Experts To Address Corporate Income Tax, Election and More at 2012 Michigan Tax Conference

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI, October 13, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), in partnership with the State of Michigan Department of Treasury and State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section, will host the sixth annual Michigan Tax Conference Tuesday, November 6 through Wednesday, November 7 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. The conference is the second largest tax conference put on by a state society in the country, and Michigan's premier event for the latest on critical state tax issues affecting businesses and individual taxpayers across Michigan.

The Michigan Tax Conference will feature national and local experts in the accounting and legal professions discussing tax reform, the 2012 election and its potential impact on taxes, and ethics.

Day One Highlights

On the first day of the conference, Glenn White, Deputy Treasurer, State of Michigan Department of Treasury, will provide an insider's look into what the Treasury is working on, what is planned for 2013 and their perspective on the transition from the Michigan Business Tax to the Corporate Income Tax.

Next, Daniel B. De Jong, JD, LLM and Timothy J. McCormally, JD, both from the Tax Executives Institute in Washington D.C. will examine the changed rules, professional challenges and ethical dilemmas that tax professionals are now facing. The session will include the results of a survey of conference registrants.

Finally, a trio of experts, Craig B. Fields, JD, LLM, Richard D. Pomp and Patrick R. Van Tiflin, JD, will review significant case law issues in state taxation from across the country. Fields is the chair of the State and Local Tax Group at Morrison & Foerster, LLP, in New York City; Pomp is the Alva P. Loiselle Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, and an adjunct professor at NYU Law School; and Van Tiflin is the chair of the State and Local Tax Practice Group at Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn, LLP in Lansing.

Breakout session topics include Sales & Use Tax - Current Developments, Obtaining Property Tax Relief for Past Years and Tax Updates from Neighboring States.

Day Two Highlights

The second day of the event will begin with a "Pure Michigan Tax Update" with State Treasurer Andy Dillon. He will provide an update on the state's tax landscape.

Second, through a panel discussion, an update will be provided on the possible elimination of the Personal Property Tax for businesses. Along with Moderator Sam Hodges, CPA, CGMA, Managing Member, Sam Hodges & Associates, LLC, Southfield, panelists will include Jeffrey S. Ammon, attorney, Miller Johnson, Grand Rapids; Ted N. Kolman, CMI, Director, state and local tax-property tax, Grant Thornton, Schaumburg, IL; and Christopher P. Wylie, CPA, Managing Director, Wylie Group, LLC, Northville.

Next, a view of the Michigan Corporate Income Tax, as the first year-ends under the new tax, will be offered by Stewart A. Binke attorney, Tax Policy Division, State of Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing; Gregory A. Nowak, JD, Principal, Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone, PLC, Detroit; and Richard W. Spengler, CPA, Senior Director, Multi State Tax Consulting, BDO USA, LLP, Grand Rapids.

Harley T. Duncan, Managing Director, KPMG LLP, Washington D.C., and Douglas L. Lindholm, President and Executive Director, Council on State Taxation (COST), Washington D.C., will examine the critical tax issues facing corporate taxpayers and state and local governments nationwide during the last general session. Additionally, they will give their speculations on potential impacts for taxes from the previous day's elections.

New this year is a Mock Trial and Appellate Argument breakout session, addressing an officer liability case, critical information for anyone signing tax returns. Additional session topics for the day will include Taxing the Use of Computer Software, Unclaimed Property Notices and Final MBT Returns.

Members and non-members are able to register for either or both days. The first day, which includes optional and free early bird sessions for conference attendees, will run from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., followed by a networking reception. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The second day begins at 8 a.m., ending at 4:50 p.m. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. For registration information please visit http://www.michcpa.org; the event's course code is MTC1 for the first day, MTC2 for the second and MTC2DAY12 for both.

The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants is a diversified, professional, member-driven organization serving nearly 18,000 CPAs and affiliated professionals throughout Michigan. Visit MACPA's web site at http://www.michcpa.org.