NYU School of Professional Studies Division of Programs in Business to Host the 
12th Annual Tax Controversy Forum Remotely on June 18 and 19

This Year’s Forum Will be Free of Charge, Delivered as a GoToMeeting Webinar in cooperation with the CPAacademy.org, and Will Feature Discussions With Leading Experts on the Ways in Which the IRS is Ensuring Compliance and Enforcement of CARES Act Funds Among Other Pressing Topics

NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 – To ensure the safety of attendees, on June 18-19, the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Division of Programs in Business’ Finance, Law, and Taxation programs will host the 
12th Annual Tax Controversy Forum in a remote format that will be delivered as a GoToMeeting Webinar, and will waive all registration fees for the event. NYU SPS is pleased to announce our partnership with CPAacademy.org, the largest provider of free CPE/CE credit in the accounting profession, to host this event.

“After careful consideration, and to ensure the health and safety of conference attendees and panelists during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to be offering the same quality of critical content that we normally present 
on-site, in interactive, half-day webinars at no cost to attendees,” said Bryan C. Skarlatos, Esq., Forum co-chair and a partner at Kostelanetz & Fink LLP. “We have an outstanding lineup of panelists who will explore the topics that are most relevant to tax professionals in these challenging times.”

This year’s NYU SPS Tax Controversy Forum, which marks the beginning of the new NYU SPS Webinar Tax Series, will feature updates on what the IRS is doing to enhance compliance, including ensuring compliance and enforcement activities for the dissemination of funds related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Panels also will highlight the new IRS focus on intra-division collaboration, new initiatives with respect to penalties and fraud referrals, and the IRS’ handling of tax collection challenges. Senior IRS personnel who will explain the latest Tax Compliance and Procedure Updates include:

• Erin M. Collins, Esq., National Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue Service
• Michael J. Desmond, Esq., Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service
• Don Fort, CPA, Chief, Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service
• Darren Guillot, Deputy Commissioner, Small Business/Self Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service  
  
• Eric Hylton, Commissioner, Small Business/Self-Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service
• Andrew Keyso, Jr., Esq., Chief, Independent Office of Appeals, Internal Revenue Service
• Sunita Lough, Esq., Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service
• Paul J. Mamo, Director, Collection, Internal Revenue Service
• Douglas W. O’Donnell, CPA, Commissioner, Large Business & International Division, Internal Revenue Service
• Tamera Ripperda, CPA, Commissioner, Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division, Internal Revenue Service
  
  

In addition, attendees will be introduced to the Internal Revenue Service’s new National Taxpayer Advocate, 
Erin M. Collins, Esq. In a one-on-one talk, moderated by Frank Agostino, Esq., president, Agostino & Associates, PC, Collins will discuss how the agency’s Taxpayer Advocate Service is addressing the challenges of the current environment and markets.

The Forum, also co-chaired by Armando Gomez, Esq., partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, is designed for accountants, attorneys, enrolled agents, in-house practitioners, and tax professionals at all levels, who prepare for or handle audits, appeals, or tax litigation, as well as those involved in planning and transactional work. Participants qualify for CPE and CLE credits.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Costello at 212-992-3320 or email sps.tax@nyu.edu.

For media inquiries, please contact Michael DeMeo at michael.demeo@nyu.edu or Alka Gupta at aag13@nyu.edu.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Panel One
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. EDT
TAX COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT ROUNDTABLE: THE NEW ERA OF INTER-DIVISION COLLABORATION

The Internal Revenue Service is a dynamic organization that is constantly seeking new ways to further its mission of helping taxpayers comply with the tax law. This panel provides insights directly from IRS leadership on emerging civil and criminal compliance trends, current priorities and initiatives, and how the different divisions of the IRS work together to address non-compliance.

Moderator:

• Bryan C. Skarlatos, Esq., Partner, Kostelanetz & Fink

Panelists:

• Don Fort, CPA, Chief, Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service
  
• Eric Hylton, Commissioner, Small Business/Self-Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service
• Sunita Lough, Esq., Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service
• Douglas W. O’Donnell, CPA, Commissioner, Large Business & International Division, Internal Revenue Service
  
• Tamera Ripperda, CPA, Commissioner, Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division, Internal Revenue Service

Panel Two
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE IRS OFFICE OF CHIEF COUNSEL

As the lawyers for the IRS, attorneys in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel help interpret the tax law, provide legal support to IRS personnel, and represent the IRS in litigation. With all the recent changes in the tax law, this has become an even more challenging job than usual. This panel outlines the current initiatives and priorities in the Chief Counsel’s Office.

Moderator:

• Steven R. Toscher, Esq., Principal, Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez, PC

Panelist:

• Michael J. Desmond, Esq., Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service
  

THE IRS INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF APPEALS
The Taxpayer First Act (“TFA”) created the newly named Independent Office of Appeals. The TFA also confirmed that the right to appeal cases shall generally be available to all taxpayers and enhanced taxpayers’ ability to obtain their case files. This panel discussion provides an overview of current developments in Appeals and how the TFA has affected Appeals Conferences.

Moderator:

• Sharon Katz-Pearlman, Esq., National Principal-in-Charge and Global Head, Tax Dispute Resolution and Controversy, KPMG International
  

Panelist:
Andrew Keyso, Jr., Esq., Chief, Independent Office of Appeals, Internal Revenue Service

Friday June 19, 2020

Panel One
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EDT
TAX COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT ROUNDTABLE: TAXPAYER PENALTIES, PROMOTER PENALTIES, AND FRAUD REFERRALS

As the IRS moves toward more collaboration among the operating divisions, taxpayers can expect to see a new focus on issues such as taxpayer penalties, tax preparer and promoter penalties, and even criminal fraud referrals. This panel of senior IRS personnel describes the new trends and the tools taxpayers can expect to encounter during their next audit.

Moderator:

• Armando Gomez, Esq., Partner, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

Panelists:

• James Lee, Deputy Chief, Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service
• Brendan O’Dell, Esq., Promoter Investigations Coordinator, Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Services and Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service
• Damon Rowe, Esq., Executive Director, Fraud Enforcement Office, Small Business and Self-Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service
  

Panel Two
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. EDT
FOCUS ON TAX COLLECTION

Voluntary compliance and enforcement of the tax laws is at the heart of our tax system. The IRS has the responsibility to find new and more effective ways to bring taxpayers into compliance. This panel provides an update on what is happening now with IRS collection.

Moderator:

• Eric L. Green, Esq., Partner, Green & Sklarz

Panelists:

• Darren Guillot, Deputy Commissioner, Small Business/Self Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service
• Paul J. Mamo, Director, Collection, Internal Revenue Service
  

MEET THE NEW TAXPAYER ADVOCATE
On March 30, 2020, Erin Collins took over as the new National Taxpayer Advocate to lead the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Ms. Collins is the taxpayers’ voice inside the IRS. She will also serve as a senior advisor to IRS management and will report to Congress on potential legislation that affects our tax system. This is a chance to hear directly from the new National Taxpayer Advocate as she provides a sense of how the Taxpayer Advocate Service is addressing the challenges presented by the current environment.

Moderator:

• Frank Agostino, Esq., President, Agostino & Associates, PC
  

Panelist:

• Erin M. Collins, Esq., National Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue Service

Panel Three
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. EDT
CARES ACT ENFORCEMENT: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE IRS?

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provided hundreds of billions of dollars to support businesses and stimulate the economy. Recognizing that such huge amounts of money will attract some fraudulent behavior, Congress has earmarked significant funding for monitoring compliance and enforcement. The IRS has a significant role in disseminating CARES Act relief and will be tasked with a large part of ensuing compliance and enforcement activities. Indeed, several criminal fraud cases already have been filed and more are sure to follow. This panel explains how the IRS will be monitoring provisions of the CARES Act such as tax refunds and credits, the Payroll Protection Program, and Net Operating Losses.

Moderator:

• Christopher Ferguson, Esq., Partner, Kostelanetz & Fink
  

Panelists:

• Michael Batdorf, Director Refund and Cyber Crimes, Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service
• John Hinding, Esq., Director, Cross Border Activities, Large Business and International Division, Internal Revenue Service
• Nikki Johnson, Director, Collection Policy, Small Business & Self-Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service

New NYU SPS Webinar Tax Series

To support and serve the NYU Tax Community, NYU SPS is developing a new series of tax webinars, and this year’s Tax Controversy Forum on June 18-19, 2020 is the first of several complimentary virtual events that NYU SPS will produce and deliver over the summer.  Additional sessions will follow weekly (excluding the week of June 29-July 3) concluding on July 30.  This is an exceptional way to learn what the IRS is doing, stay current on recent developments, and fulfill CLE and CPE requirements over the summer. More information will be available shortly.

Save the Date for Next Year’s Forum

Next year, the 13th Annual Tax Controversy Forum will take place live and in person on June 24-25, 2021, at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan, and will feature the same powerful and thought-provoking content that is so critical to those who attend the Forum each year.

About the NYU SPS Department of Finance and Law Programs
The NYU SPS Department of Finance and Law Programs has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the State of New York. The NYU School of Professional Studies Department of Finance and Law Programs is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

About the NYU School of Professional Studies
For 85 years, the NYU School of Professional Studies has been a deeply respected institution of higher education that is grounded in applied learning. From its early years, training returning World War II veterans to fulfill the nation’s urgent need for skilled technical workers, it has evolved into a professional education powerhouse that offers 20 graduate degrees, 13 bachelor’s degrees for traditional and post-traditional students, four associate’s degrees, and a plethora of non-degree courses and credentials.

NYUSPS is a thought leader, and serves as an incubator for new ideas in industries that are constantly changing, including real estate, real estate development, and construction management; hospitality, tourism, travel, and event management; global affairs and global security, conflict, and cybercrime; global sport and sports business; publishing; marketing; public relations; project management; executive coaching and organizational consulting, human resource management and development, and human capital analytics and technology; management and systems; translation; and professional writing. It is focused on building skills that open doors to opportunities in emerging fields and global markets. NYUSPS faculty members are leading experts in their areas of discipline, with a hands-on approach that encourages students to push beyond their limits and to break new ground.

Home to some of the largest and most prestigious industry conferences in the world, including the Schack Institute of Real Estate’s Capital Markets Conference, REIT Symposium, and National Symposium of Women in Real Estate; and the Jonathan M. Tisch Center’s International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, the School’s invaluable connections to industry leaders is a truly distinguishing factor in the education that it provides. Through career development services and resources provided by the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development at NYUSPS, guest lecturers, site visits, participation in numerous conferences and events, and Global Field Intensives, students benefit from an NYU education that will set them apart. In addition, they have the opportunity to learn from and network with more than 27,000 NYUSPS alumni who live, work, and contribute to innovation in industry around the world.