Perspectives on Taxation Lecture Series

Drawing from her 2017 Annual Report to Congress, Nina Olson will discuss the problems facing the IRS and the implications of those problems for tax compliance and enforcement, including IRS funding and personnel cuts; declining audit rates; and flawed implementation of congressional mandates requiring the use of private debt collectors and the denial of passports to certain U.S. citizens with large tax debts. She will also address possible solutions to these problems.

Nina Olson is the National Taxpayer Advocate, the voice of the taxpayer at the IRS and before Congress. Under her leadership, the Taxpayer Advocate Service helps thousands of taxpayers every year resolve problems with the IRS and addresses systemic issues affecting groups of taxpayers. Her Annual Report to Congress identifies serious problems facing taxpayers and recommends solutions. One of her most significant achievements has been the codification of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights by Congress in 2015. Ms.Olson has also established a series of International Conferences on Taxpayer Rights, bringing together government officials, scholars, and practitioners from dozens of countries to explore how taxpayer rights serve as the foundation for effective tax administration. In 2017, Ms. Olson received the ABA Tax Section’s Distinguished Service Award and the Jules Ritholz Memorial Merit Award for outstanding dedication, achievement, and integrity in the field of civil and criminal tax controversies.

This event is part of a Perspectives on Taxation Series hosted by Professor Kristin Hickman. The event will be moderated by Myron Frans, Commissioner, Minnesota Management and Budget.

REGISTRATION

RSVP to Casey Kenney at ckenney@umn.edu or (612) 626-5048.