69th Tax Institute

2023 marks the 69th anniversary of the Tax Institute, offered by the University at Buffalo School of Management, the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Erie Institute of Law.

This full-day seminar provides a means of reviewing and clarifying provisions and patterns of federal tax laws. The Tax Institute continues to provide practitioners with cutting-edge information regarding the substance and administration of tax laws.   

CLE: This continuing legal education course is approved in accordance with the requirements of New York's Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 7 CLE credit hours in the Areas of Professional Practice category and is appropriate for newly admitted and experienced attorneys. Attorneys may apply for reciprocal Florida CLE credits through the Bar Association of Erie County.

CPE: The Tax Institute is authorized by the State Board of Accountancy to be a sponsor of continuing education programs for New York State certified public accountants and/or public accountants under Section 7409 of the Education Law and Section 70.6 of the Commissioner's Regulations under Sponsor ID #001414. Full attendance at the institute will earn 7 CPE credits for participants in the area of Taxation.

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.  Check-in, continental breakfast

8:35 - 9:40 a.m.  Federal Tax Update
A review of the latest developments in Federal taxes for the year 2023, including cases, regulations, laws, and administrative materials.

• Gary D. Borek, Esq., Gary D. Borek, LLC
• Bruce Zgoda, CPA, Zgoda & Associates CPAs P.C.

9:40 - 10:45 a.m.  Employer Retention Credit - The Aftermath
The pandemic-era employee retention credit (ERC) is a lucrative tax credit for eligible employers whose businesses suffered gross receipts declines or were suspended for COVID-related reasons. Unfortunately, the workings of this credit can be extremely complex, and many promoters and marketers have taken advantage of this opportunity to convince businesses to claim the credit, even though they may not be eligible. Now the IRS is starting to crack down on ERC claims, leaving many businesses questioning whether they should have claimed the credits. Join us for an update on the ERC and where things currently stand today for businesses who have filed claims or are still considering filing claims now that the IRS has stepped up enforcement on this super-charged issue.

• Thomas E. Mazurek, Jr., CPA, Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP
• Charles P. Pezzino, CPA, Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP
  
• Deborah Weber, Esq., Weber Law, LLC
  

10:45 - 11:00 a.m.  Break

11:00 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. - Hot Topics and Tips for the Tax Professional, from an IRS Attorney's Perspective
A panel-style discussion on effectively representing clients before the IRS, including what works and what doesn't.  Trends and observations with respect to topics frequently seen in tax controversy, including gambling and hobby loss, will also be covered.

• Gary Bluestein, Esq., Lippes Mathias, LLP
• Heather Marello, Esq., IRS-Office of Chief Counsel
  

12:05 - 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

1:00 - 2:05 p.m.  Dealing with IRS/Changes
An update on IRS audit issues and hot topics in tax enforcement. Strategies for accountants and other tax professionals will be discussed.

• Gary Bluestein, Esq., Lippes Mathias, LLP
• Bruce Zgoda, CPA, Zgoda & Associates CPAs P.C.

2:05 - 3:10 p.m. NY Sales Tax Audit and Enforcement Issues
The last thing any business wants to receive in the mail is a sales tax audit notice from New York State. Going through a sales tax audit can be a stressful and time-consuming experience for business owners and their staff. Join us for a discussion highlighting best practices for handling these audits, as we share insights from years of experience assisting businesses with preparing for sales tax audits, managing the audit process, working with auditors, as well as post-audit considerations to avoid these issues in the future. We’ll also discuss the state of sales tax enforcement in NY and what businesses can expect from the Department of Taxation and Finance in coming years.  

• Thomas E. Mazurek, Jr., CPA, Partner, Tronconi Segarra &
  Associates LLP
• Daniel P. Kelly, Esq., Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP

3:10 - 3:25 p.m.  Break

3:25 - 4:25 p.m.  New York Tax Update

• Daniel P. Kelly, Esq., Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP

The Tax Institute planning committee is responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing and producing the highly successful event. 

Co-Presidents:
Kelly Marks, Esq., Phillips Lytle LLP
Bruce Zgoda, CPA, Zgoda & Associates CPAs P.C.

Members:
Gary Bluestein, Esq., Lippes Mathias LLP
Tom Mazurek, CPA, Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP
Cassie Nguyen, CPA, UB School of Management
Martha Salzman, Esq., UB School of Management
Steven Sanders, CPA, Steven Sanders CPA

A link to the materials will be emailed to you shortly before the event. 

The registration fee covers packaged breakfast and lunch, snacks, program materials and your choice to attend live or via Zoom.

Early Bird: $199 (through Nov. 24)
Regular: $225 (Nov. 25 - Nov. 30)

Registrations can be made by calling the Erie Institute of Law at
716-852-8687 or visiting eriebar.org/events/69th-tax-inst/