two Worlds Collide

❧

5:30 P.M.

Closing Remarks and Cocktail Party

This year’s Institute will continue the tradition of providing high-quality practical presentations by distinguished government and private practitioners from throughout the United States who enjoy an open discussion of sometimes sensitive practice issues with the audience.

Sandra R. Brown, Esq.

Conference Co-Chair; Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez, P.C.

Become a Sponsor

To become a sponsor, visit our sponsor page or for more information contact us at taxconference@uclaextension.edu.

Annual Bruce I. Hochman Award

The distinguished personal and professional achievements of Bruce Hochman have been permanently honored through the Annual Bruce I. Hochman Award.

Bruce Hochman, a leading attorney for over 40 years specializing in civil and criminal tax law litigation, was also a generous philanthropist and dynamic leader of various civic organizations.

The Award was established to be presented each year at the Tax Controversy Institute to an individual who demonstrates outstanding proficiency in the field of tax law and best exemplifies the principles that personified Mr. Hochman. Selected each year by the Planning Committee for the UCLA Extension’s Annual Tax Controversy Institute, the Award is presented during the Annual Bruce I. Hochman Award Luncheon.

View past award recipients

2023
Sherri S. Wilder, Retired Area Counsel, SBSE, IRS Chief Counsel

2022
Paula M. Junghans, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP

2021
The Honorable Juan F. Vasquez, United States Tax Court

2020
Larry Campagna, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry, P.C., Houston, TX

2019
Bryan C. Skarlatos, Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP, New York, NY

2018
Avram Salkin, Hochman, Salkin, Toscher & Perez, PC, Beverly Hills, CA

2017
Miles D. Friedman, (former) Associate Area Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, Laguna Niguel

2016
Frank Agostino, Agostino & Associates, Hackensack, NJ

2015
Karen L. Hawkins, Former Director, IRS Office of Professional Responsibility, Washington, D.C.

2014
Steve Sims, Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate, Franchise Tax Board, Rancho Cordova, CA

2013
Elliott Kajan (deceased), Kajan Mather & Barish

2012
Ted Meyer, Examination Territory Manager Los Angeles, Area 7, Small Business/ Self- Employed Division Internal Revenue Service

2011
Jerry Feffer, formerly of Williams & Connolly, LLP, Washington, DC

2010
William Taggart, Law Offices of William E. Taggart Jr., Professional Corporation, Oakland, CA

2009
Martin A. Schainbaum, Law offices of Martin A. Schainbaum, San Francisco, CA

2008
Sidney Machtinger, Greenberg Glusker, Los Angeles, CA

2007
Mary Ann Cohen, Judge, United States Tax Court, Washington D.C.

2006
Cono Namorato, Caplin & Drysdale Chartered, Washington D.C., formerly Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice

2005
Stephen J. Swift, Judge, United States Tax Court, Washington, D.C.

2004
Irene Scott Carroll, Special Litigation Assistant, IRS Counsel, Small Business/ Self Employed Division, Area8, Los Angeles, CA

2003
B. John Williams, Jr., Skadden, Washington, D.C.- former Judge, United States Tax Court and Former Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service

2002
Gene Silverman (deceased), formerly with DeCastro, West, Chodorow, Mendler, Glickfeld & Nass, founder of the UCLA Extension Annual Tax Controversy Institute in 1984.

Vets Count Scholarship Fund

The VETS COUNT Scholarship fund was launched at the 2016 Tax Controversy Institute, and will hopefully inspire a wide audience of patriots and professionals to assist in giving back to those who have given so much.

VETS COUNT is intended to provide financial assistance for active and former military personnel who desire to pursue a career in tax, accounting, wealth management, and other aspects of financial services. Funds raised also cover basic coursework for personal growth in budgeting, financial literacy, and investing.

Give Now

Apply Now

I faced a serious culture shock as I transitioned from being a highly respected expert in my unit to being a student once again. My wife convinced me to return to my studies, starting at UCLA Extension; one year and 14 courses later, I have a 3.92 GPA and was just accepted to the University of Maryland B.S. in Finance program. To the donors of the VETS COUNT Scholarship Fund, thank you for what you do. Thank you for your support.

Dale Buhl

Sergeant (retired), U.S. Marines, UCLA Extension Graduate

Thank You to our Sponsors

PLATINUM

Hochman, Salkin, Toscher & Perez, P.C.

GOLD

Silicon Ledger

SILVER

Dallo Law Group

Taylor Nelson Amitrano, LLP

Prager Metis

Marcum

Todd Welty PC

HCVT

Kostelanetz, LLP

BRONZE

Howard, Kittle & Company CPAS, LLP

RJS Law

The Law Offices of Joseph A. Broyles

Fineman West & Company, LLP

Moore Tax Law Group, LLC

Nardiello Turanchik, LLP

Brady Ware Arpeggio, LLC

Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin, APLC

This conference is always one of my favorite events each year. Truly a signature event bringing together tax attorneys, accountants and IRS leadership to a spectacular venue for a full day of discussion, sharing of ideas and networking. This is the event of the year that even the IRS Commissioner does not want to miss!

Mark Ramseyer

Program Director, Financial Management Programs, UCLA Extension

Accounting & Taxation at UCLA Extension

UCLA Extension’s highly-regarded accounting, taxation, internal audit, and enrolled agent programs are designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to stay ahead in today’s competitive job market. Enhance your career with continuing education courses, professional certificates, exam review programs, seminars, and more.

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