Leading Policymakers and Professionals to Examine Critical Tax Risk Issues Facing U.S. Businesses at Annual TCPI Symposium

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A distinguished group of policymakers and professionals from government, industry and academia will undertake an in-depth examination of the critical tax risk issues facing U.S. businesses at the Tax Council Policy Institute's 13^th Annual Tax Council Policy and Practice Symposium, Feb. 15-16, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The two-day symposium titled, "The New Realities of Tax Risk Management: Navigating risk in a complex world," will examine tax risk in connection with such topics as fundamental tax reform,  government enforcement and guidance, the possibility of a territorial tax for multinational businesses, and the importance of reputational tax risk in today's business environment. KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, is the program manager for the 2012 event.

Douglas H. Shulman, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), is scheduled to deliver the opening keynote address on the importance and scope of tax risk management amid an increasingly complex business and regulatory environment.  Jon Traub, former staff director, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, will address the challenges and prospects for corporate tax reform.

The opening panel discussion, titled, "A Call to Action: The Value and Importance of Effectively Managing Tax Risk," will be moderated by Hank Gutman, tax principal, KPMG LLP. The panel will include David Hartnett, permanent secretary for Tax, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (United Kingdom); William Sample, corporate vice president – Worldwide Taxes, Microsoft Corporation; and Henry C. Wolf, director, AGL Resources Inc., and Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., and former vice chairman and chief financial officer, Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Other  panelists who will address a range of tax risk-related topics include: Dee Dee Myers, managing director, The Glover Park Group and former press secretary for President Bill Clinton; award-winning author, television commentator and columnist Jeffrey Birnbaum, now president of BGR Public Relations; as well as four key IRS officials including: Steven T. Miller, deputy commissioner for Services and Enforcement; William Wilkins, chief counsel; Michael Danilack, deputy commissioner (International) Large Business and International Division, and Heather Maloy, commissioner, Large Business and International Division.

Panel discussions scheduled during the Symposium include:

• Critical Aspects of Internal Risk Management
• A Closer Look at the Impact of Reputation on Tax Risk
• Managing the Risks and Opportunities Surrounding Fundamental Tax Reform
• Exploring a Potential Territorial System of Taxation
• Implications for Income Taxes and Tax Executives
• Government's View of Tax Risk: What Drives Guidance and Enforcement?
• Government Programs Designed To Address Tax Risk: Expansion of CAP (Compliance Assurance Process), Schedule UTP (Uncertain Tax Positions); and Transfer Pricing Issues.
• Tax Compliance and Controversy: Challenges and Risks

TCPI's 13^th Annual Tax Policy and Practice Symposium is aimed at CFOs, vice presidents of finance and tax, attorneys, accountants, and controllers from companies large and small. For more details about the event, including registration, please contact TCPI at 202-822-8062 or visit TCPI's Web site at www.tcpi.org.

The Tax Council Policy Institute (TCPI), which was created in 1997, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit and non-partisan public research and educational organization. TCPI was created to help bring about a better understanding of significant federal tax policies that impact businesses and the national economy through careful study, thoughtful evaluation and open discussion.  TCPI is affiliated with The Tax Council, an association established in 1966 for senior level tax professionals who work together to promote sound federal tax policies and a better understanding of our federal tax system.

SOURCE The Tax Council Policy Institute