chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.
    July 01, 2023

    Employee Benefits Committee

    Committee Leadership

    Co-Chairs

    David Whaley

    Vice-Chairs

    Rita Patel

    Stefan Smith

    Carolyn M. Trenda

    Rosie Zaklad

    About the Committee

    The Employee Benefits Committee focuses on developments and issues relating to employee benefits under the Code, ERISA and other laws. Our primary emphasis is preparing and presenting educational programs at each meeting of the ABA Tax Section. The Committee provides at least six hours of plenary session programs at each meeting. In addition, each of our substantive subcommittees and task forces usually meet for an hour or more at each meeting to present topical programs and discuss current issues. Please see the current ABA Tax Section meeting webpage for a schedule of our Committee programs.

    Another very important emphasis of the Employee Benefits Committee is preparing comments to the IRS, Treasury and other government agencies on proposed guidance and emerging issues. If you are interested in helping on a comment project, please contact the Chair or any of the Vice Chairs of the Committee to express your interest. You also may find our completed comments useful.

    The Committee also participates in the ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits (JCEB). The JCEB coordinates the activities of the employee benefits committees of six sections. Those activities include live and teleconference CLE programs and meetings with federal agency officials each May that are reported as a series of questions and answers from each agency. Click here to join the JCEB Member list and receive monthly JCEB e-mailings.

    Our Committee operates through more than 15 subcommittees, task forces and forums. 

    Please join our committee, if you have not already done so, and if you are a member, please get involved! We look forward to seeing you at our meetings and working with you on our Committee projects.

    Stay in Touch with Your Committee: Listserv and Hivebrite

    Each Tax Section committee has a mailing list (listerv) and a Hivebrite community. Information about and links to both are below. 

    Listserv

    Committees share news, events, and updates through a dedicated committee listserv. As a committee member, you are welcome and encouraged to share resources, events, or ask questions to fellow committee members that are directly relevant. The listserv email address can be found below. You are automatically added to the listserv and will receive email notifications when you join a committee.   Learn more about managing your committees.

    Click the link above to view the committee listserv email address. Note: you must be logged in and a Section Member to view the address.

    Hivebrite

    In addition to listserv, each committee has a Hivebrite community. Here, committees can share meeting materials or recordings, committee newsletters, and more. All Tax Connect discussion posts have been moved over to the committee's Hivebrite community

    More Resources

    Listserv Etiquette

    A full FAQ and How to for using listserv is available here. Here are the basic dos and don'ts of using a committee listserv. The committee listserv email address is available above. Note: you have to be logged in and a Section member to view it.

    • Do reply to the listerv with substantive responses (please email “thank you” emails to the individual).
    • Do utilize the member directory to send private messages or individual messages.
    • Do reach out to Tax Staff if you have questions or issues with the community or listerve.
    • Do refer to the FAQ pages for specific problems or concerns.
    • Don’t reply all asking to unsubscribe, please follow the instructions to leave the committee.
    • Don’t share the listserv email outside of the committee.
    • Don’t post commercial messages.

    Join the Committee

    This committee is open to all Tax Section members. To join click here and then click Join Committees or follow the detailed steps below. A more detailed committee help page is available here. Not a Section Member? Join today!

    1. Click Log In in the upper right corner of this website.
    2. Log in to your My ABA account. If you do not remember your email address or password, click Need Help Logging In? and follow the instructions.
    3. Once you are logged in, click 'Hi Your Name' in the upper right then click My ABA.
    4. On the My ABA Dashboard page, click on Manage Memberships (a button toward the right with a right arrow).
    5. If you are a Section Member,  you will see Section of Taxation under Specialty Group Memberships & Committees, click Join Committees to the right. If you are not a Section member, consider joining the Section to access our committees.
    6. You will now see a list of Tax Section Committees. To join one, simply click Join next to the name of the committee. A check mark will appear to confirm you have joined. To leave a committee, simply click the check mark and you will see Join reappear indicating you are no longer a member of that committee.
    7. Joining a committee will automatically add you to the committee's listserv. Committees encourage member involvement through these committee listservs, other online platforms, and in-person at our meetings and events. 

    Have a Question or Need Assistance? Contact Staff

    If you have questions contact staff at the email addresses below and we will respond as soon as possible!