Events - Event View

Topic: Tax Deductions for Compensation and Employee Benefits: Common Issues and Traps for the Unwary

This session will address the most common and interesting issues that arise with respect to federal tax deductions for compensation and employee benefits, as well as traps for the unwary. This area is extremely relevant because compensation and employee benefits often constitute a significant portion of a business entity’s tax deductions. The session will cover the following specific issues, plus several more:

• Tax deduction issues encountered in mergers and acquisitions
• Deduction timing for bonus payments, deferred compensation, stock options and restricted stock
• Code sections that limit deductions, such as Sections 162(m) and 280G

Speaker: Eddie Adkins, Partner, Washington National Tax Office, Grant Thornton LLP

Moderator: Erik Bilbrey, United Airlines

Topic: Check the rearview mirror, but keep your eyes on the road ahead! The Ghosts of Indirect Taxes: Past, Present & Future…

Where did 2011 go and what does the future hold for indirect taxes in 2012? The economy is still sluggish, sales and property values are down and state and local tax coffers are running on empty. This session will provide an overview of what happened (or didn’t happen) in 2011 and what we can expect in the upcoming year.

Speakers:
Joe Glennon, OneSource Property Tax, Thomson Reuters
Norman Quinn, B&D Equity Property Tax Group
Jon Skavlem, Director of SALT Services Practice, Baker Tilly
Dan Haman, Tax Manager, Stericycle

Moderator: Jim Tauber, Managing Director, WTAS LLC

Topic: US Tax Planning for Cross Border Financing

This session will focus on:

•Review new IRS scrutiny on inter-company financing
•Avoiding traps in financing transactions
•Planning for withholding tax on interest

Speakers:
Bill Henson, Partner, Plante & Moran, PLLC
Randall Janiczek, Senior Manager, Plante & Moran, PLLC

Moderator: Wes Cornwell, Managing Director, Ceteris

Topic: Microsoft SharePoint - New Tools for the Tax Department

As Tax Department resources are cut back due to budget constraints, here is a new tool for the Tax Department to share data across company networks, manage tax projects, allocate and track employee projects, and much much more. John Bennecke and Jen Lau will give us ideas on how other companies have used this tool to help increase productivity. If you haven't looked at this tool yet, now is the time to find out about it.

Speakers:
John Bennecke, Managing Director, True Partners Consulting LLC
Jen Lau, Senior Manager, True Partners Consulting LLC

Moderator: Scott Milnes, Group Tax Manager, Serta International

Topic: New Tangible Property Regulations (IRC Section 263(a) and IRC Section 162): Action Items for Your “To-Do” List

The Treasury Department has published new Temporary Regulations that clarify the application of Internal Revenue Code Sec. 162(a) and Code Sec. 263(a) regarding amounts paid to acquire, produce, or improve tangible property. This session will provide a detailed discussion of the issues described in the new Temporary Regulations including the capitalization criteria for tangible property, the definition of a “unit of property”, the treatment of materials, and supplies, the routine maintenance safe harbor, the de minimis threshold, and guidance related to the disposition of tangible property. The speakers will provide an analysis and interactive discussion on these concepts in order to effectively plan for the specific impacts that will result from these new Regulations including their financial statement implications, the IRS’s examination of these issues, and the potential transitional guidance associated with the new Regulations.

Speakers:
Rochelle Kleczynski, Partner, Deloitte Tax LLP
Chuck Kosal, Principal, Deloitte Tax LLP

Moderator: James T. Hedderman, Director, True Partners Consulting LLC

Topic: “What’s Happening Today”

A review of significant developments from regions across the country with an emphasis on Illinois

Speaker: Fred Marcus, Principal - Harwood Marcus & Berk

Moderator: Jon Cesaretti, Crowe Horwath, LLP

Topic: How The IRS Investigates And Fights Criminal Tax Fraud

The IRS' Criminal Investigation Unit has been investigating tax fraud since the paper trail days of Al Capone. In today's high tech environment, the battle continues in a much different way. Our speaker will give us insights into how tax fraud investigations are conducted in today's high tech environment.

Speaker: Brian Visalli, Supervisory Special Agent, IRS - Criminal Investigation

Moderator: Bill Schmitt, The Chicago Tax Club