Bulletin

B-46/00
December 27, 2000

To State Tax Administrators:

SUMMARY FTA, in cooperation with the IRS is offering eight ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshops during 2001. The ideal workshop size is 30 participants per session. This bulletin provides workshop and hotel registration information. Please note the cutoff dates for the hotels in the four locations.

FTA, in cooperation with the IRS, is offering eight ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshops during 2001. The workshops will be participatory and intended to help each state develop ways to utilize ExSTARS/ExTOLE data for tax compliance purposes in its unique situation, whether the State's tax is imposed at or below the terminal rack. For more information on the ExSTARS/ExTOLE Programs, visit FTA's Web site at www.taxadmin.org.

Ideally, each state, at a minimum, should send 3 attendees including a compliance person, administration person and information systems person who are knowledgeable about their state's current fuel tax law and compliance systems. The ideal class size for each session is 30 participants and will be filled on a first-come, basis. Please indicate on your registration form your primary and alternative session choices. Applicants will be notified regarding which session they have been registered for. All state participants will be assigned to the same session.

Workshop Locations

Each session will last two days, and two identical sessions will be conducted per week at the same location. The FIRST session will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday and last until 12PM on Wednesday. The SECOND session of the week will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and last until noon on Friday. (See attached agenda.) Make sure that you schedule your flights so you will be able to stay until noon. The following is a list of the four locations:

• February 26 through March 2, 2001 -- Portland Marriott, Portland, Oregon
  First Session -- starts at 1 p.m. on February 26, 2001
  and ends at Noon on February 28, 2001.
  Second Session -- starts at 1PM on February 28, 2001
  and ends at Noon on March 2, 2001.
  
• March 12 through March 16, 2001 -- Pittsburgh Marriott, Pittsburgh, PA
  First Session -- starts at 1 p.m. on March 12, 2001
  and ends at Noon on March 14, 2001.
  Second Session -- starts at 1 p.m. on March 14, 2001
  and ends at Noon on March 16, 2001.
  
• ( March 26 through March 30, 2001 -- Portland Marriott, Portland, Maine
  First Session -- starts at 1 p.m. on March 26, 2001
  and ends at Noon on March 28, 2001.
  Second Session -- starts at 1 p.m. on March 28, 2001
  and ends at Noon on March 30, 2001.
  
• ( April 9 through April 13, 2001 -- Minneapolis Marriott, Minneapolis, MN
  First Session -- starts at 1 p.m. on April 9, 2001
  And ends at Noon on April 11, 2001.
  Second Session -- starts at 1 p.m. on April 11, 2001
  And ends at Noon on April 13, 2001.

Workshop Registration

The workshop has no registration fee; however, because the class is limited to 30 participants the enclosed registration form must be completed and mailed or faxed to FTA before the deadlines. Please indicate on your registration form your primary choice and alternative session.

Portland, Oregon	February 5, 2001
Pittsburgh, PA	February 19, 2001
Portland, Maine	February 23, 2001
Minneapolis, MN	March 17, 2001

To help the instructors prepare for the workshops, the FTA ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshop questionnaire [pdf file] needs to be completed and submitted with your registration.

A registration form and questionnaire are enclosed. Please complete them and mail or fax them to:

Hotel Information

Hotel Registration for Portland Oregon -- February 26 through March 2, 2001
The rate at the Portland Marriott is $77 plus 11.5% tax per night. Make your reservations directly with the hotel by calling (503) 226-7600 or (800) 228-9290. Make certain to inform the clerk that you will be attending the "ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshop" to receive the special rate. Please note that the cutoff date for making hotel reservations is February 5, 2001. The hotel's address is 1401 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, Oregon 97201.

Hotel Registration for Pittsburgh, PA -- March 12 through March 16, 2001
The rate at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center is $79 plus 14% tax per night. Make your reservations directly with the hotel by calling (412) 471-4000 or (888) 456-6600. Make certain to inform the clerk that you will be attending the "ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshop" to receive the special rate. Please note that the cutoff date for making hotel reservations is February 19, 2001. The hotel's address is 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA.

Hotel Registration for Portland, Maine -- March 26 through March 30, 2001
The rate at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks is $79 plus 7% tax per night. Make your reservations directly with the hotel by calling (800) 228-9290 or (800) 752-8810. Make certain to inform the clerk that you will be attending the "ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshop" to receive the special rate. Please note that the cutoff date for making hotel reservations is February 23, 2001. The hotel's address is 200 Sable Oaks Drive, South Portland, Maine. The phone number is (207) 871-8000.

Hotel Registration for Minneapolis, MN -- April 9 through April 13, 2001
The rate at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest is $91 plus 6.5% tax per night. Make your reservations directly with the hotel by calling (612) 935-5500 or (800) 228-9290. Make certain to inform the clerk that you will be attending the "ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshop" to receive the special rate. Please note that the cutoff date for making hotel reservations is March 17, 2001. The hotel's address is 5801 Opus Parkway, Minnetonka, MN.

If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Anders-Robb at cindy.anders-robb@taxadmin.org

Sincerely,

Harley T. Duncan
Executive Director

Enclosures: as stated

Return to FTA Home Page

Return to FTA Motor Fuel Section Page

ExSTARS/ExTOLE Workshop -- AGENDA
(Session I and Session II are identical) 

Monday

Noon Registration
1:30 PM Session begins, Introduction
1:45 PM ExFIRS overview
2:00 PM ExSTARS overview
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM ExSTARS overview continues
4:00 PM ExSTARS overview continues
5:00 PM Adjourn for the day

Tuesday

8:00 AM ExTOLE Overview and Hands-on training at computer lab
Noon Lunch
1:00 PM Using ExSTARS/ExTOLE in my own state, current State Law and Tracking Systems
2:00 PM Team Exercises, workshop scenarios, Part 1 -- terminal reconciliation
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM Part 2 -- direct queries to ExSTARS
5:00 PM Adjourn for the day
Wednesday

8:00 AM Parts 3 & 4 -- matching to state tax returns
9:45 AM Break
10:00 AM Substituting ExSTARS/ExTOLE for current information returns/systems
11:00 AM Industry observations and suggestions
11:30 AM Conclusions and wrap-up
Noon Session ends

Wednesday

Noon Registration
1:30 PM Session begins, Introduction
1:45 PM ExFIRS overview
2:00 PM ExSTARS overview
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM ExSTARS overview continues
4:00 PM ExSTARS overview continues
5:00 PM Adjourn for the day

Thursday

8:00 AM ExTOLE Overview and Hands-on training at computer lab
Noon Lunch
1:00 PM Using ExSTARS/ExTOLE in my own state, current State Law and Tracking Systems
2:00 PM Team Exercises, workshop scenarios, Part 1 -- terminal reconciliation
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM Part 2 -- direct queries to ExSTARS
5:00 PM Adjourn for the day

Friday

8:00 AM Parts 3 & 4 -- matching to state tax returns
9:45 AM Break
10:00 AM Substituting ExSTARS/ExTOLE for current information returns/systems
11:00 AM Industry observations and suggestions
11:30 AM Conclusions and wrap-up
Noon Session ends