Ensuring our seat at the table.

• Author: Tucker, Jeffrey H.
• Position: A message FROM THE CHAIR

The effort to reform Ohio's outdated tax structure is a heated legislative issue--one that impacts individuals, businesses and the accounting profession. Members of the Ohio General Assembly are making decisions that will significantly impact you and your clients, both personally and professionally, for years to come. It is during times such as these that I am glad to be a member of The Ohio Society of CPAs and to have a voice at the Statehouse.

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Our strong lobbying efforts--both professionally and at the grassroots level, combined with the strength of the Ohio CPA/PAC, have enabled us to have our proverbial seat at the table. The ability for us to capitalize on the relationships we have with members of the General Assembly has never been more important than right now, as legislators deliberate these sweeping changes to Ohio's tax code.

Being at the table when important policy decisions are made has already enabled us to score some victories as the bill moved through the Ohio House, including:

1. Minimizing the number of exemptions to the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) included in the House-passed version (see Capitol Access on page 50)

2. Completely eliminating the tangible personal property taxes from Ohio law within five years, including tax on furniture and fixtures

3. Convincing key legislators to exempt the Accountancy Board of Ohio from consolidation under the Ohio Department of Commerce. Consolidation would hit right in the heart of our profession--self-governance and freedom from conflicts of interest. We cannot allow that to happen. Twenty of the 27 boards slated for consolidation are still included in the plan.

I would like to compliment the Society's Tax Policy Committee for its extensive technical input, the Governmental Affairs Advisory Council and the Executive Board on making the bold and necessary decision to support the tax reform bill. This decision was not made lightly, or without a great deal of member research and discussion. However, our support was a key element in opening doors and allowing our voice to be heard loud and clear as the proposal nears its final format.

The fight is not over...