Tax Controversy Conference

Annual Event hosted by Business, Management and Legal Programs at UCLA Extension

Our Annual Conference was held on Thursday, October 26 , 2023.

For more information about the 2023 event, award recipients, and sponsors please see below.

Details regarding next year's conference will be provided once available.

39th 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 were honored to welcome Commissioner Danny Werfel, 50th Commissioner of the IRS as our luncheon keynote speaker along with Erin M. Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate and James Lee, Chief IRS Criminal Investigation as our morning and afternoon keynote speakers.

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

Coming Soon!

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

Stay tuned as we get ready to announce the date, time and location for this momentous occasion.

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.

2023 Keynote Speakers

Morning Keynote Speaker

Erin M. Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate

Erin M. Collins joined the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) in March 2020 as the National Taxpayer Advocate. She is the “Voice of the Taxpayer” within the IRS and before Congress and serves as a “safety net” for taxpayers by advocating for resolution of individual and business taxpayer issues within the IRS. She identifies and works towards systemic changes for all taxpayers while protecting Taxpayer Rights and also oversees the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) federal grant program and the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP). As part of her Annual Report to Congress, she makes administrative and legislative changes to protect taxpayer rights and works toward improving the quality of taxpayer service and tax administration by being an independent voice inside the IRS. Erin has been called to testify before the Senate Finance Committee, the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Oversight Subcommittee, and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on a variety of subjects.

Jim Lee IRS Criminal Investigation Chief

Afternoon Keynote Speaker

James Lee, Chief IRS Criminal Investigation, Washington, DC

As the Chief of Criminal Investigation, James (Jim) Lee oversees a worldwide staff of approximately 3,100 employees, including 2,100 special agents in 20 Field Offices and 11 foreign countries.

He leads and oversees some of the most significant investigations of financial crimes involving tax, money laundering, public corruption, cyber, ID theft, narcotics and terrorist-financing. Prior to this, Mr. Lee’s executive positions included serving as the Deputy Chief of CI, Director of Field Operations-North, Director of Field Operations-South, Director of Strategy and Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office.

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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