Denver Chapter hosts full-day state & local tax meeting.

• Author: De Jong, Daniel B.
• Position: Chapter News

On May 16, 2012, the Denver Chapter hosted a full-day seminar on state and local taxes at the Lakewood Country Club just outside of Denver. The meeting began with a breakfast buffet that allow chapter members to enjoy a great meal and to network with their peers from other companies. Chapter president Tom Hartke of Emergency Medical Services Corporation welcomed TEI members and led them through the chapter's annual meeting which culminated in the election of a new slate of chapter officers.

The presenters at the meeting included some of the most well-known names in state and local tax. Art Rosen from McDermott Will & Emery spoke on sales and use tax nexus, alternative apportionment, the migration of states to single sales factor apportionment, and federal legislation affecting state and local taxes. He explained that the nexus concept has evolved with an economy that has become dominated by the provision of services and the explosion of transactions that take place over the Internet. Foreign jurisdictions have begun to pick up on these developments in state tax nexus. Mr. Rosen said at least two countries have signalled a desire to renegotiate their tax treaties to have a permanent establishment provision more similar to the state concept of substantial nexus.

No matter how well a company plans, it will inevitably be audited by a state department of revenue. Mary Kay McCalla Martire, also of McDermott, spoke next on hot topics and best practices in the state audit area. In addition to discussing state auditors, she provided updates on developments in Illinois and New York where laws allow private parties to bring tax enforcement...