26th Annual International Tax Conference

On January 24-25, 2008, over 250 CPAs and Attorneys attended the 26th annual International Tax Conference in Miami.  The event was held at the prestigious JW Marriott and was cosponsored by the Florida Institute of CPAs and the Florida Bar.  The attendees were treated to a host of sessions on current topics affecting the international tax arena.  

David Forst kicked off the conference on Thursday, January 24th with an update of current developments in International Taxation.  Ozzie Schindler talked about the Expanding Universe of Private Equity Funds:  Structuring the Acquisition of Foreign Target Companies.  Jeff Rubinger provided valuable information on U.S. International Tax Planning with Foreign Losses.  Barry Shott with IRS International provided a Washington Update.  William Sharp provided information on Tax Planning for U.S.-Controlled Chinese and Indian Business Operations.  U.S. Tax Considerations in Structuring Investments in Foreign Real Estate was presented by Bill Sherman.  FIN 48 and its impact on International Tax Practitioners was presented by Bill Spiller and Jim Spencer.  Dave Hovey and Carolyn Fanaroff ended the first day with a presentation on Transfer Pricing.  

Friday, January 25th started off with a bang with Shawn Wolf and Jason Warner talking on FIRPTA REDUX.  Robert Hudson followed them with a presentation on Unwinding of Troubled Offshore Structures.  Renea Glendinning and Tom Roberge presented the Current Estate Tax Issues with Selected Treaty Countries and a Comparison of US Tax Results Using the German, Canadian and U.K. Estate Tax Treaties.  Miscellaneous Procedural Issues were presented by a panel of experts – Robert Panoff, Frank Ng, Michael Yasofsky, Rodney Hare, and Paul Rolli.  Exploration of Profits for Foreign Investors in the US and Domestication of Overseas Profits by US Enterprises was presented by Joel Karp.  Steve Cantor and Hal Webb provided information on Foreign Private Trust Companies and Their Use in Estate Planning for Multi-Jurisdictional Families.  Michael Rosenberg wrapped up the conference with a session on Dealing with the Foreign Non-Grantor Trust Having One or More US Beneficiaries after the Foreign Grantor Dies. 

Thank You to the corporate sponsors of the conference:
Corpaq Group
Equity Trust
Trident Trust

In addition, a special Thank You goes to the Conference Planning Committee for their efforts throughout the past year in planning the conference and securing such top-notch speakers.  Members of the committee include:

Lawrence Chastang, Chair
Lewis Kevelson, Vice Chair
Steven Appel
James Attkisson
John Brantley
Sonya Clark
Arthur Dichter
Manuel Ferro
Renea Glendinning
Yadira Hiraldo
Richard Jacobson
Antonio Jacomino
Jerry Ogle
Thomas Roberge
Michael Rosenberg
Joseph Schortz
W.G. Spoor
Bert Zarb

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s conference.  Check the FICPA website at www.ficpa.org for the date and location of next year’s conference.