Comments on: Justice Tax Division Nominee Has No Tax Experience http://www.taxgirl.com/justice-tax-division-nominee-has-no-tax-experience/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:31:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Abe Carnow http://www.taxgirl.com/justice-tax-division-nominee-has-no-tax-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-10745 Abe Carnow Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:21:24 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3527#comment-10745 I think we'd do much better if the President just chose his appointments randomly, throw a dart at a map of the U.S., choose a state, throw another dart, choose a city, get the phone book, and open it up at random, and take the name at the top of the page. Not only would this save time, but we would wind up with more qualified people. I teach nationwide continuing professional education in tax. Anyone who has never taken tax cpe is, frankly, a bad, bad person. Enough said. Thanks for your frankness. Cheers, Abe I think we’d do much better if the President just chose his appointments randomly, throw a dart at a map of the U.S., choose a state, throw another dart, choose a city, get the phone book, and open it up at random, and take the name at the top of the page. Not only would this save time, but we would wind up with more qualified people.
I teach nationwide continuing professional education in tax. Anyone who has never taken tax cpe is, frankly, a bad, bad person.
Enough said.
Thanks for your frankness.

Cheers,

Abe

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/justice-tax-division-nominee-has-no-tax-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-10741 Kelly Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:47:50 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3527#comment-10741 Peter, Actually, no. I have no prosecutorial experience and I hate, hate, hate trial work. Did I mention that I hate trial work? ;) Peter,
Actually, no. I have no prosecutorial experience and I hate, hate, hate trial work. Did I mention that I hate trial work? ;)

]]> By: Peter http://www.taxgirl.com/justice-tax-division-nominee-has-no-tax-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-10740 Peter Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:39:33 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3527#comment-10740 Stanczyk, Previous DOJ tax division heads have had substantive tax backgrounds as <em>in addition to</em> substantial litigation experience. Just check out the resumes the last two tax division leaders, Eileen O'Connor and Nathan Hochman. As <a href="http://blog.pappastax.com/index.php/2009/06/19/white-house-says-doj-tax-division-nominee-is-qualified-i-say-bologna/"I wrote on my own blog"</a>, if President Obama is serious about closing the tax gap, why wouldn't he have have appointed someone to head up the tax enforcement arm of the DOJ who had <em>both</em> a strong background in tax law and tax litigation? They are out there, you know? Stanczyk,

Previous DOJ tax division heads have had substantive tax backgrounds as in addition to substantial litigation experience.

Just check out the resumes the last two tax division leaders, Eileen O’Connor and Nathan Hochman.

As <a href="http://blog.pappastax.com/index.php/2009/06/19/white-house-says-doj-tax-division-nominee-is-qualified-i-say-bologna/"I wrote on my own blog", if President Obama is serious about closing the tax gap, why wouldn’t he have have appointed someone to head up the tax enforcement arm of the DOJ who had both a strong background in tax law and tax litigation?

They are out there, you know?

]]> By: Peter http://www.taxgirl.com/justice-tax-division-nominee-has-no-tax-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-10739 Peter Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:32:42 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3527#comment-10739 Hi TaxGirl, Do you <em>really</em> want to be the head of the DOJ Tax Division? Hi TaxGirl,

Do you really want to be the head of the DOJ Tax Division?

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/justice-tax-division-nominee-has-no-tax-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-10713 Kelly Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:20:36 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3527#comment-10713 The DOJ Tax Division is responsible for prosecuting civil and criminal cases. The IRS Commish has reported that there is $300 in uncollected revenue. Some of it is attributable to fraudulent tax shelters, unscrupulous tax pros (more than 100 convicted last year) and other misdeeds. It's so imperative that the team that works on those cases understand the IRC, not just be a good lawyer. There are a lot of talented prosecutors and tax attorneys who would have been better suited. The DOJ Tax Division is responsible for prosecuting civil and criminal cases. The IRS Commish has reported that there is $300 in uncollected revenue. Some of it is attributable to fraudulent tax shelters, unscrupulous tax pros (more than 100 convicted last year) and other misdeeds. It’s so imperative that the team that works on those cases understand the IRC, not just be a good lawyer. There are a lot of talented prosecutors and tax attorneys who would have been better suited.

]]> By: Stanczyk http://www.taxgirl.com/justice-tax-division-nominee-has-no-tax-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-10712 Stanczyk Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:15:56 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3527#comment-10712 I don't see why you're so down on this particular pick. Sure it's a political appointment but aren't these jobs always political, by their very nature? And maybe she doesn't have any direct tax experience, but you point out her resume is impressive otherwise. According to her firm's website "Ms. Smith specializes in complex litigation, regulatory practice, and government investigations.. she served in the Clinton White House as Associate Counsel to the President and Associate Director of Policy Planning." She doesn't appear to be a slouch, so it's not purely political. As I understand it the head of the tax division has to work closely with the SEC, so doesn't it seem like her extensive skillset and related experience will help her overcome what may be less direct experience as a practicing tax attorney? I don’t see why you’re so down on this particular pick. Sure it’s a political appointment but aren’t these jobs always political, by their very nature? And maybe she doesn’t have any direct tax experience, but you point out her resume is impressive otherwise. According to her firm’s website “Ms. Smith specializes in complex litigation, regulatory practice, and government investigations.. she served in the Clinton White House as Associate Counsel to the President and Associate Director of Policy Planning.” She doesn’t appear to be a slouch, so it’s not purely political. As I understand it the head of the tax division has to work closely with the SEC, so doesn’t it seem like her extensive skillset and related experience will help her overcome what may be less direct experience as a practicing tax attorney?

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