Tax Notes Talk

Industry experts Ernie Tedeschi, former White House economic advisor at Yale, Erica York from the Tax Foundation, and transfer pricing guru Ryan Finley dive into the complexities of Trump's tariff policies. They discuss the economic impacts of tariffs on both domestic and international markets, analyze trade deficits beyond numbers, and scrutinize the effectiveness of tariffs compared to other revenue methods. The conversation also touches on the relationship between tariffs and digital taxation, highlighting the challenges tax advisors face amidst shifting policies.

Send us a textTax Notes chief correspondent Stephanie Soong discusses how the Trump administration’s tax priorities have been shaping negotiations on the OECD’s two-pillar project. Listen to our previous episodes on the two pillars here:Former U.S. OECD Negotiator Talks Trump's Global Tax ImpactMaking Progress: Updates on the OECD Tax Reform PlanAn Update on Pillar 1 Amount BPillar 1 Amount B: Disagreements and DividesFor more coverage, read the following in Tax Notes:EU Tax Observatory Urges More Talks on Pillar 2 Tax IncentivesStakeholders Back Mix of Pillar 2 Tweaks to Reassure the U.S.EU Presidency Lays Out Options to Address U.S. Pillar 2 ConcernsGILTI’s Coexistence With OECD Global Minimum Tax Is U.S. PriorityFollow us on X:Stephanie Soong: @StephanieSoongDavid Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesProducers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton Rhodes

Professors Joshua Blank and Leigh Osofsky, co-authors of *Automated Agencies: The Transformation of Government Guidance*, dive into the IRS's use of AI and chatbots for legal guidance. They discuss how automation can streamline taxpayer interactions but also raise concerns about misinformation and oversimplification. The duo highlights the inequities faced by taxpayers with fewer resources and underscores the importance of transparency in developing these tools. Their insights explore the delicate balance between efficiency and accuracy in modern tax administration.

Send us a textTax Notes Capitol Hill reporters Cady Stanton and Katie Lobosco outline Congress’s progress on drafting the tax-focused reconciliation bill and the obstacles still remaining.For more coverage, read the following in Tax Notes:The Semi-Calm Before the Storm of Assembling a Giant Tax BillThose Troublesome Budget Instructions: They Might Not MatterHouse Looks to Assert ‘First Mover’ Status on Tax BillSenate Taxwriters Discussing Hike in Top Tax Rate, Grassley SaysHow House Budget Hawks Went From ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ in Under 24 HoursFollow us on X:Cady Stanton: @Cady_Stanton Katie Lobosco: @KatieLoboscoDavid Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes**This episode is sponsored by the University of California Irvine School of Law Graduate Tax Program. For more information, visit law.uci.edu/gradtax.Join the Tax Notes Talk team for our upcoming live recording at the ABA May Tax Meeting on Friday, May 9! ***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesProducers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton Rhodes

Send us a textTax Notes chief correspondent Amanda Athanasiou discusses her recent investigation into the IRS's handling of Freedom of Information Act requests and trends from two decades of agency data.For more, check out the Tax Notes coverage of the IRS FOIA system:IRS FOIA Backlog Expected to GrowFOIA Appeals Fail So Often, Taxpayers See a Broken SystemThe IRS Is Getting Fewer FOIAs. Why Aren’t Response Times Improving?Follow us on X:Amanda Athanasiou: @akathanasiouDavid Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes**This episode is sponsored by the University of California Irvine School of Law Graduate Tax Program. For more information, visit law.uci.edu/gradtax.***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesProducers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton Rhodes

Send us a textMat Mermigousis of BDO discusses the Trump administration’s ever-changing tariff policies and what they may mean for U.S. businesses. For more coverage, read the following in Tax Notes:Trump Pauses Tariff IncreasesEU Poised to Impose 25 Percent Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. GoodsChina Announces Reciprocal Tariffs on U.S. ImportsTrump’s Tariffs Generate Tons of Criticism as Uncertainty AboundsFollow us on X:Michael Smith: @TaxesMichaelDavid Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes**This episode is sponsored by the University of California Irvine School of Law Graduate Tax Program. For more information, visit law.uci.edu/gradtax.***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesProducers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton Rhodes

Send us a textProfessor Andrew Kahrl, author of The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America, discusses his argument that local property taxes have contributed to the disenfranchisement of Black homeowners.   Read Thorndike's book review in Tax Notes, "Is the ‘Predatory’ Property Tax an Instrument of Oppression?"Listen to more Tax Notes Talk episodes from our critical tax theory series:Addressing Tax Policy Challenges for Workers With DisabilitiesRace-Based Poll Taxes and 20th-Century DiscriminationExamining Treasury’s Review of Racial Bias in the U.S. Tax CodeFollow us on X:Joe Thorndike: @jthorndikeDavid Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes**This episode is sponsored by the University of California Irvine School of Law Graduate Tax Program. For more information, visit law.uci.edu/gradtax.***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesProducers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton Rhodes

Send us a textKimie Eacobacci of the National Council on Disability details how a 60-year-old revenue ruling can exclude workers with disabilities from standard employment benefits and protections. Listen to more Tax Notes Talk episodes from our critical tax theory series:The Inadvertent Price of a Gender-Neutral Tax CodeRace-Based Poll Taxes and 20th-Century DiscriminationExamining Treasury’s Review of Racial Bias in the U.S. Tax CodeState Tax Authority and Native Americans: Complex and ConvolutedWealth, Inequality, and Taxes in the U.S.Taxes and the LGBTQ CommunityFollow us on X:David Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes**This episode is sponsored by the University of California Irvine School of Law Graduate Tax Program. For more information, visit law.uci.edu/gradtax.***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesProducers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton Rhodes

Benjamin Valdez, a Tax Notes IRS reporter, dives deep into the IRS's staffing woes. He discusses the drastic potential cuts of 20 to 50 percent in personnel and the chaos it could create for taxpayer services. Valdez also highlights challenges with technology modernization and privacy as employees transition back to the office. The recent leadership shake-ups, including changes at the top and the nomination of Billy Long for new IRS commissioner, add to the intrigue surrounding the agency's future.

Melissa Wiley, a Partner at Kostelanetz LLP, brings her expertise on the Corporate Transparency Act to the forefront. She discusses the Treasury's recent decision to halt penalties for domestic companies, raising important questions about regulatory gaps. Privacy concerns regarding reporting are highlighted, as individuals struggle to protect personal information. Wiley also examines the potential impacts on American taxpayers and small businesses, amidst ongoing legal challenges and the complexities of compliance in an evolving landscape.