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65th Annual

Taxation Conference

Austin Dec 13-14, 2017 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin
Conference Concluded
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Related products: eConference Materials

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Overview

The 65th Annual Taxation Conference features an impressive slate of topics with regionally and nationally renowned speakers covering current trends, updates in tax regulation and policy, and much more.

  • Examine key concepts and considerations related to civil and criminal tax collection with DOJ Tax Division representatives.
  • Gain insight into Penalties Above 20%, including what they are, when they are applied, and how to defend against them.
  • Learn about the latest changes to Texas State and Local tax law, including recent legislative and judicial developments.
  • Explore Dealing With a Decedent’s Fraud: Cleaning Up Our Dead Client’s Bad Behavior with Frank Agostino of Agostino & Associates, P.C. and Larry Sannicandro of McCarter & English.
  • Discuss the basics of structuring captive insurance companies, as well as the pitfalls to avoid and the current trends in IRS challenges to these arrangements.
  • Analyze recent developments in federal income taxation with Professor Bruce A. McGovern.
  • Earn up to 2.00 hours of ethics credit, including an hour on Ethical Issues Involving the Deceased, Incompetent, and Unavailable, and Social Media and Tax Ethics.
Continue on Friday with Professor Stanley M. Johanson’s popular one-day Estate Planning Workshop offering lively discussion, practical advice, and updates.

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Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 December 13, 2017
  • Day 2 December 14, 2017
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker

  • Wednesday Morning, Dec. 13, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    Christina A. Mondrik, Mondrik & Associates - Austin, TX
  • 7:30 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:20 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Penalties Above 20%: What Are They, When Are They Applied, and How Do You Defend?
    Discuss the various penalties, when they may apply, and applicable defenses, when the IRS seeks to impose accuracy-related penalties in excess of 20%, including gross valuation misstatements, undisclosed non-economic substance transactions, undisclosed foreign financial asset understatements, and undisclosed listed and other avoidance transactions. 

    Caroline D. Ciraolo, Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP - Washington, DC

    Caroline D. Ciraolo, Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP - Washington, DC

  • 9:15 am
    0.75 hr
    EPCRS and Retirement Plans: A Misunderstood Relationship
    EPCRS has enjoyed unparalleled acceptance as an IRS tool to correct retirement plan failures, yet too few appreciate what the 19 year old gift can do. Get better acquainted with the "EPCRS 11.0" and learn what its newest features can do for your clients.

    T. David Cowart, Dentons - Dallas, TX

    T. David Cowart, Dentons - Dallas, TX

  • 10:00 am
    Break

  • 10:15 am
    1.50 hrs
    Don’t Throw Away Your Shot: How to Deal With the New IRS Audit Rules in Your Partnership Agreements
    Review techniques for drafting partnership agreements to deal with considerations presented by the new partnership audit rules (including various potential conflicts, fiduciary duties, flexibility vs. control of the PR, and opting out or not), while taking into account the rules' potential application for both federal and state purposes.

    Elizabeth A. Copeland, Strasburger & Price, LLP - San Antonio, TX
    Charles P. Rettig, Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, P.C. - Beverly Hills, CA

    Elizabeth A. Copeland, Strasburger & Price, LLP - San Antonio, TX
    Charles P. Rettig, Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, P.C. - Beverly Hills, CA

  • 11:45 am
    Pick Up Lunch
    Included in registration. 

  • Wednesday Afternoon, Dec. 13, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    James F. Martens, Martens, Todd, Leonard & Ahlrich - Austin, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:05 pm
    1.00 hr
    Update from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
    Learn about trends and issues affecting the Texas economy and tax administration from the Comptroller of Public Accounts and his staff. Understanding where we are today can help all of us ensure we remain prosperous tomorrow.

    Glenn A. Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Austin, TX
    Nancy L. Prosser, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Austin, TX

    Glenn A. Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Austin, TX
    Nancy L. Prosser, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Austin, TX

  • 1:05 pm
    Break

  • 1:20 pm
    1.00 hr
    Are You Saying Someone Could Actually Go to Jail ... for THAT??
    Hear how criminal tax enforcement is taking some new and unexpected directions. Old statutes—but surprising new uses.

    G. Tomas Rhodus, Gray Reed - Dallas, TX

    G. Tomas Rhodus, Gray Reed - Dallas, TX

  • 2:20 pm
    1.00 hr ethics
    Social Media and Tax Ethics
    Address the ethical concerns that can arise from the use (and misuse) of social media by attorneys, with particular attention to how tax practitioners should be aware of the benefits and risks of such technology.

    Benjamin David Halpern, Shackelford, Melton & McKinley - Dallas, TX

    Benjamin David Halpern, Shackelford, Melton & McKinley - Dallas, TX

  • 3:20 pm
    Break

  • 3:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Recent Developments in 1031 Exchanges
    Explore recent developments involving 1031 exchanges, with a focus on recent court decisions and IRS pronouncements. Examine the latest trends and techniques pertaining to 1031 exchange transactions and structures.

    Todd Keator, Thompson & Knight LLP - Dallas, TX

    Todd Keator, Thompson & Knight LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 4:30 pm
    1.00 hr ethics
    Ethical Issues Involving Deceased, Incompetent, and Unavailable Clients
    If a client becomes unavailable or passes away before a filing deadline or trial date, an attorney will have challenges effectively representing the client. Identify common issues that arise in representing deceased, incompetent, and unavailable clients.

    Rachel L. Partain, Caplin & Drysdale - New York, NY

    Rachel L. Partain, Caplin & Drysdale - New York, NY

  • 5:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker

  • Thursday Morning, Dec. 14, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    Catherine C. Scheid, Attorney at Law - Houston, TX
  • 7:30 am
    Conference Room Opens
    Includes continental breakfast. 

  • 8:30 am
    2.00 hrs
    Recent Developments in Federal Income Taxation
    Review significant court decisions, rulings, and statutory and regulatory developments of the past year.

    Bruce A. McGovern, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX

    Bruce A. McGovern, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX

  • 10:30 am
    Break

  • 10:45 am
    1.00 hr
    State and Local Tax Update
    Survey the significant changes in Texas state and local tax law, including recent legislation, court decisions, and administrative developments.

    Amanda Traphagan, Seay & Traphagan, PLLC - Austin, TX

    Amanda Traphagan, Seay & Traphagan, PLLC - Austin, TX

  • 11:45 am
    Pick Up Lunch
    Included in registration. 

  • Thursday Afternoon, Dec. 14, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    T. Charles Parr III, Parr & Associates - San Antonio, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:05 pm
    1.00 hr
    Tax Reform: Why #TRIH Tax Reform is Hard and #TRIM Tax Reform is Mandatory
    Explore the impact of our current tax system, why reform matters, why it's controversial, and the implications of potential reforms for the short and long run. 

    Pamela F. Olson, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - Washington, DC

    Pamela F. Olson, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - Washington, DC

  • 1:05 pm
    Break

  • 1:20 pm
    1.00 hr
    Tax Collection by the Department of Justice Tax Division: Key Concepts and Considerations
    Learn how the DOJ collects unpaid taxes and the considerations it takes into account when enforcing unpaid tax liabilities. Get a thorough overview of numerous collection tools at DOJ’s disposal, including enforcement of levies, tax liens, judgment liens, nominee and alter ego determinations, sequestrations, and garnishments. Hear how the DOJ uses informal and formal discovery to uncover hidden assets to satisfy unpaid taxes.

    Herb Linder, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division - Dallas, TX (Invited)
    Ramona Stephens Notinger, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division - Dallas, TX (Invited)
    Andy Sobotka, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division - Dallas, TX (Invited)

    Herb Linder, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division - Dallas, TX (Invited)
    Ramona Stephens Notinger, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division - Dallas, TX (Invited)
    Andy Sobotka, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division - Dallas, TX (Invited)

  • 2:20 pm
    1.00 hr
    Controversies and Transactional Issues (Captive Insurance)
    Captive insurance companies can be useful risk management tools for small businesses when designed and implemented correctly. Gain insights into the basics of structuring captive insurance companies, traps to avoid, and current trends in IRS challenges to captive arrangements.

    Cindy L. Grossman, Giordani, Swanger, Ripp & Jetel, LLP - Austin, TX
    Charles J. "Chad" Muller III, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry - San Antonio, TX

    Cindy L. Grossman, Giordani, Swanger, Ripp & Jetel, LLP - Austin, TX
    Charles J. "Chad" Muller III, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry - San Antonio, TX

  • 3:20 pm
    Break

  • 3:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Dealing with a Decedent’s Fraud: Cleaning up Our Dead Client’s Bad Behavior
    The fraudulent acts of a decedent can, and often do, plague an estate and expose fiduciaries to personal liability. Discuss practical strategies to resolve issues arising from, and limit fiduciary liability with respect to, unreported taxable gifts, undisclosed offshore financial arrangements, and fraudulent tax returns filed by the decedent.

    Frank Agostino, Agostino & Associates, P.C. - Hackensack, NJ
    Larry Sannicandro, McCarter & English - Newark, NJ

    Frank Agostino, Agostino & Associates, P.C. - Hackensack, NJ
    Larry Sannicandro, McCarter & English - Newark, NJ

  • 4:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 December 13, 2017
  • Day 2 December 14, 2017
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Frank Agostino

Agostino & Associates, P.C.
Hackensack, NJ

Caroline D. Ciraolo

Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP
Washington, DC

Elizabeth A. Copeland

Strasburger & Price, LLP
San Antonio, TX

T. David Cowart

Dentons
Dallas, TX

Cindy L. Grossman

Giordani, Swanger, Ripp & Jetel, LLP
Austin, TX

Benjamin David Halpern

Shackelford, Melton & McKinley
Dallas, TX

Glenn A. Hegar

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Austin, TX

Todd Keator

Thompson & Knight LLP
Dallas, TX

Herb Linder

U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division
Dallas, TX
(Invited)

Bruce A. McGovern

South Texas College of Law Houston
Houston, TX

Charles J. "Chad" Muller III

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
San Antonio, TX

Ramona Stephens Notinger

U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division
Dallas, TX
(Invited)

Pamela F. Olson

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Washington, DC

Rachel L. Partain

Caplin & Drysdale
New York, NY

Nancy L. Prosser

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Austin, TX

Charles P. Rettig

Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, P.C.
Beverly Hills, CA

G. Tomas Rhodus

Gray Reed
Dallas, TX

Larry Sannicandro

McCarter & English
Newark, NJ

Andy Sobotka

U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division
Dallas, TX
(Invited)

Amanda Traphagan

Seay & Traphagan, PLLC
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Christina A. Mondrik—Chair

Mondrik & Associates
Austin, TX

Catherine C. Scheid—Vice-Chair

Attorney at Law
Houston, TX

Deborah Salzberg—Director

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Maxine Aaronson

Attorney at Law
Dallas, TX

Stephen R. Akers

Bessemer Trust
Dallas, TX

R. Gordon Appleman

Thompson & Knight LLP
Fort Worth, TX

Stanley L. Blend

Strasburger & Price, LLP
San Antonio, TX

Michael L. Cook

Cook Brooks Johnson PLLC
Austin, TX

Mickey R. Davis

Davis & Willms, PLLC
Houston, TX

Dennis B. Drapkin

Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Dallas, TX

Lauren Fitte

Giordani, Swanger, Ripp & Jetel, LLP
Austin, TX

Lawrence B. Gibbs

Miller & Chevalier
Washington, DC

Joe Hull

Bracewell
Austin, TX

Kristie Iatrou

Mondrik & Associates
Austin, TX

Donald O. Jansen

The University of Texas System
Austin, TX

Stanley M. Johanson

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Calvin H. Johnson

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

James F. Martens

Martens, Todd, Leonard & Ahlrich
Austin, TX

Charles J. "Chad" Muller III

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
San Antonio, TX

Patrick L. O'Daniel

Norton Rose Fulbright
Austin, TX

T. Charles Parr III

Parr & Associates
San Antonio, TX

Robert J. Peroni

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Kelli H. Todd

Martens, Todd, Leonard & Ahlrich
Austin, TX

Amanda Traphagan

Seay & Traphagan, PLLC
Austin, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin

MCLE Credit

Texas – 15.00 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Estate Planning and Probate Law, Tax Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.
California – 15.00 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.
Oklahoma – 18.00 hrs  |  2.50 hrs Ethics
You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.

Other Credit

Certified Financial Planner (CFP) – 15.50 hrs
This course has been approved for Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credit. UT Law CLE will report your credit for you, but we do require that you claim the credit in your Briefcase and ensure your CFP number is add in your account. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

You can learn more at: http://www.cfp.net/
National Accounting CPE – 18.00 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law 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. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Delivery Method: Group-Live (UT Law CLE is a provider of NASBA Group-Live credit only, which excludes online offerings.

To comply with NASBA Standards, attendees claiming CPE credit must sign in to verify attendance for each segment. Attendance sign-in sheets will be available at the registration desk. You will need your CPA license number to sign in. A CPE Certificate of Completion will be provided at the conclusion of the conference.

Reporting: CPAs are responsible for reporting CPE credits earned to their state's accountancy board, and must retain appropriate documentation of their participation in learning activities. Visit your state’s reporting website for more information or www.nasba.org.
TX Accounting CPE – 18.00 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Austin – Dec 13-14, 2017 – DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Individual
Last day for $575.00 Regular pricing: Dec 6, 2017
$625.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $520.00 Regular pricing: Dec 6, 2017
$570.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $460.00 Regular pricing: Dec 6, 2017
$510.00 for registrations received after this time


Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Dec 8, 2017
$50 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Dec 11, 2017

Venue

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin exterior view

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin

6505 N. Interstate 35
Austin, TX 78752-4346
512-454-3737
512-454-3737 (reservations)
Map

Accommodations

$149 room rate good through November 29, 2017 (subject to availability). Please refer to the Taxation and Estate Planning Conference when calling the reservations department. 

Parking Information

Daily or Overnight Self-parking: $8 
Valet Parking: $18

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