On April 6, 2023, the IRS released its long-awaited Strategic Operating Plan (SOP), outlining how it intends to use the nearly $80 billion in additional funding received as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. A key objective of the SOP is to deliver the cutting-edge technology, data, and analytics needed to operate the agency more effectively. Many within and outside the IRS consider this a true game-changer—an opportunity to dramatically transform how the IRS uses technology to improve its operations. This possible transformation is not without controversy, however, and has unleashed partisan congressional battles most recently culminating in an agreement in the bipartisan debt ceiling legislation to shift $10 billion away from the IRS in calendar years 2024 and 2025. Keenly aware of the importance of these developments, TEI has assembled key former and current IRS executives with intimate knowledge of what the IRS hopes to achieve and challenges the IRS will face in its technology journey. Webcast registrants will have the unique opportunity to hear, first-hand how the IRS intends to move forward in this uncertain environment and provide comments that will help shape how the IRS uses technology to transform the agency.
Recorded on July 19, 2023
Moderator: Brian Kaufman, Vice President, Tax Audits & Litigation and Tax Counsel, Capital One Financial Corporation
Speakers:
- Mabeline Baldwin, Acting Executive Lead for Compliance, Internal Revenue Service
Mabeline Baldwin is the Acting Executive Lead for Compliance, responsible for Strategic Operating Plan Objective 3 - Expanded Enforcement in the IRS Transformation and Strategy Office (TSO). Prior to joining the TSO office, Mabeline was in the Large Business and International division, and prior to joining the IRS, she worked several years in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers. She holds a Master’s in Accountancy with emphasis in Taxation and is a Certified Public Accountant.
- Nikole Flax, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (former Director, Internal Revenue Service IRA 2022 Transformation and Implementation Office)
Nikole Flax recently joined PricewaterhouseCoopers following 15 years with the Internal Revenue Service where she held a variety of senior executive positions. Nikole was most recently Commissioner of the Large Business & International (LB&I) Division. In this role, she served as the United States Competent Authority and led a workforce of 5,000 employees responsible for tax administration activities of large domestic and foreign businesses as well as the Global High Wealth and International Individual Compliance programs. Nikole was previously the LB&I Deputy Commissioner. She also recently led the IRS’ plans for modernizing Federal tax administration following funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Prior to joining LB&I, Nikole was Deputy Chief in the IRS Office of Appeals. Previous IRS positions include IRS Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
Before joining the IRS, Nikole served as Legislation Counsel on the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation where she provided tax policy advice to Congressional members and their staffs. Prior to government service, Nikole was a tax associate at a national law firm and is a Certified Public Accountant.
- Kaschit Pandya, Acting Chief Information Officer, Internal Revenue Service
Kaschit Pandya serves as the acting Chief Information Officer at the IRS. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of information technology at the IRS. The CIO oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of information technology throughout the IRS; ensures that the information technology is secure and integrated; maintains operational control over the information technology; and acts as the principal advocate for the IRS's information technology needs.
Kaschit formerly served as the Deputy CIO for Operations where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of IT systems and services, guided teams to operationalize technology and services, and oversaw the planning and execution of the annual tax filing season and legislation for the IT organization.
He previously served in various executive positions including Deputy CIO for Filing Season and Tax Reform; Deputy Associate CIO for Enterprise Operations; and the Director of the Infrastucture Service Division. He played an instrumental role in delivering economic impact payments, the Advanced Child Tax Credit and enabling remote work during the pandemic.
Kaschit earned is Bachelor of Science degree in Management Infomaiton Systems from Stony Brook University and his Master of Business Administration degree from Rutgers University.