AICPA 2008 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation under Sec. 409A: Implementation Roundtable

2-4:30pm ET |1-3:30pm CT |11am-1:30pm PT

New rules for nonqualified deferred compensation plans went into effect on January 1, 2005. However, the IRS has extended many of the compliance deadlines related to these rules to December 31, 2008. With the deadline in close proximity, many people, including CEOs, CFOs, controllers and tax directors, still have many questions about the impact of the rules.

In this Compensation & Benefits roundtable Infocast, Eddie Adkins and Helen Morrison will use a case study and practical examples to discuss an overview of the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Sec. 409A and the required actions that must be completed by the end of 2008. The case study will highlight common issues that are encountered in applying the rules.

In addition, Eddie, Helen and Karen Field and Deb Walker will answer your questions throughout the program.

On October 2, 2008 you’ll:

• Learn why section 409A is important
• Learn how it affects you
• Learn what to do in order to comply

Recommended CPE Credits: 2.5
Level: Basic
Field of Study: Taxation
Prerequisite: None
Important Information on Your CPE Credit

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888-777-7077 or service@aicpa.org.

► Find out more information on the Tax Membership Section or PFP Member Section.

Note: Access Instructions will be displayed on the order confirmation screen and will also be included in your order confirmation
e-mail.

Presenters:
Deborah Walker, CPA - Tax Partner, Deloitte Tax LLP,
Washington, DC
Eddie Adkins - Partner, National Tax Office; Compensation and Benefits Tax Technical Practice Leader
Helen H. Morrison

As leader of the Washington National Global Employer Services practice, Deborah advises on numerous employee benefit and executive compensation issues, including qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements and health and other welfare benefit plans. She is the developer of various firm publications and tax planning opportunities associated with employee benefit plans and individual taxes. Deborah is the point of contact with the federal government on employee benefit technical matters, including ruling requests, exemption requests, pending legislation and published administrative guidance. Prior to joining Deloitte & Touche in March 2002, Deborah was Deputy to the Benefits Tax Counsel in the Office of Tax Policy at the Department of the Treasury. In this role, she rendered advice to the Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) and other Treasury policy makers regarding about all tax-related aspects of employee benefits, including regulations and legislation. She also worked closely with other high-level officials at the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor in planning, developing and implementing the Department’s benefits tax policy program and objectives, especially with respect to tax-qualified requirements; ESOPs; health care; other benefits, such as statutory fringe benefits and long-term care; tax-sheltered annuities; executive compensation and employment taxes.

In her over 25 years of experience, she has authored and coauthored numerous articles such as the AICPA’s The Tax Advisory and the Journal of Taxation. She has also spoken at many technical conferences and held a number of leadership positions with professional organizations, including Chair of the AICPA Federal Taxation Executive Committee.

Education/Certifications

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.  MBA
Alfred University, Alfred, NY.  BA cum laude, Economics.

Professional and Community Activities

North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.  1977–Present.
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  1977–Present.

• Legislative and Regulatory Committee.  2005-Present.
• Council Member-at-Large.  1996-1997.
• Federal Taxation Executive Committee.  Chair, 1994-1996.  Member, 1989-1992; 1993-1997.
• Annual Employee Benefits Conference.  Chair, 1989-1994.
• Task Force on Section 89, Discrimination Rules for Welfare Benefits Plans.  Chair, 1988-1989.
• Employee Benefits Taxation Committee.  Member, 1986-1989.

WEB:  A Network of Professionals Working in Benefits.  1986-1992.

• Washington DC Chapter, Treasurer, 1990-1992.
• National Treasurer, 1988-1990.

Journal of Taxation of Employee Benefits.  Editor-in-Chief, 1992-1998.
Little Brown Advisory Board.  Member, 1994-1995.
CCH Tax Transactions Library Advisory Board.  Member, 1991-1994.
Author and co-author of numerous articles, and speaker at numerous technical conferences on various compensation and employee benefits issues.

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Eddie Adkins is Grant Thornton’s national tax office partner responsible for compensation and employee benefits tax issues.  In this role, he tracks new legislation and guidance, and advises Grant Thornton’s offices and clients with respect to tax issues that impact compensation and employee benefits.  Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Eddie was with a Big Four accounting firm for 17 years, including 12 years as a partner.  While there, he held several leadership roles in the compensation and employee benefits practice.  Those roles included national practice leader—human resource cost management; national practice co-leader — employee benefit plan consulting, regional practice leader—qualified retirement plan administration and recordkeeping, and local practice leader for the Washington, D.C. area.  His background also includes serving as the head of technical operations at a regional pension consulting firm, teaching at the college level, serving as controller for a privately-held company, and operating his own CPA firm. 

Eddie has significant experience consulting with clients on qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and executive compensation.  He has worked with clients to design workforce strategies to attract and retain employees, and has consulted with clients with respect to human resource cost management. 

Eddie is a CPA.  He is an active member of the AICPA, where he currently serves as chair of the Employee Benefits Technical Resource Panel. 

Education

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Master of Accountancy, 1980
Concord University (summa cum laude) B.S. Business Administration, 1978

Professional Designations and Affiliations

Certified Public Accountant
Member and Chair, Employee Benefits Technical Resource Panel, AICPA

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Helen H. Morrison is the Acting Deputy Benefits Tax Counsel in the Office of Benefits Tax Counsel for the Department of the Treasury. Prior to joining the Treasury Department, Ms. Morrison was a Partner and the Employee Benefit Practice Leader in the Chicago office of Deloitte LLP, and prior to that a Partner in Employee Benefits Practice of McDermott, Will & Emery.

Ms. Morrison’s practice focuses on executive compensation, qualified retirement plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and business succession planning.  She is a frequent speaker and author on these topics. 

Ms. Morrison received her bachelor’s degree in 1979 from Trinity College, Hartford, CT.  In 1985, she received her juris doctor degree, cum laude, from Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law.  She was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1985, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Hector M. Laffitte of the U.S. District Court in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 1985 to 1987. 

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Webcast System Requirements

Operating System

• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Windows 2000
• Mac OS X2*

Processor

• Pentium Class 400mhz+

RAM

• 64MB

Internet Browser

• Internet Explorer 6.0+
• Firefox 2.0+
• Mozilla 1.7.3+
• Netscape 7.2+
Pop-up Blocking Software Disabled

Hardware

• AUDIO: Sound Card with speakers
• VIDEO: Monitor with 800x600+ resolution support

Media Players

• Windows Media Player 9+
• RealPlayer 10+
• Adobe Flash Player 8+

Internet Connection

• 56k Dial-up Modem+

* Mac OS X must be used in combination with a supported Firefox Browser and RealPlayer.

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