The Philadelphia Penn Association of Government Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter

Transcription

1 The Philadelphia Penn Association of Government Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter Volume 28 Issue 7 March 2000 Gold Medal Chapter FIRST PLACE NEWSLETTER 21st Century Tax Agency May I Introduce... Our guest speaker for e February 16, 2000 luncheon Ms. Nicole Freda is e Chapter Awards Committee was Richard G. Furlong, Jr. from e Pennsylvania Chairperson for e remaining year. Since District of e Internal Revenue Service s Taxpayer moving to Philadelphia in 1997, Ms. Freda has been Education/ Electronic Tax Administration. employed by e Department of Heal and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Mr. Furlong spoke of e IRS missions of Taxpayer education, modernizing e United States tax agency, and Prior to 1997, Ms. Freda worked for e Inspector electronic tax administration. General offices of e U.S. Department of State and e General Services Administration in Washington D.C. The future operating divisions wiin e IRS will Ms. Freda attended Radford University, Radford, include: Wage and Investment Income wi Virginia, and earned a Bachelors of Business approximately 21,000 IRS employees serving about 88 Administration wi a major in Accounting. Ms. Freda is million filers, Small Business and Self-Employed wi a licensed Certified Public Accountant in e 39,000 IRS employees serving 45 million filers, Large Commonweal of Virginia and is also a Certified and Mid-Size Business wi 9,500 IRS employees Government Financial Manager. serving 210 ousand filers, and Tax Exempt and Government Entities wi 28,000 IRS employees serving 2.4 million filers. The first group of taxpayers receive refunds when filing eir annual return. Only about $46 million is paid to e IRS from is group e balance of eir liability is paid rough wiholdings by eir employer. Most issues concerning is group are focused on dependent exemptions, credits, filing status, and deductions. continued next page Inside is Issue st Century, May I Introduce 3 President s Message 4 Notice of Next Luncheon Meeting 5 Luncheons and Activity Schedules / National Activities 6 Chapter Activities 7 Chapter Officers and Directors

2 Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter - Page 2 Furlong The second group, Small Business and Self-Employed have 4 to 60 transactions a year wi e IRS and pay $915 billion directly to e IRS or nearly 44 percent of e total cash collected. Since is group has more complex tax issues, compliance issues are also more complex. The IRS will continue to focus on ese compliance functions addressing lack of wiholdings or information reporting. Alough e ird group only represents about 210, 000 filers, ey pay nearly $712 billion in cash to e IRS. This group is most likely to have issues concerning: tax law interpretation, accounting and regulations sometimes wi international dimensions. The four group includes pension plans, exempt organizations and governmental entities. This group alough exempt usually pays over $220 billion in cash in employment taxes and income tax wiholdings while controlling $6.7 trillion in assets. In is area e IRS focuses on ensuring at ese entities stay wiin policy guidelines in order to maintain eir tax-exempt status. In order to continue to serve ese groups e IRS is modernizing its system while at e same time maintain e current system to reflect annual tax law and oer business changes and accommodate additional changes to bridge to and from e new technology systems and convert taxpayer data among formats. To meet ese challenges, e IRS will design and develop new business practices and systems, develop an organization to manage is process, and make changes to e old systems needed to support ongoing operations and integration into e new systems. Mr. Furlong is a graduate of e University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, wi a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He has been affiliated wi e IRS for 10 years and has conducted numerous workshops and outreach presentations to e small business community. Each year he makes presentations to varied groups including, among oers, payroll associations, non-resident aliens, child care providers, Chambers of Commerce, and oer professional practitioner associations. We ank Mr. Furlong for his interesting and informative presentation. We appreciated at he took time out of his schedule to speak at our luncheon. VITA NEEDS YOU We will be hosting e Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site at e 30 Street Station on (of course) April 17, So please lend a much needed helping hand. Sign up on our web site New National Officers The National AGA bylaws Committee has ratified e Nominating Committee s slate of National Officers for We are proud to announce at e following individuals will take office effective July 1st, 2000: Richard Norment, CGFM, Washington D.C. Chapter, National President-Elect; Eva Williams, CGFM, Washington D.C. Chapter, National Treasurer-Elect. The following will be taking office as Regional Vice Presidents Elect for all regions: Section I New England-Michael Grip, CGFM, Hartford Norcenteral- Julie Gordon, Souern Wisconsin Noreastern- Kay Leonardi, CGFM, New York Ohio-Michigan- Adella Guy Yoche, CGFM, Cleveland Section II Mid-Western- Shirley Moses, CGFM, Topeka Sou Central- Sandy Becker, CGFM, Central Arkansas Soueastern- Patricia Bryan, CGFM, Central Kentucky Section III Norern California- Mike Williams, CGFM, San Francisco Norwestern- Tracy West, CGFM, Olympia Pacific Rim- John Phillips, CGFM, Guam Rocky Mountain- Angie Billings, Idaho Centennial Sou California- Fifi Burns, CGFM, Los Angeles Souwestern- Richard Swigart, CGFM, Phoenix Texas-Oklahoma- James Turkett, Dallas Section IV Capital-Stu Sklamm, CGFM, Montgomery/ PG County Mid-Atlantic- Jeanne Erwin, Nor Carolina Triangle

3 Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter - Page 3 President s Message At our February 16 meeting, Richard G. Furlong, Jr. from e Pennsylvania District of e IRS Taxpayer Education/ Electronic Tax Administration, made a presentation about e IRS Modernization and Electronic Tax Administration Strategies. His presentation was very well received by e 40 members in attendance. I want to ank Richard Furlong for his excellent presentation and his willingness to substitute for Mort Kafrissen on such short notice. We expect Mort to be back for our annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) on May 12. This mon, John Covone from e Defense Contract Audit Agency, Mid Atlantic Region, Information Technology Division, will discuss security issues for e Internet and Intranet users. Since most of us use e Internet (including e- mail) at bo business and home on a daily basis, we need to be educated regarding e risks we are taking wi our private information and at of our clients. We need to know what we can do to protect our information from hackers and viruses. The meeting will be held on March 15 at e First Union Building, 5 and Market Streets, Philadelphia, starting at 12:00 noon. The cost will be $10 for members and qualifies for 1 CPE credit. Be sure to make your reservations early at our web site The Presidents Day Philadelphia Phantoms ice hockey game at e First Union Spectrum was a success. Wi ticket priced at only $1 each, most of us paid more to park an to purchase tickets for e entire family. Best of all, our 2 nd level seats were all upgraded to lower level seats! We re also inking about planning a golf outing for members is Spring. If you re interested in participating, please let us know on e chapter web site. If ere is enough interest, we will move forward wi e plans. In addition, we are planning to once again host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site at 30 Street Station on April 17. If you are interested in participating, please sign up on e chapter web site. I hope to see you at our upcoming events! Also, remember at our annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) will be held on May 12, More information will be available on e chapter web site shortly. Bob Peterson Chapter President

4 Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter - Page 4 Notice of Next Luncheon Meeting LOCATION: First Union Building DATE: Wednesday, March 15, and Market Streets COST: $15.00 for non-members Second Floor Dining Room $10.00 for AGA Members Philadelphia, PA. TIME: TOPIC: SPEAKER: Executive Meeting begins at 11:15 A.M. Lunch begins at 12:00 Noon John Covone, Defense Contract Audit Agency Internet/ Intranet Security REGISTRATION: Register on-line at or call JohnB ocelli (215) or Bob Peterson at (215) by 12 Noon on Friday, February 11. Please Leave your name, agency, and daytime telephone number. FY 2000 Luncheons and Activities Schedule Wednesday, March 15, 2000 John Covone, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Internet/Intranet Security Wednesday, April 19, 2000 To Be Announced Friday, May 12, 2000 (All Day) Annual Professional Development Conference Philadelphia Radisson Airport Hotel

5 Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter - Page 5 National Activities AGA Calendar of Events March 10, 2000 Deadline for AGA s National Awards and Scholarships Chapter Activities! An executive meeting was held on February 16, 2000 wi 9 Executive Committee members in attendance. This year s potential guest speakers, presentation topics, social activities, and professional activities were discussed. The President reported at 27 Philadelphia Phantoms tickets were sold. The Board also discussed: e National Awards and e number of individuals nominated, sponsoring a golf outing, and speakers and topics for e PDC. The Board approved sponsoring e National Broadcast of GASB 34 to be held on May 3, 2000 at one of e possible locations in Center City.! Next Executive Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2000 at 11:15 A.M. before e regular Chapter Meeting.! Vince Gallo, Treasurer, reported at e chapter finances as of January 19 are as follows: Cash Beginning Balance $11, Add: Receipts Less: Expenditures (2,510.65) Cash Ending Balance 9, Accounts Receivable $ 360

6 Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter - Page 6! Lorraine Fleury, Director of e Recognition Committee, reported our chapter recognition points earned ending e ird quarter were: Category YTD Max Points Administration 2,000 2,000 Awards 1,000 1,000 Community Service 600 2,000 Education Events 1,600 3,000 Meetings 1,172 2,000 Membership 0 2,000 Newsletters 1,770 2,000 Total Points 8,142 14,000 Goal 10,000 Percentage of Goal 81.42% AGA National Awards March 10, 2000 is e deadline for nominations for AGA s National Awards and Scholarships. All nominations must be received by e National Office by March 10. These awards are an excellent opportunity to recognize e achievements of your chapter s members. AGA family members are also eligible for scholarships. Some of e Awards are: Distinguished Federal Leadership Award Achievement of e Year Award Special Achievement Award Education and Training Award The William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award (State Government Only) Private Sector Financial Excellence Award AGA Scholastic Awards For a complete listing of awards and scholarships being awarded and e eligibility, criteria, and evaluation processvisit AGA s web site at or contact Lisa Thatcher at latcher@agacgfm.org.

7 Accountants-Philadelphia Chapter - Page Chapter Officers and Directors Chapter Officers OFFICE OFFICER PHONE NUMBER President Bob Peterson, (DCAA) st 1 Vice-President Mike Walsh, (HHS) nd 2 Vice-President Will Weikel, (DCAA) Treasurer Vince Gallo, (EPA) Secretary John Bocelli, (EPA) Past President Dennis T. Zawacki, (U.S. Attorney) Committee Directors COMMITTEE DIRECTOR PHONE NUMBER Awards Nicole Freda, (HHS) CGFM Larry Levin, (DCAA) Education Larry Levin, (DCAA) Historian Charles Hoeger, (DOD) Membership Cay Mastropieri, (EPA) Newsletter Paul Teti, (HHS) x. 2027# Public Service Paul Sager, (City of Philadelphia) Recognition Lorraine Fleury, (EPA) Webmaster Bill Beerman, (NAVAUD) UPCOMING FEDERAL HOLIDAYS Monday, May 29, Memorial Day