IRS Offers Tax Professionals a Look Behind the Curtain; Find Out What's Behind IRS Compliance Research Programs

3/6/2003

From: Anne Banner, 202-367-1626 or abanner@akerpartners.com

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Tax Talk Today(r) will offer some insight into where the IRS stands on its compliance research programs. It wants to give tax professionals a better understanding of the compliance research it conducts, and show them how compliance fits into the National Research Program and the K-1 Matching Program.

"IRS Compliance Research Programs" is the title of this month's Tax Talk Today(r) Internet broadcast, with panelists providing an update on where the IRS stands on its National Research and the K-1 Matching programs. The discussion will offer tax professionals a chance to see what's in store for the future of these programs.

Joseph Brimacombe, Deputy Director of the SB/SE Compliance Policy, IRS, and Charles Bennett, Senior Analyst, National Research Program, IRS, will provide the inside look. Mary Lou Gervie, CPA, CFE, Senior Manager at Watkins, Meegan, Drury & Company, LLC; Roger Harris, President and COO of SmallBizPros; and Robert Goldstein, CPA, Partner at Leipziger & Breskin, LLP, will add outside perspectives.

The live Internet broadcast, co-sponsored by the IRS, will air from 2-3 p.m. on March 11. The program will be of particular interest for practitioners with a general practice, as well as professionals within college and university accounting and business schools.

"This Tax Talk Today(r) Internet broadcast will provide valuable information about the research programs and explain how tax professionals can take advantage of them for their clients," said Les Witmer, the program's moderator. "With some of these programs having begun as recently as last fall, they need more 'exposure' to be fully understood and appreciated by tax professionals."

Witmer, APR, is a communications consultant and a 23-year veteran of the IRS, where he served as acting director of the Wage and Investment Division.

After an open discussion, the panelists will answer e-mailed, faxed or phoned-in viewer questions about the IRS Compliance Research Programs.

------ Tax Talk Today(r) is produced by L&M Production Design Group, a presentation media company based in Alexandria, Virginia. Tax Talk Today(r) is aimed at educating tax professionals on the most contemporary and complex tax issues. The series airs monthly at http://www.TaxTalkToday.TV. Programs are archived on the site for one year after each episode. Tax professionals, IRS enrolled agents, financial planners and payroll professionals are eligible to receive continuing education credits by viewing Tax Talk Today(r), and should visit the Website for details. For additional information, contact Paul Lamonia at 703-642-6505 or lamonia@LMpdg.com or visit http://www.TaxTalkToday.TV.