About Our Annual Tax Institute
The USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute is one of the best tax institutes in the nation held once a year. It brings together the region’s top tax attorneys, CPAs, tax professionals, law and business school professors to discuss topics including what practitioners can expect with the new IRS Office of Fraud Enforcement as well as how to properly advise clients with collection issues.
2022 7th Annual In Person USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute
A Leading Educational Event for Tax Professionals
We Bring the Tax Community Together
7th Annual
USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute
Now Available On YouTube
Mark Your Calendars for 2023!
The 2023 8th Annual USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute will be held
Friday, July 28, 2023
USD School of Law has one of the finest Tax LL.M. programs in the nation Learn more
Educational Credits Available for Attorneys, CPAs, Enrolled Agents and Tax Preparers
Attendees eligible to earn MCLE’s and CE’s for their attendance
Thank you, Torrey Pines Bank, for your many years of support!
IN PERSON! 7th Annual USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute is July 15th at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
About this event
The 2022 USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute will be held on Friday, July 15. The Institute is the premier tax controversy event in San Diego. The region’s top tax attorneys, CPAs, and law/business school professors will discuss topics including what practitioners can expect with the new IRS Office of Fraud Enforcement as well as how to properly advise clients with collection issues.
The Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award is given to an individual who exemplifies honesty, integrity, ethics, and compassion throughout his/her careers in the field of tax controversy, and has demonstrated outstanding dedication and expertise while representing taxpayers before the federal and state governments.
Over the past 30 years, Richard Carpenter has been the leading IRS tax specialist in San Diego. He has devoted his entire legal career to defending hardworking taxpayers against the powerful reaches of the Internal Revenue Service. He began his career as a CPA when he worked for an international CPA firm in the Wall Street section of New York City. He then decided to attend law school where he received his Juris Doctor law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Richard Carpenter has been an Adjunct Tax Law Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law for 25 years. He teaches both the Tax Court Litigation class as well as the Criminal Tax Fraud class. Richard has written 14 published tax law articles, including some of the leading articles in the United States in resolving civil and criminal tax disputes. Over the past 30 years, Richard Carpenter has been dedicated to helping thousands of clients resolve their tax disputes with the IRS and the State of California, saving them millions of dollars. He can resolve your California or IRS tax problem too.
We continue to encourage your support of USD School of Law Tax Law Student Scholarship Fund. As always, thank you for your support.
The Seventh Annual USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute will be held in person on Friday, July 15, 2022 at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Center at University of San Diego.
Learn from the nation’s top tax attorneys, government agency officials, and law school professors who will discuss topics including handling tax controversy, fraud enforcement, international tax, bankruptcy, cryptocurrency, NFTs, digital assets, estate planning and criminal investigations.
Reception Information
Join us for a lively environment including open premium bar and full dinner. Network and mingle with government commissioners, USD faculty members, dignitaries, judges, elected officials, business professionals, academia, and lawyers. Come network and have a great time.
2022 Agenda
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Introductory Speaker & Opening Remarks
- James Lee – Chief, IRS Criminal Investigations
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Tax Lawyer’s Guide to Bankruptcy
- Moderator: Richard Komisars III – Of Counsel, RJS LAW
- Lavar Taylor – Principal, Law Offices of A. Lavar Taylor, LLP
- Robert Horwitz – Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C.
- Mark J. Markus – Attorney, Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law, The Law Office of Mark J. Markus
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Ten Minute Break
10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Foreign Tax Credit Developments & Major 9th Circuit Caveat to Attorney-Client Privilege in Tax Matters
- Moderator: Andrea Cisneros Valdez – Of Counsel, RJS LAW
- Rene Fimbres – Senior Manager for International Tax and Transaction Services, Ernst & Young LLP
- Patrick Martin – International Tax Partner at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
- Diana Rodriquez Agiss – International Tax Manager, Deloitte
- Michael Dallo – Principal Attorney, Dallo Law Group
11:10 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. 10 Minute Break
11:20 a.m. – 12:20 a.m. Death and Taxes: The Inevitable
- Moderator: Brian Malloy – Of Counsel, RJS LAW
- Nancy Henderson – Founding Partner at Henderson Caverly Pum & Trytten
- Trevor Callan – Managing Partner, Callan Capital
- Laura Stees – CPA, Co-Founder | Partner | Business Strategist, Stees, Walker & Company, LLP
- Jordan Z. Marks, Esq., – Assessor Taxpayer Advocate, County of San Diego
12:20 p.m. – Lunch
12:20 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Keynote Speaker Luncheon – IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig – To begin 12:45 p.m.
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Cryptocurrency / NFTs / Accounting Changes
- Moderator: Sam Imandoust – Of Counsel, RJS LAW
- Moderator: Kaveh Imandoust, JD, CPA, MBT – RJS LAW
- Michael C. Friedman – Shareholder, LevitZacks
- Jonathan Kalinkski – Principal, Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C.
- Jordon Bass, Esq., CPA – Principal, Taxing Cryptocurrency & Bass Law
2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. 10 Minute Break
2:55 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Collections: The Top 10 Mistakes Made in Tax Controversy Matters
- Moderator: Richard Carpenter – Tax Attorney, Richard Carpenter Tax Law Office
- Steven L. Jager, CPA, MST, USTCP – Partner, Fineman West & Company, LLP
- Mitchell B. Dubick – Partner at Higgs, Fletcher, & Mack
- Darren Guillot – Deputy Commissioner, Collection and Operations Support, IRS
3:55 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Five Minute Break
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Criminal Tax Workshop
- Moderator: Sandra Brown – Principal, Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C.
- Eric Beste – Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
- Nathan Hochman – Of Counsel, Ross LLP, Former Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. DOJ Tax Division
- Joseph J.M. Orabona – Senior Litigation Counsel, United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California
- Jason S. Powell – Supervisory Special Agent, San Diego, Group 16, IRS
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Networking Reception with Hosted Bar and Hors D’oeuvres
6:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Presentation of Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award by Dean Robert Schapiro to Marty Schainbaum – Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Former IRS Regional Counsel Trial Attorney, and Of Counsel, RJS LAW.
Continuing Education
The University of San Diego School of Law is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider. RJS LAW is a registered Continuing Education provider with the IRS. Please check back for the number of credit hours offered.
Map & Directions
2022 Tax Institute Sponsorship Opportunities
To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please contact:
DEBBIE RIDER ‘84 (JD)
Director of Development
University of San Diego School of Law
5998 Alcala Park, GH-201A
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 260-5955 (Direct)
(619) 260-4692 (Main)
[email protected]
Past Sponsors of USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute
History of the Tax Institute and the Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award
In 2016, Ronson J. Shamoun co-founded the USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute. Now it is one of a few prestigious tax institutes in the United States. The Tax Institute is held annually at the University of San Diego – Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice.
The Tax Institute is a premier tax event that brings the entire Southern California tax community together. This all-day event provides practical advice from top leaders in the tax field including United States Tax Court Judges, IRS Commissioners, Chairman of Government Oversight Committees, Congressmen, Congresswomen, Tax Advocates and many other prestigious tax professionals from around the nation. All attendees receive educational and practical information that will help them professionally. It is an opportunity for tax professionals to network and keep up on current tax laws and events.
In 2017, the first ever Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award was given to Richard Carpenter. The award is given annually to an individual who exemplifies honesty, integrity, ethics, and compassion throughout his/her careers in the field of tax controversy, and has demonstrated outstanding dedication and expertise while representing taxpayers before the federal and state governments.
On July 20, 2018, the Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award was awarded to Steven Toscher, Principal at Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, P.C. Mr. Toscher specializes in civil and criminal tax litigation. Also, he is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California, School of Accounting, where he teaches Federal Tax Procedure. Mr. Toscher is a Certified Tax Specialist in Taxation, the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and has received an “AV” rating from Martindale Hubble. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Toscher served as a Trial Attorney with the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice, where he received its Outstanding Attorney Award. He is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and a former Internal Revenue Agent. Mr. Toscher is a frequent lecturer and author on tax controversy topics, including FBAR and other international enforcement matters. In addition to his many periodical publications, he is a co-author of Tax Management’s “Tax Crimes” Portfolio.
The 2019 Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award recipient was Richard A. Shaw, Special Counsel at Higgs Fletcher and Mack. Mr. Shaw is a nationally recognized business and tax lawyer and former Chair of the ABA Section of Taxation. Mr. Shaw also testifies as an expert witness and lectures nationally on business and tax issues.
The recipient of the 2020 Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award was presented virtually to M. Carr Ferrguson. Mr. Ferrguson illustrated notable achievements including 30+ years of excellence in the tax field and his continued commitment to the tax community. The award is given to individuals who personify honesty, integrity, ethics, and compassion throughout his/her careers in the field of tax controversy, and who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and expertise while working in the legal tax field.
The 2021 Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award was presented virtually to Nina E. Olson. Ms. Olson is the Executive Director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, a nonprofit organization that works to advance taxpayer rights in the United States and internationally, and convenes the International Conference on Taxpayer Rights. From March 2001 to July 2019, she served as the National Taxpayer Advocate of the United States, an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service with 1,600 to 2,100 employees and 79 offices across the United States, dedicated to assisting taxpayers resolve their problems with the IRS and making administrative and legislative recommendations to mitigate those problems systemically. She has submitted 39 annual reports to Congress, and she has testified before congressional committees over 60 times.
Before serving as the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina founded and directed The Community Tax Law Project, the first independent Low Income Taxpayer Clinic in the US. She also maintained a private legal practice, representing taxpayers in disputes with the IRS. Nina is a member of the Virginia and North Carolina state bars. She is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel (ACTC), a senior fellow of the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS), and a member of the supervisory board of the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) Observatory of Taxpayer Rights.
Past Recipients of the Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award
Nina Olson – Executive Director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights – Recipient 2021
M. Carr Ferguson – Former Special Assistant to the Attorney General, Tax Division of U.S. Department of Justice and Visiting Professor of Law, USD School of Law – Recipient 2020
Richard A. Shaw – Special Counsel, Higgs Fletcher and Mack – Recipient 2019
Steven Toscher – ‘79 (JD), Principal, Hochman, Salkin, Toscher, & Perez P.C. – Recipient 2018
Richard Carpenter – ’84 (JD) – Principal, Richard Carpenter Tax Law Firm – Recipient 2017
The institute features a number of keynote speakers including; United States Tax Court Judges, IRS Commissioners and many prestigious individuals in the tax community.
MCLE AND SPECIALIZED CREDITS
The University of San Diego School of Law is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider. RJS LAW is a registered Continuing Education provider with the IRS. Please check back for the number of credit hours offered.