Tax Controversy Conference

Annual Event hosted by Business and Management Programs at UCLA Extension

Thank you for Helping us Celebrate 40 Years!

Our Annual Conference was held on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

For more information about the 2024 event, award recipients, and sponsors please see below.

View photos from this year's conference.

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

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 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

The 2025 Conference date will be announced soon!

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.

Reminder: No on-site registrations will be permitted. No guests allowed. All attendees must must register and pay prior to attending the conference.

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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.

Continuing Education Credits
CE credits for MCLE, CPE and EA will be provided.

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

Morning 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.

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.

2024 Conference Agenda

Please note: This is the agenda for the 2024 Conference which concluded on October 24, 2024.

7:30 A.M.

Registration Opens and Continental Breakfast

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8:30-8:40 A.M.

Opening Remarks

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8:40-9:05 A.M.

Morning Keynote

Speaker: Chief Judge Kathleen Kerrigan, US Tax Court

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9:05-10:05 A.M.

Fool's Gold or the Real Thing - Employee Retention Credit Civil and Criminal Enforcement

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10:05-10:15 A.M.

Coffee Break

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10:15-11:10 A.M.

It's Time to Learn Subchapter K - The IRS Turns Its Attention to Partnership Enforcement

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11:10 A.M.-12:00 P.M.

The Investigation, Assertion, and Defense of Civil Fraud Penalties

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12:15–1:45 P.M.

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

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2:10–3:10 P.M.

Let's Come to An Agreement - The Benefits and Pitfalls of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Tax Controversies

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3:10-4:10 P.M.

IRS Collection Procedures and Best Practices - What the IRS and Practitioners are Doing in 2024

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4:10-4:40 P.M.

Afternoon Keynote

Speaker: Shea Jones, Chief Criminal Investigation, IRS

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4:45-5:50 P.M.

Superman's Krypto - The IRS's Focus on Civil and Criminal Enforcement of Cryptocurrency

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5:50 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

2024
Erin M. Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate, IRS

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 2017 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 2024 Sponsors

PLATINUM

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

GOLD

Tax Network USA Inc.

Marcum, LLP

SILVER

Taylor Nelson Amitrano, LLP

Dallo Law Group, APC

Holthouse, Carlin, Van Trigt, LLP

Moore Tax Law Group, LLC

BRONZE

Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin, APLC

RJS Law - A Tax Law Firm

Kostelanetz LLP

Nardiello Turanchik Tompkins LLP

Law Offices of Joseph A. Broyles, Inc.

Howard, Kittle and Company CPAs, LLP

Agostino & Associates, PC

Neil Schwerin Boxerman, P.C.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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 and 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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