Philadelphia Chapter Hosts IRS Forum, Awards Scholarships
In December, TEI’s Philadelphia Chapter conducted a half day TEI/ IRS Forum and presented four scholarships to students from area universities. Speakers from the IRS were Deborah Reilly, District Director; Jim Grimes, acting National Director Corporate Examination; Carl Weiss, Philadelphia CEP Chief; Steven Kessleman, District Counsel; Patrick Glynn, N.E. Region Large Case Chief; Frank Bagnato, Philadelphia Associate Chief Appeals; Ed Shannon, CEP Instructor; and Walt Kirwan, LBE Group Manager. Ms. Reilly and Mr. Grimes discussed their views on how the IRS restructuring would affect the corporate examination process and changes likely to take place in the Philadelphia District. Mr. Weiss discussed the progress made in recent years in completing audits efficiently, emphasizing that joint planning between the IRS team and taxpayers provides a system where both parties win because issues are identified early, facts are gathered efficiently, and resolution or agreements to disagree proceed quickly. At the same time, joint planning promotes open communication. Mr. Kirwan, a former large case manager, reported on his progress of bringing large case techniques to the intermediate size taxpayer program. Mr. Kessler briefed the audience on the possible effects of the burden of proof rules and gave his impression of District Counsel’s role after restructuring. Similar thoughts on restructuring were given by the two appeals office representatives. Mr. Shannon went over the technical changes in the IRS Restructuring Act, emphasizing the new interest netting rules.
Scholarships were presented to students interested in pursuing careers in tax from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences Institute, Villanova University, Widener University, and Drexel University. After the meeting, the IRS speakers and District Large Case and Specialists Managers, the scholarship recipients and representatives from their institutions, and the TEI attendees socialized during a dinner at the Valley Forge Hilton.
TEI has sponsored a TEI/IRS Forum for the last several years. Both sides benefit because this informal communication leads to better understanding of each other’s problems. TEI personally thanks Jack Cohen, IRS Large Case Manager, for arranging the programs the last several years.
COPYRIGHT 1999 Tax Executives Institute, Inc.
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