Atlanta conference a real "peach".

• Position: Tax Executives Institute 58th Annual Conference

More than 600 TEI members and guests descended on Atlanta for the Institute's 58th Annual Conference in October. Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to timely and innovative programs, TEI offered sessions on European and other international tax issues, implementing Sarbanes-Oxley Act internal control provisions, and the latest developments in respect of tax shelters at the federal and state level. Other topics addressed were the Large and Mid-Size Business Division's LIFE program, professional responsibility for tax departments, the implications of the drive to "paperless offices," and a comparative assessment of Canada's general anti-avoidance rules, U.S. federal proposals to codify the economic substance doctrine, and comparable state developments (most notably, in California). The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, in the heart of downtown.

The conference began with M. Michele Burns, Executive Vice President & CFO of Delta Air Lines and Carol B. Tome, Executive Vice President-CFO of The Home Depot, sharing their perspective on the role of the tax department and, notably, how that role has changed in the aftermath of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Ms. Tome described how the tax department contributes to the success of Home Depot's overall operation, and concluded by describing the tax department as "a strategic, value-adding partner." Ms. Burns also discussed the contributions of the tax department, and described a transformative process undertaken at Delta to enhance tax department participation in company strategy.

A presentation on implementing the section 404 internal control provisions in the tax department immediately followed. The session incorporated the use of a high-tech audience response system to poll members on key issues during the presentation--a first for TEI conferences. The system provided nearly 400 tax executives the real-time opportunity to gauge issues in respect of compliance with section 404. Read more about the survey on page 437.

During Monday's luncheon, former LMSB Commissioner Larry R. Langdon was presented with the Institute's Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Langdon, a former International President of TEI, was recognized for his significant contributions as the first commissioner of the IRS's Large and Mid-Size Business Division. He was praised for developing processes to allow the IRS and business taxpayers to better manage complex tax issues and resolve tax controversy, such as pre-filing...