TEI Joins ABA and AICPA in Urging Simplification of Tax Law.

The National Taxpayer Advocate has identified complexity as the number one problem with the tax law, and in a break from its historical ban on joint submissions, Tax Executives Institute has joined with two other professional tax associations to do something about it. On December 3, 1999, TEI President Charles W. Shewbridge, III wrote to the chairmen of the congressional tax-writing committee that TEI, the American Bar Association's Section of Taxation and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Tax Division were working to develop a joint list of complex provisions that Congress could and should address.

Mr. Shewbridge's letter to Congressman Bill Archer and Senator William Roth characterized complexity of the tax law -- including constant changes and amendments -- as "the primary impediment to the effective operation of the tax system and the efficient management of the Internal Revenue Service." He then discussed recent submissions by the ABA and the AICPA that analyzed the individual taxpayer portions of the tax bill that was vetoed last year. Explaining that TEI normally concerns itself with the provisions affecting business, Mr. Shewbridge expressed support for the principles outlined by the two other organizations, saying they "will assist Congress in enacting future...