Tax Section's strategic plan.

• Author: Hoops, Jeffrey R.

The Tax Section's mission is to serve the public interest by assisting AICPA members to be the most trusted professional providers of tax services, and by advocating sound tax policy and effective tax administration.

To serve the public interest effectively, the TEC has identified three strategic initiatives:

1. Create sound tax policy and effective tax administration;

2. Help AICPA members retain the public's trust, by following the highest ethical standards of tax practice; and

3. Help AICPA members provide the highest quality professional tax services.

   In representing AICPA members' interests, the TEC, on behalf of the Tax Section, must respond to each of these issues, not focus on just one area of concern. As the exhibit on p. 675 illustrates, these three issues form an integrated response by the Tax Section to its responsibility to serve the public interest.

   [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

   The TEC and the Strategic Planning Committee have debated long and hard about the best ways to serve members, accomplish this mission and address the initiatives described above. They have identified eight strategic goals that will help accomplish this mission:

   * Tax policy advocacy: (1) be a leading source of objective, authoritative and comprehensive advice on tax policy and administration for the government and other stakeholders.

   * Professional ethics and integrity: (2) enhance respect for the profession through consistent communications with members and the public; (3) assist members in being the most trusted tax advisers, by developing, maintaining and facilitating enforcement of the highest ethical standards; and (4) ensure that members are aware of their responsibility to adhere to professional standards.

   * Service to members: (5) increase the value of Tax Section membership; (6) promote CPAs as the leading professional providers of tax services; (7) significantly increase the number of Tax Section members over the next five years; and (8) attract the brightest and best individuals to the tax profession, with an emphasis on diversity.

   These are ambitious goals, but the TEC thinks they reflect the current state of tax practice and, more importantly, what section members want and need to become the most trusted providers of professional tax services. Note: There is a strong emphasis on professional ethics and integrity. This is important, especially in light of the changes that have been made to Treasury Circular 230, Regulations Governing the Practice of...