Each year’s “IRS Whistleblower Boot Camp” brings together senior officials of the IRS Whistleblower Office and tax whistleblower attorneys to explore the latest developments in the IRS Whistleblower Program. This year’s Boot Camp is November 15, 2011 in Washington.
Of special interest this year is that Deputy IRS Commissioner for Services and Enforcement Steven T. Miller will participate for the first time. Other IRS officials participating include (in order of appearance):
—Stephen Whitlock, Director of the IRS Whistleblower Office
–Debra Bowe, Special Counsel to the Director of the IRS Whistleblower Office –Thomas Kane, Senior Counsel, IRS Office of Chief Counsel –Dawn Applebaum, Senior Program Analyst, IRS Whistleblower Office –Kathy Onken, Senior Program Analyst, IRS Whistleblower Office
Once again, I am looking forward to leading a panel discussion, this time on International and Offshore Issues. Panelists will include Steve Whitlock, Director of the IRS Whistleblower Office; Dawn Applebaum of the Whistleblower Office; and a representative of the IRS Criminal Investigative Division with expertise in international and offshore tax cases.
Other sessions will discuss new developments, including the debate over the IRS “collected proceeds” regulation that was the subject of the May 11, 2011 public hearing; litigation issues; and “hot topics.” My friends and colleagues Erika Kelton, Paul Scott, Linda Stengle, and Margaret Finnerty will also moderate panel discussions or serve as panelists.
Does Deputy Commissioner Miller’s involvement signal that the IRS as a whole is increasingly recognizing the vast benefits of encouraging tax whistleblowers to come forward?
Anyone interested in closing the “tax gap” should hope so. We certainly welcome his participation in this effort to educate attorneys further about the “best practices” in pursuing IRS Whistleblower claims.