Kostelanetz partner Caroline Ciraolo and Director of Investigations Don Fort participated in multiple panels at the 61st annual Hawaii Tax Institute, the largest tax and wealth transfer conference in the U.S. that takes place in Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

The comprehensive five-day conference covers several aspects of wealth transfers, tax administration, estate and tax planning, and tax controversy as they pertain to high-net-worth individuals. You can learn more about the Hawaii Tax Institute here.

Caroline and/or Don participated in the following:

Monday, November 4, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: “Is the Tide Turning? Current Developments Regarding International Information Return Penalties and Ethical Considerations”

Caroline spoke on this panel covering recent developments in the international tax space concerning the often onerous civil penalties taxpayers face for failure to report their interests in certain foreign entities, assets, accounts, and transactions.

Tuesday, November 5, 6:30 AM – 7:45 AM: “Early Bird Bonus Session: Tax Treaties for the Wealth Transfer Professional”

Caroline spoke at this early morning panel covering the complex and often misunderstood areas of wealth transfer tax planning, reporting obligations, and tax enforcement that apply to foreign and dual residents who may be eligible for reduced tax rates or tax avoidance under tax treaties.

Tuesday, November 5, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: “How the IRS Is Changing and What to Expect in the Future”

Caroline moderated this panel, and Don joined other former and current IRS leaders to speak on the technological, personnel, and administrative changes that have occurred and are anticipated under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Wednesday, November 6, 2:30 PM – 3:20 PM: “Conducting Financial Investigations from Both Sides of the Aisle”

Don spoke on this panel alongside other former and current IRS leaders on both the defense and prosecution perspectives of criminal tax investigations and prosecutions. The panel

included a deep dive into methodologies, strategies, and techniques in complex financial investigations, ethical issues, and legal frameworks involved.

Caroline, a former Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division, focuses her practice on federal and state civil tax controversies, including representation in sensitive audits, administrative appeals, and litigation, providing tax advice, serving as a neutral in alternative dispute resolutions, providing expert consultations and testimony, conducting internal investigations, and representing individuals and entities in criminal tax investigations and prosecutions.

Don is the Director of Investigations at Kostelanetz LLP and the former Chief of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division. Having spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement for the federal government, Don has deep expertise in financial crimes and has an extensive network of connections both within the government and in private industry.