IRS Names New Senior Technical Advisor in
Tax Exempt & Government Entities Division

WASHINGTON - Evelyn Petschek, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service's Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) Division, today announced the selection of Thomas D. Terry as her Senior Technical Advisor.

As Senior Technical Advisor, Terry will provide top level advice to the TE/GE Commissioner and other top executives on the broad array of programs serving the TE/GE customers. Terry's office will provide an independent review to ensure consistency, fairness and technical correctness in cases that involve especially difficult or complex issues. He will also coordinate tax administration issues with other functions within the IRS, as well as with outside stakeholders.

"Tom's experience and understanding of the issues facing TE/GE and its customers will bring greater focus to our customer service initiatives. I am thrilled to have him join us," said Petschek.

Terry has more than 25 years of private practice experience with major law firms in San Francisco and Washington, most recently with the Groom Law Group in Washington, D.C., where he was Of Counsel. He has served Treasury and IRS in many capacities, including as Treasury's first Benefits Tax Counsel, member and Chair of the IRS Commissioner's Advisory Council (IRSAC), and as Treasury's representative to the IRS Phase II Modernization Chief Counsel Design Team. Terry has also served as Chair of the American Bar Association's Taxation Section, as well as Chair of its Committee on Employee Benefits.

In 1998, IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti presented Terry with the Commissioner's Award, the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, for his work on the Tax Interactive Project (TAXI). The educational learning lab on the Internet is sponsored jointly by the IRS and the ABA´s Taxation Section.

"Tom Terry's unique set of skills and long experience as a leading tax professional over many years will be a great asset to TE/GE in our goal to provide top-quality service,” Rossotti said.

Terry has taught employee benefits law as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University and at Hastings College of Law, University of California in San Francisco. He received his L.T.M. from the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1962.

The TE/GE Division, which became operational in December 1999, is one of four customer-focused entities that replaced the geographic-based structure at the IRS. TE/GE serves the needs of a unique customer base that includes tax-exempt organizations, public and private retirement plans, tax exempt bonds, Indian Tribal Governments, and federal, state and local government entities.

Previous | Next

2001 IRS News Releases | News Releases Main | Home