I regularly attend the IRS National Tax Forum to see what the other side is up to, but this year was an exception. Hurricane Irene had other plans. With travel arrangements booked and paid for, the storm had trashed my home and new office just days before the event. Nevertheless, client records were secured, and our office is in the process of being restored better than before. To paraphrase a famous Mark Twain quote, rumors of our death were greatly exaggerated.

The Forum provides a window into the thinking at the IRS. There, one gets to hear directly from IRS front line folk up to the director. One also gets to meet other tax professionals from around the country, offering a rare opportunity to share diverse experiences and approaches.