Tax Conference (Both Days)

Tax Conference (Both Days)

Tax Conference (Both Days)

Overview

Your Source For Key Updates & Insights on Timely Issues

Attend this year's information-packed two-day Tax Conference to hear from top experts about the latest updates and pressing issues involving federal and Wisconsin tax, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Social Security planning, real estate tax strategies for CPAs, tax challenges in M&A structuring and pre-closing reorganizations, SALT essentials, international tax changes, OBBBA's effect on life insurance policies in estate planning, enhancing the lifecycle of hiring, state income tax considerations of pass-through entity tax filings, timely tax and ethics issues, and more.

Who Should Attend

Tax professionals, practicing attorneys, corporate counsel, and business and financial managers will greatly benefit by attending.

Overnight Accommodations

A block of rooms has been reserved for the evenings of Sunday, Nov. 9, and Monday, Nov. 10, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Brookfield (attached to the Brookfield Conference Center). To reserve a room in the block, please call 877-782-9444 and mention the WICPA Tax Conference.

Online Option

For those looking to attend online, this conference will also be offered via WICPA CPE Livestream.
View livestream details >>

14.7 CPE Credits

Registration

Registration is open through 11/10. Register by 10/20 for Early Bird Pricing.

Member Price

$479 / $429 Early-Bird pricing ends on 10/20/2025.

Nonmember Price

$579 / $529 Early-Bird pricing ends on 10/20/2025.

Student Price

$50

Monday, November 10 - Tuesday, November 11

8:00am Monday to 5:00pm Tuesday (Check-In 7:00am)

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Brookfield Conference Center

325 S Moorland Rd
Brookfield, WI 53005

Map and Directions

Agenda

Monday, Nov 10th

8:00AM TO 8:10AM / General Session

8:15AM TO 9:45AM / General Session

Douglas Van Der Aa, President, Van Der Aa Tax Ed, LLC

Whether you asked for it or not, the OBBBA is here -- and it's not simple taxation! This session will address the meat of the bill that matters the most to your clients, including critical TCJA extensions, a new senior deduction, SALT cap changes, the "no tax on tips" deduction, and more.

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10:00AM TO 11:30AM / General Session

Douglas Van Der Aa, President, Van Der Aa Tax Ed, LLC

This session will delve deeper into the key aspects of the OBBBA, including changes to the Section 199A deduction, doubled Section 179 deduction, the 100% bonus depreciation under Section 168(k), research expenses, and the early termination of Inflation Reduction Act green tax credits.

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12:45PM TO 1:45PM / Breakout Sessions

Michael McDonald, Wealth Manager, Spectrum Investment Advisors, Inc.

Navigating Social Security can feel overwhelming, but understanding the rules and strategies can make a big difference for your retirement. This session will cover the basics of Social Security benefits, including recent legislative updates from the OBBBA and practical claiming strategies, particularly for couples who can maximize dual benefits. This session will also clarify common misconceptions, such as how your earnings history is calculated, and provide you with a clearer understanding of how to approach Social Security with confidence.

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Kimberly Capizzi, State & Local Tax Managing Director, BDO USA LLP

This session will explore the nuanced differences between composite returns, withholding requirements and pass-through entity tax filings, with a particular focus on the state of Wisconsin. You will gain an in-depth understanding of PTET, including the election process, calculation of the taxable income base, applicable credits, partner/shareholder-level reporting, and the interplay with composite and withholding obligations. This session will also address key factors to consider when making the PTET election and highlight recent audit issues encountered in Wisconsin.

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2:00PM TO 3:00PM / Breakout Sessions

Samuel Koch, Tax Incentive Expert, EPSA USA

Big changes are here -- and they mean real money for your clients! This session breaks down changes to two powerful federal incentives your clients may already qualify for: the Section 41 R&D tax credit and the 179D energy-efficient commercial building deduction. With the recent passage of the OBBBA, R&D costs can once again be fully expensed, and 179D now comes with a firm expiration date. That means the window to claim incentives for past work and plan for future years is officially open … but it will not stay that way for long. In this session, you will learn how to uncover hidden value in the work your clients are already doing, revisit past projects for potential refunds, and plan with your clients to maximize their profits.

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William Bares, Tax Principal, Vrakas CPAs + Advisors

This session will guide CPAs in real estate tax fundamentals, such as entity selection, income tax forms and schedules, depreciation methods, passive activity rules, and real estate professional guidelines. You will gain insights into recent legislative updates, including OBBBA items relevant to real estate clients, and leave with actionable strategies to maximize deductions and client planning.

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3:10PM TO 4:00PM / Breakout Sessions

Steven Barnes, Partner, Wipfli LLP

Get a strategic overview of how the OBBBA reshapes tax planning opportunities through enhanced cost segregation and energy incentives. This session will explore key provisions, including the reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation, expanded Section 179 deductions, and updates to energy-related incentives. You will learn how to maximize tax benefits for commercial and residential properties, navigate prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, and align construction timelines with incentive phase-outs. This session will use real-world case studies and planning strategies to help businesses optimize their tax positions under the new law.

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Jordan Bergmann, Attorney, Foley & Lardner LLP

John Sikora, Shareholder, von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

Business sale transactions have long been characterized for income tax purposes as "asset or equity" deals. While that framework remains, pre-closing restructuring and closing structures within this simple paradigm have become the norm -- particularly in small business M&A transactions involving private equity buyers. This session will address F reorganizations, other preclosing restructurings, rollovers, debt-financed acquisitions, and other structuring or restructuring income tax issues. This session will also analyze the related sale transaction and the needed income tax protections from the seller's perspective.

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4:10PM TO 5:00PM / General Session

Michael Goller, Shareholder & Tax Department Chair, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

This engaging session will include a discussion on timely tax and ethics issues that every tax practitioner should know. You will learn about the latest "hot" IRS practice and procedure and ethics issues, along with the blunders and mistakes practitioners should avoid. This session is particularly relevant, given the recent changes at the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

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5:00PM TO 6:30PM / Breakout Sessions

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Tuesday, Nov 11th

8:00AM TO 8:10AM / General Session

8:15AM TO 9:20AM / General Session

Kristina Somers, Shareholder, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

In this session, you will get the latest updates on Wisconsin case law as well as recent legislative and administrative developments that have occurred in the past year.

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9:40AM TO 10:40AM / General Session

Nathaniel Weber, Director, Office of Technical Services, Wisconsin Department of Revenue

The session will include a summary of upcoming changes to 2025 Wisconsin income tax returns, updates on DOR administrative and procedural initiatives affecting tax practitioners, and various other topics.

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11:00AM TO 12:00PM / Breakout Sessions

Robert Misey, Chair of the International Department, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

The session will focus on changes in international tax provisions in the OBBBA, which includes sourcing rules for increased foreign tax credits, the new net CFC tested income regime to end the deferral of foreign income, and the enhanced foreign derived deduction eligible income regime to reduce tax on exports.

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Carver Smith, Managing Partner, Truity Partners

Join this interactive discussion on strategies surrounding the overall candidate experience throughout the lifecycle of hiring. From the early stages of interviewing through long-term retention strategies, dive into your employment brand and market data around recruiting. In this session, you will learn why people leave their jobs so that you can better focus on how to provide a positive candidate experience from day one. Bonus content:
Pathways to CPA Legislation Update
Tammy Hofstede, President & CEO, WICPA
Get a brief update on the status of WICPA legislation that will introduce a third pathway to CPA licensure in Wisconsin.

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1:00PM TO 2:00PM / Breakout Sessions

Robert Mathers, Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP

Michael Michlitsch, Vice President, Valmark Financial Group

In the past three decades, the estate exemption has changed multiple times, disappeared altogether, and will now reset again on Jan. 1, 2026. In this session, you will learn what to do with policies that are no longer needed-- whether in an estate planning, survivorship or buy-sell context. This session will cover life insurance policy valuation, the transfer-for-value rules and their exceptions, and why life settlements are so important in today's estate planning environment.

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Scott Ambrosino, Principal, State & Local Tax, BDO USA, LLP

Katie Girmscheid, Managing Director, State & Local Tax, BDO USA LLP

This training session will provide a comprehensive overview of key state and local tax concepts and best practices for businesses. You will gain an understanding of nexus and the states' authority to impose taxation, including income, franchise and other business taxes. The session will also address IRC conformity, highlighting how states adopt or decouple from federal tax provisions and the resulting impact on state tax filings. Additional topics include recent developments in state tax legislation, compliance challenges, and practical strategies for managing state tax obligations. This session is designed to equip tax professionals with the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving SALT landscape and optimize their organization's state tax position.

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2:15PM TO 3:45PM / General Session

Robert Keebler, Partner, Keebler & Associates LLP

The passage of the OBBBA provides certainty to clients and, more importantly, new opportunities. This session will cover the most critical changes for estate planners and provide actionable ideas to provide value for clients. Topics will include the basic exclusion amount, bracket structure, new limitations on itemized deductions, Section 199A for trusts and estates, increased business expensing, and more.

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3:45PM TO 3:50PM / General Session

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