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Weekly UpdatesCan a city be more frenetic than Boston in October during a chase for baseball's world championship? The energy and enthusiasm are infectious for fans, non fans, and even diehard Yankee fans. So, too, tax executives from around the globe can catch the fever when they convene at the Westin Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, from October 19-22, 2008, for the Institute's 63rd Annual Conference.
As important, the political ferment and intellectual debate around tax policy and administrative matters in Massachusetts, the United States, and globally have arguably never been more feverish than when the phrase "no taxation without representation" was coined by the Reverend Jonathan Mayhew in a sermon in Boston in 1750 and subsequently burnished into history.
"Returning TEI's conference to a city steeped in the rich history of Boston on the eve of a U.S. presidential election," TEI's 2008-2009 President Vincent Alicandri said, "affords an opportunity to reflect on connections between past, present, and future, including taxes. Although no tea will be tossed into Boston harbor, governments are keenly aware of the global implications of their tax policies and administrative practices and are revolutionizing their approaches--to ensure 'competitiveness' in the 21st century."
"Boston is an outstanding site to stay abreast of those developments and advance the Institute's mission of educating members, networking, and improving tax administration," Mr. Alicandri concluded.
Conference Overview
The challenges confronting tax executives are as diverse and sharp as ever. From an opening ethics session on "Exposure of the Global Tax Professional in the Twenty-First Century" to programs on technical tax issues, management conundrums, U.S. and international financial reporting standards, TEI's Continuing Education Committee has assembled a rich and compelling array of educational sessions. The program brochure has been mailed to all TEI members and is available at www.tei.org.
Among the government officials Mr. Alicandri will welcome to the conference are U.S. Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Eric Solomon, who will address the current legislative and administrative policy landscape; IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman; the Acting Chair of H.M. Revenue & Customs Dave Hartnett, who will discuss corporate transparency and governance; and the Head of the Tax Treaty and Transfer Pricing Division of the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration Mary Bennett, who will update participants on OECD developments. Finally, Navjeet Bal, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, will brief members on the Commonwealth's recent corporate tax reforms.
Among the technical programs will be a plenary session on the effect of FAS141R on business combinations and expected regulations on the treatment of transaction costs. This session will be particularly timely, since the new financial accounting rules for reporting business combinations, which are effective for statements issued after December 15, 2008, have unexpected wrinkles, and the highly anticipated regulations on transaction costs will potentially simplify the tax accounting for merger and acquisition costs.
Another conference highlight will be an international hot topics session addressing the U.S. cost-sharing rules and recent contract manufacturing regulations.
Conference participants will also be able to choose among a number of other concurrent sessions, including:
* International Financial Reporting Standards--Current Report and Future Prospects
* Records: What, How, and Where to Keep Them
* Playing Audit Defense: Preparing for the Unexpected
* FIN 48 Issues Affecting State Income Taxes
* State Tax Incentives
* Section 382 Loss Limitations: Traps for the Unwary
* The Newest Consolidated Loss Disallowance Regime
* Avoiding Interest Deductibility Limitations
* The Reproposed Tangibles Regulations--New and Improved?
* Planning Considerations under the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty
* Canadian GST Update
* China/India Update
* Employee Presence in a Country: PE Issues, 183-Day Rule, Treaties, and More
* Meeting the Tax Risk Challenges
* Leadership and Change Management
* Negotiation for Tax Executives
In addition to the technical sessions, the conference will feature exhibits by professional service firms and other sponsoring companies whose products and services can make tax departments more efficient and cost-effective.
Finally, two awards will be presented during the conference. Harley T. Duncan, long-time Executive Director of the Federation of Tax Administrators, will be presented the Institute's Distinguished Service Award for outstanding achievements in tax administration. In addition, the President's Award for long-time meritorious service to the Institute will be given to Alan Getz of the New York Chapter.
From championship fever to professional fervor, TEI's 63rd Annual Conference in Boston will be the place to be in mid-October. As Dave Loggins sang it, "Please come to Boston," because if you do, then you'll have "more than a feeling"--you'll have a good time ... and a healthy dose of tax education and networking, too. Log on to www.tei.org for more information and to register.
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