San Antonio--the Recession's Alamo ... ... and the site of TEI's 64th Annual Conference.

• Position: Conference news

Even as the recession batters sales, profits, employment, and the American spirit, it's time to remember who we are and whom we're descended from. Rather than waiting and hoping and praying for recovery, tax executives must stage their own rebellion against economic turmoil and emerge from the bunker of despair. That's right. It's time to rally and "Remember the Alamo," which was a defining cry from another era that unleashed great economic and political expansion of the American frontier. TEI confidently believes that the fall will be marked by GDP expansion. The green shoots of economic growth touted by Fed Chairman Bernanke will be sprouting all along the famed River Walk as tax executives convene at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio from October 25-28, 2009, for the Institute's 64th Annual Conference.

But the recession's end does not portend an end to governments' fiscal straits. Tax collections lag the business cycle and federal, state, provincial, and foreign governments are busy devising ways to fill gaping budget holes with "loophole closing" changes and new enforcement initiatives.

More important in the long run, the debate around tax policy, global transparency, and enforcement matters in the United States and globally have arguably never been more feverish--"hotter than a bowl of Texas chili peppers," quipped TEI's 2009-2010 President Neil Traubenberg. "Health care, pay-as-you-go, and cap-and-trade climate proposals all have significant tax components," Mr. Traubenberg observed, "and those proposals will likely ripen into legislation by the time of TEI's Annual Conference. If that doesn't make you sit up and take notice, the looming expirations of the Bush tax cuts and the alternative minimum tax patch are heating up the debate over fundamental tax reform."

Turning serious, Mr. Traubenberg cautioned, "The question is not whether, but how--and how much--business will pay. San Antonio is an outstanding site to stay abreast of developments and advance the Institute's mission of educating members, networking, and improving tax administration."

Conference Overview

The challenges confronting tax executives are as diverse and sharp as ever. From technical tax issues such as the proposed repeal of check-the-box rules to corporate tax management challenges to U.S. and international financial reporting standards, TEI's Continuing Education Committee has assembled a compelling array of educational sessions. The program has been mailed to all TEI...