2007 IRS Seminar

[DaveinTexas]

Anyone else going to the 2007 IRS Seminar; located in 6 cities this year?

I am going to the one in Las Vegas, er, because I like the dry climate---yeah that's it.

I was wondering if any of you have attended these seminars in the past and if so, what was your overall impression?

TIA

[Girard Van De Lay]

I have gone

for the last two years and I will not go again. The first year was in San Fransico and it was not to bad but I felt like I did not learn anything expect that the IRS speakers are really bad. Last year I went to Vegas and that was a nightmare way too crowded. At some of the seminars I had to sit on the floor. Also the subjects were pretty much the same as the first year. I would recommend the NATP conferance which is also being held in Vegas this year.

Girard Van de Lay
importer/exporter

[dsi]

About the only thing one can expect from the IRS seminars is about compliance. Never do you get any real tax advice that can help your clients reduce their tax liability. They seem to focus on the fear factor. Just my opinion.

[rosieea]

They offer a lot of good topics, but with 50 minute sessions, very little substantive information is presented. There is simply not enough time to get into depth on any topic. I judge it a waste of time.

[Gretel]

Last year was my first year of attendance in Anaheim. I was impressed and learned quite a bit, not only about compliance. I am a 6th year tax preparer, so I guess, it's natural to learn new stuff all the time.

[taxmandan]

Went to one in Reno several years ago and had the same experience as Girard did in Vegas. Not much value in the information, and the meetings were crowded. But, the IRS was very generous with trinkets, but wouldn't give you a Pub. 17 unless you paid the practitioners' fee.

[ecb34691]

2 years ago in Orlando they were giving away Pub 17's by the box. Took a partial box home for my tax class students. Also I've had sucess with the case resolution people, the EO reps. and the e-services reps. Loads of cpe's available and the Wed night meal isn't that bad.

[dsi]

I don't care what anyone says, they have not offered any tax savings info for any of my clients. The only thing they have offered so far has been scare tactics about not filing, filing frivolent tax returns, etc. Never have they given any tax tips for small clients.

[dsi]

Another thing, most of us do not attend to be scared by theIRS. We attend them to get inside info that will HELP our clients.

[Jiggers]

IRS seminars

I went to one in San Antonio a few years back. Wasted time as each session was run by those young'ens at theIRS. Not very informative or useful.

You have to remember that theIRS operates in the past, not in the future. They could explain something from the tax code a year ago, but couldn't help with the upcoming tax season.

[oceanlovin'ea]

Have attended

several IRS forums. I went to Atlanta and then to Orlando.

I agree that the IRS speakers are dry and mostly recite statistics, but the speakers from other sources such as NATP and other groups give some good points.

It is also a good place for networking and getting to talk to other tax practitioners. I have enjoyed that part of it.

You also get a chance to see products from the vendors and talk to them. I have found out about several products to use in my business there and probably would never have tried them or talked to them otherwise. That is where I found out about TaxslayerPro. So I am glad I went to that seminar.

You don't pay as much for this seminar as others but you get CPE credits and you can do your ethics there too.So I guess you could say you get what you pay for.

I will probably go again since it is in Orlando and I can just drive up each day. No travel expenses.

Linda F

[Gretel]

Linda, how do you get your Ethics CPE? I attended several Ethics classes but did not get specific Ethics CPE. Just the main thing and was wondering if the Ethic classes qualify by itself and don't need specific CPE credits?

[Chief]

NATP Annual Conference in Las Vegas

for the last two years and I will not go again. The first year was in San Fransico and it was not to bad but I felt like I did not learn anything expect that the IRS speakers are really bad. Last year I went to Vegas and that was a nightmare way too crowded. At some of the seminars I had to sit on the floor. Also the subjects were pretty much the same as the first year. I would recommend the NATP conferance which is also being held in Vegas this year.

Girard Van de Lay
importer/exporter

I am thiniking serious about going to the NATP conference in Las Vegas. Never been to one or been to Las Vegas. I wish the TaxBoard would host a meeting where some of us could meet. That to me would be the highlight of the meeting. Brad and Paul are you listening?

[Davc]

The IRS is going to be giving a free 1 hour "E-File Cheer" session at the CSEA Super in Veags at 6 am. I'll have to ask the attendee how it went later in the day.