Each year after schlepping from 41st Street and 8th Avenue to 53rd and Ave of Americas in the height of the summer heat I vow “never again”. But each year I again enroll in the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum held at the Hilton in New York City.
As I am sure you are aware, each year the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum (which began in 1990) offers three full days of seminars with the latest word from the IRS leadership and experts in the fields of tax law, compliance and ethics. Attendees can earn continuing professional education credits, learn about the latest IRS e-Services products and schedule a visit to the Practitioner Case Resolution Room (where each practitioner participant may present one case to IRS decision-makers who can, according to the IRS promotional literature, 9 times out of 10 resolve them “on the spot” – so far I have not taken advantage of this service). The forums also feature a two-day Expo with representatives from the IRS, business, finance and tax software companies offering their products, services and expertise.
The New York area event is one of the most well-attended, with, as the keynote speaker pointed out, once again over 2000 registrants from all 50 states.
Before I present my comments on the 2008 Forum I should point out the following “eccentricities” of my individual tax practice-
* In my 35+ years in the profession I have never prepared a return, individual or business, using tax-preparation software - and I have no intention of ever doing so. I do about 400 “sets” of individual income tax returns each year – all by hand.
* I have also never “electronically” filed a federal income tax return – and have no intention of doing so until the IRS provides a free online filing option similar to NJWebFile.
As I am sure you are aware, each year the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum (which began in 1990) offers three full days of seminars with the latest word from the IRS leadership and experts in the fields of tax law, compliance and ethics. Attendees can earn continuing professional education credits, learn about the latest IRS e-Services products and schedule a visit to the Practitioner Case Resolution Room (where each practitioner participant may present one case to IRS decision-makers who can, according to the IRS promotional literature, 9 times out of 10 resolve them “on the spot” – so far I have not taken advantage of this service). The forums also feature a two-day Expo with representatives from the IRS, business, finance and tax software companies offering their products, services and expertise.
The New York area event is one of the most well-attended, with, as the keynote speaker pointed out, once again over 2000 registrants from all 50 states.
Before I present my comments on the 2008 Forum I should point out the following “eccentricities” of my individual tax practice-
* In my 35+ years in the profession I have never prepared a return, individual or business, using tax-preparation software - and I have no intention of ever doing so. I do about 400 “sets” of individual income tax returns each year – all by hand.
* I have also never “electronically” filed a federal income tax return – and have no intention of doing so until the IRS provides a free online filing option similar to NJWebFile.
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* I currently have more than enough 1040 and 1040A clients, and no longer accept partnership or corporate clients. I am not looking to expand my practice – I am actually looking to “thin the herd”.
* I currently have more than enough 1040 and 1040A clients, and no longer accept partnership or corporate clients. I am not looking to expand my practice – I am actually looking to “thin the herd”.
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* I am vehemently against Refund Anticipation Loans and strongly feel that tax preparers should not, under any circumstances, offer such a product.
* I am vehemently against Refund Anticipation Loans and strongly feel that tax preparers should not, under any circumstances, offer such a product.
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* I do not attend continuing education conferences, seminars or workshops to “win friends and influence people” – I am not interested in “networking” with my fellow practitioners at such an event.
Therefore more than half of the offerings of the Forum, including the Exhibit Hall (this year I did not even walk through it to kill time), hold absolutely no interest for me.
* I do not attend continuing education conferences, seminars or workshops to “win friends and influence people” – I am not interested in “networking” with my fellow practitioners at such an event.
Therefore more than half of the offerings of the Forum, including the Exhibit Hall (this year I did not even walk through it to kill time), hold absolutely no interest for me.
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I have attended the Forum for 4 years now - once in Chicago and three times in NYC. I have paid $99.00, $129.00, $135.00, and, this year, $149.00, which each year has included an NATP or NSTP member discount. So in just 4 years the cost has increased 50.5% - without any perceivable change to the actual “product”.
I have attended the Forum for 4 years now - once in Chicago and three times in NYC. I have paid $99.00, $129.00, $135.00, and, this year, $149.00, which each year has included an NATP or NSTP member discount. So in just 4 years the cost has increased 50.5% - without any perceivable change to the actual “product”.
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The Forum is still a true bargain, considering what is available to registrants, but it is getting rather pricey for what I take away from it. It is always good to hear the IRS take on income tax law and tax form changes, but this alone does not justify the annually increasing expense.
My complaints about the Forum remain the same as they have been since the first one I attended in 2005 –
* The 50-minute hour session is too short for anything other than a basic overview of a topic. While it may be appropriate for a few presentations, more involved topics should be allocated more time or perhaps a Part I and Part II.
The Forum is still a true bargain, considering what is available to registrants, but it is getting rather pricey for what I take away from it. It is always good to hear the IRS take on income tax law and tax form changes, but this alone does not justify the annually increasing expense.
My complaints about the Forum remain the same as they have been since the first one I attended in 2005 –
* The 50-minute hour session is too short for anything other than a basic overview of a topic. While it may be appropriate for a few presentations, more involved topics should be allocated more time or perhaps a Part I and Part II.
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* The rooms are often over-crowded and do not have tables, making it awkward to take notes.
* In my 35+ years of practice the IRS Forum is the only educational seminar or workshop offering that does not provide registrants with at least free coffee!
* The rooms are often over-crowded and do not have tables, making it awkward to take notes.
* In my 35+ years of practice the IRS Forum is the only educational seminar or workshop offering that does not provide registrants with at least free coffee!
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* The Seminar Handbook merely replicates the slides for each of the “power-point” presentations, with the exception of the session on Cancellation of Debt presented by National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olsen. I would much prefer an actual written outline of each session, like the NATP and CSEA conferences provides.
* The Seminar Handbook merely replicates the slides for each of the “power-point” presentations, with the exception of the session on Cancellation of Debt presented by National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olsen. I would much prefer an actual written outline of each session, like the NATP and CSEA conferences provides.
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* The 2-hour 20-minute lunch break is too long. An additional 50-minute session could be added.
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* Specific of the NY Forum - the location is not at all convenient. While there is nothing wrong with the actual Hilton facilities, 53rd and 6th is too far to schlep, and, of course, the cost of the hotel, even at the special rate, is prohibitive. Ideally the Forum should be held in a venue that is located between 33rd Street and 41st Street, or at least in the immediate Times Square area (although this would probably not materially affect the cost of the hotel). I actually would prefer that the Forum return to Atlantic City, where it was held before I started attending.
* Specific of the NY Forum - the location is not at all convenient. While there is nothing wrong with the actual Hilton facilities, 53rd and 6th is too far to schlep, and, of course, the cost of the hotel, even at the special rate, is prohibitive. Ideally the Forum should be held in a venue that is located between 33rd Street and 41st Street, or at least in the immediate Times Square area (although this would probably not materially affect the cost of the hotel). I actually would prefer that the Forum return to Atlantic City, where it was held before I started attending.
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* Also specific to the NY location, the cost of breakfast and especially lunch at the on-site concession is way too expensive – even for NYC.
* Also specific to the NY location, the cost of breakfast and especially lunch at the on-site concession is way too expensive – even for NYC.
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Each year I submit pretty much the exact same comments and suggestions. And, while I do expect that someone does actually read them (I know Beanna Whitlock of NSTP, and Tom Cooke before her, has read my blog posts on the subject), they are totally ignored.
Each year I submit pretty much the exact same comments and suggestions. And, while I do expect that someone does actually read them (I know Beanna Whitlock of NSTP, and Tom Cooke before her, has read my blog posts on the subject), they are totally ignored.
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Obviously the IRS Forum is not a substitute for the more substantive and comprehensive seminars and workshops offered at the annual conferences of NATP, NSTP, NAEA or CSEA. The Forum should be attended in addition to one of the membership-organization offerings and primarily as a way of getting the IRS perspective on tax topics.
I have decided that I will no longer attend future IRS Tax Forums unless I do it in conjunction with the annual NATP National Conference, as I did in Chicago in 2006, or some other similar event.
I welcome comments on the NYC or any of the other IRS Forums from fellow tax professionals – so comment away.
FYI, I will also be posting my comments on the Forum from a different perspective at THE WANDERING TAX PRO tomorrow morning.
TAFN
Obviously the IRS Forum is not a substitute for the more substantive and comprehensive seminars and workshops offered at the annual conferences of NATP, NSTP, NAEA or CSEA. The Forum should be attended in addition to one of the membership-organization offerings and primarily as a way of getting the IRS perspective on tax topics.
I have decided that I will no longer attend future IRS Tax Forums unless I do it in conjunction with the annual NATP National Conference, as I did in Chicago in 2006, or some other similar event.
I welcome comments on the NYC or any of the other IRS Forums from fellow tax professionals – so comment away.
FYI, I will also be posting my comments on the Forum from a different perspective at THE WANDERING TAX PRO tomorrow morning.
TAFN
