Wisconsin Taxation Committee

August 27, 2007 Minutes

Attendees: Ruth Kalio-Mielke, John Mitchell, Brian Kelley, Jon Skavlem, John Austin, Gary Gilbertson, James San Fillippo, Brian Ertmer, Barbara DeBaere-Poppy, Jack DeYoung, Gerri Kroepfl, Richard Gerhard, Daniel Rectanus, Craig Cookle, Paul Sengler, Deanna Gregg, Steven Feurer, Dennis Tomorsky

Participated via phone: none

Meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m.

Committee business:

May 23, 2007 meeting minutes – approved

Update from Dennis Tomorsky, CEO of Wisconsin Institute of CPAs

• Tammy Hofstede promoted to director of finance

• Amy Gaeth promoted to director of public relations and communication

• Cynthia Hodnett named new magazine editor

Discussion and handouts from Dennis Tomorsky

• summary of pending legislation

• article responding to unauthorized practice of law issues

• Assembly Bill 166: proposed privacy piece of legislation intended to prevent tax preparer from disclosing taxpayer information, but the way it is worded is more restrictive

Fall Focus forums

• will address multi-generational workplace issues

Technical updates:

Sales/Use (Brian Ertmer) – Brian provided an outline of recent Wisconsin sales/use tax developments including current legislation, proposed legislation, notices/letter rulings, recent decisions. Issues included Mainstreet Equity Act (SSTP) deleted from budget bill; catalog exemption expanded; waste treatment exemption amended because of Newark case

Income/Franchise (Brian Kelley) – Brian provided an income tax update. Included WTAC denial of deductions for landscaping; Wisconsin joins MTC Voluntary Compliance Program for Tax Shelters (disclose by Oct. 1, 2007); minor changes to property tax and homestead credits; WTAC cases re: gambling deductions

Case Update (John Austin) – No updates other than those previously discussed by Brian Ertmer and Brian Kelley

Legislative Subcommittee (Jon Skavlem) – Ruth, Rocky, Gerri will put together a brief summary of budget issues and key dates; will be posted on Web site; track bill and inform Wisconsin Taxation Committee group; opened up for WTC member suggestions

Miscellaneous – Barbara DeBaere-Poppy informed the group that the IRS has set up three IRS individuals in the Dells area regarding fraud and large non-reporting or underreporting of income; organization also concentrating on bankers and accountants who cover it up

New business

• Discussed WTC mission statement:

• be more active in legislative issues

• be more active with Department of Revenue with respect to relationships, tax policy, audit and procedural issues; discussed that there used to be meetings with DOR on a somewhat regular basis to discuss; work through and attempt to resolve issues (because of frustrations with the outcomes from these meetings, meetings with DOR became less frequent); recommend scheduling meeting with WTC and DOR (possibly in November)

• ways to share WTC knowledge (column in WICPA publications, etc.); recommendation for WTC agenda; identify relevant topics for publications

• various subcommittees

Next meeting scheduled – Jan. 30, 2008

Adjourned – 1:30 p.m.

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