IRS Practice and Procedures Conference Webcast Part 1

Jarod Koopman was named the Cyber Crime Director for the Department of the Treasury IRS-Criminal Investigation in June 2016. In this capacity, Jarod established a new investigative section within CI and continues to focus priority on this emerging trend. His primary function will be the oversight and management of cyber-related activities at a national level. This will consist of close interaction with the HQ sections, senior leadership and other law enforcement partners both domestic and international. Jarod began his IRS career in 2001 as a Special Agent in Rochester, New York before taking over as the Supervisor there in 2010. He was selected for the Accelerated Senior Leadership Program (ASLP) the following year. In 2012, he went to Washington DC as a Senior Analyst in Refund Crimes where he focused on Virtual Currency and Identity Theft before being selected as the Asst. Special Agent in Charge for the Chicago Field Office in 2013. From June 2014 until his current role, Jarod served as the Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office. As such, he oversaw and directed all CI investigative activities in the state of Michigan. Under his leadership, the Detroit FO successfully produced outstanding results and efforts that garnered recognition at both the regional and national levels.

Darol Tucker is the Local Taxpayer Advocate in Brooklyn, New York. He assumed this position with the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) in February 2015. He previously served as a Supervisory Revenue Officer in Albany, NY from 2012 until the beginning of 2015. He started his career with the IRS in October 2005, in Syracuse, NY as a Revenue Officer. From there, he served as a Recruiting Agent with the IRS Recruitment Office from November 2010 until August 2012, where he was responsible for all of the IRS recruiting efforts for both North and South Carolina. Prior to joining the IRS, Darol served and retired from the US Army after 26 years of service from February 1978 to February 2004, where he served in various leadership positions. Darol graduated from Columbia College (Missouri) where he majored in Business Administration.

Frank Agostino, Esq., is counsel at Kostelanetz LLP.  Before joining Kostelanetz, Mr. Agostino was the founder and president of Agostino & Associates, P.C.  Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Agostino was an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service’s District Counsel in Springfield, Illinois and Newark, New Jersey. He also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, where he prosecuted primarily criminal tax cases. As an adjunct professor, Mr. Agostino taught tax controversy at Rutgers School of Law and served as the co-director of the Rutgers Federal Tax Law Clinic. Mr. Agostino is a frequent speaker and author on tax controversy and litigation matters. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure. Mr. Agostino is actively involved with the American Bar Association and the New York County Lawyers’ Association. Mr. Agostino is also the President of the Taxpayers Assistance Corp., which provides tax and legal advice to low-income taxpayers in the NY/NJ area.

Jeff Allen is member of the EisnerAmper LLP tax practice with more than 30 years of professional experience in public accounting and private industry. He is a senior member of the firm’s International Services and Real Estate Services Groups. His experience covers a full range of domestic tax entities (corporations, partnerships, limited liability entities, REITs, etc.) and jurisdictions (federal, state and local taxes) as well as international matters such as transfer pricing, value-added tax and integration of foreign entities. Jeff has provided and overseen tax compliance and planning and served as an expert witness. In addition, he has extensive due diligence experience, an extensive M&A background, and ASC 740 financial statement expertise. Jeff’s clients have included companies in the manufacturing, real estate, technology, industrial, retail, distribution, and commercial and mortgage banking industries. In industry, Jeff served as Senior VP Tax/Chief Tax Officer with The Impac Companies, a $26 billion New York Stock Exchange-traded U.S.-owned REIT and mortgage finance company. As a former 20-year Partner with KPMG, Jeff’s responsibilities included serving as a Tax Engagement Services while in Upstate New York and Partner-in-Charge in Cleveland and Detroit. While at KPMG, he was a member of the firm’s Tax Professional Review Committee and Tax Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution Committee. Mr. Allen holds a BA from Colgate University and an MS from The Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University. He is a Certified Public Accountant. Jeff is a member of the AICPA serving on the IRS Advocacy & Relations Committee. As a member of the NYSSPA’s he is currently serving on several Committees and formerly a member of TDOC and a member of the Board of Directors. He is a member of Syracuse University’s Accounting Advisory Board and Chair of Colgate University’s FSAA Board.

Gita Hecht works as an IRS Senior Stakeholder Liaison under Communications and Liaison. As such, she provides information about the policies, practices and procedures the IRS uses to ensure compliance with the tax laws.

Kathleen M. Lahey is a Vice President in the Goldman Sachs Family Office based in New York City Office which provides Multi-Family Office services for high net worth client families, including income tax and estate planning, insurance and benefits planning, as well as retirement and cash flow planning. Ms Lahey joined Goldman, Sachs & Co. in 1986 as a Senior Financial Planner in the Tax Department and managed various internal groups including Investment Partnerships, State & Local Tax Practice and the Federal and State Audit Group. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Kathy worked at Price Waterhouse. Kathleen M. Lahey graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting with a minor in Information Systems. She earned her MBA from Columbia University, is a New York State Certified Public Accountant and has her NASD Series 7 and 63 certification as well as insurance licenses in 10 states. Ms Lahey is a member of the Trust & Estate Committee which reports to the Board of Trustees at Rockefeller University, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. She serves on the IRS Policies & Practices Committee of the NYSSCPA and was recently elected President of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association NYC Chapter.

Darlene R. Seifert is currently serving as an Assistant Project Director, Taxpayer Experience Strategy Team, within the Taxpayer First Act Office, responsible for implementing the provisions of the Taxpayer First Act, which was signed into law in July 2019. The Act gives the IRS a unique opportunity to shape its future and fundamentally change the way the agency does business by shifting to a more taxpayer-centered model. In her role, Darlene is responsible for co-leading the development of a comprehensive taxpayer experience strategy as mandated under the Taxpayer First Act. This strategy will drive prioritization of the agency’s taxpayer facing initiatives and activities over the next several years. Prior to this assignment, Darlene served as a Program Manager, Cross Border Activities, Large Business and International, where she provided oversight of several audit teams of international agents and managers across the Midwest and East coast. Darlene began her career with IRS in 1988 as an Internal Revenue Agent, later moving into various support and leadership positions within Large Business and International . Darlene holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Miami University (OH). Darlene is a current candidate in the IRS Executive Readiness Program.

Sharen has worked for the service for 37 years, beginning her career with IRS as a clerk-typist in Brooklyn. She spent several years in the Brooklyn office, holding several positions from Secretary through Taxpayer Advocate Group Manager. Sharen became the Local Taxpayer Advocate and moved to the Albany area in January of 2007. I have submitted recommendations for changes to IRS systems that have been adopted and are currently still in use. She enjoys working with the public in resolving taxpayer issues.

George earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Management from Columbia College in Missouri and a master’s degree in Accounting from Strayer University. He began his career with the IRS with SB/SE Collection Division at Queens, NY in May 2006. He has worked as Revenue Officer, on the job instructor, and Revenue Officer Group Manager. After his successful years in collection he decided to take on a new challenge and join Taxpayer Advocate Service as a Local Taxpayer Advocate (LTA). He is currently serving as the LTA in Brooklyn Office.