View a recording of the 2021 Wyoming Tax Conference here.
Agenda: May 26, 2021
9:00am - 12:00pm MT
CPE and CLE Information: 3.0 CPE credits recommended in Taxes. 3.0 CLE credits approved for the State of Wyoming and 2.0 CLE credits approved for the State of Colorado.
Location: Webinar Only
9:00 – 9:05 AM | Welcome and Introductory Remarks
9:05 – 9:30 AM | Filling the Void: Potential Upcoming Changes to Wyoming’s Tax Structure
The average Wyoming family (mom, dad, 2 kids, $250,000 home) pays approximately $3,000 a year in local and state taxes. That same family receives approximately $30,000 worth of services from local and state government, with the $27,000 gap paid for mostly by the mineral industry. With the decline of coal and the volatility of oil and gas, Wyoming is left with a brutal structural deficit that future legislators will need to solve.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the participant will be able to answer:
- How will Wyoming resolve its structural deficit?
- How will this impact K-12 education and state services?
- When the eventual tax increases come, who is going to have to pay them?
Robert Jensen – Government Affairs & Public Relations Director
307.778. 4234 | RKJensen@hollandhart.com
Robert draws upon his deep connections gained through decades of active participation in the Wyoming business community to deliver favorable results to help business build a better Wyoming. As a non-lawyer government affairs professional, Robert provides our clients with comprehensive governmental affairs services.
Matt Micheli – Partner
307.778.4225 | MJMicheli@hollandhart.com
Matt helps clients work with the Bureau of Land Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Interior on a variety of environmental matters. He also works with state regulatory agencies to help clients receive and defend permits and navigate the regulatory process.
9:30 – 9:55 AM | The Fundamentals of Carbon Sequestration Tax Credits
Carbon sequestration tax credits have the potential to be one of the most valuable tax credits in the market. This session will discuss the basic concepts of this emerging tax credit and how to take advantage of carbon sequestration tax credit opportunities.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the participant will be able to:
- Understand how the carbon sequestration tax credit is calculated and who is entitled to the tax credit.
- Identify opportunities for carbon sequestration tax credit projects.
Adam Cohen – Partner
303.295.8372 | ACohen@hollandhart.com
Adam provides strategic advice to clients about the tax aspects of structuring the formation, acquisition, disposition, operation, and liquidation of businesses, with a focus on fund formation. He counsels clients on renewable energy and low-income housing tax credit projects, and he is an industry-leading speaker on opportunity zones, renewable energy tax incentives, and partnerships.
Sarah Haradon – Partner
303.295.8044 | SRHaradon@hollandhart.com
Sarah’s pragmatic approach to solving complex tax issues helps both companies and individuals achieve optimal tax efficiency in their business operations. She is an essential member of the firm’s corporate, merger and acquisition, fund formation, master limited partnership, and real estate deal teams.
9:55 – 10:05 AM | Break
10:05 – 10:30 AM | Wyoming State Tax Update: Contested Cases, Appeals, and Hot Topics
Kasey and Walter will summarize recent cases before the Wyoming State Board of Equalization and Wyoming Courts. They will also address the Wyoming Department of Revenue’s and Department of Audit’s approach to current issues and will describe issues that might arise in the near future.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the participant will understand:
- Wyoming mineral production tax valuation, deductions, and other issues.
- Valuation of complex facilities for Wyoming property tax purposes.
- Sales & Use Tax topics in the state.
Kasey Benish – Associate
307.778.4231| KJBenish@hollandhart.com
Kasey assists energy and resource clients in Wyoming on a wide range of disputes and regulatory issues. Kasey guides clients through processes critical to the success of their projects, including obtaining federal and state permits, responding to compliance and enforcement actions, and completing due diligence assessments.
Walter Eggers – Partner
307.778.4208 | WEggers@hollandhart.com
Walter advises clients as they navigate administrative, regulatory, and litigation issues in Wyoming and the Mountain West. He represents clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before state legislative committees, primarily addressing regulatory and administrative law issues.
10:30 – 10:55 AM | Post-Pandemic Readiness to Succeed Before the IRS
The pandemic has forced many changes to how we live and work. This presentation will provide insight and practical considerations on how to manage tax controversies and communications with the IRS through the remainder of our time working from home and after returning to work in a post-pandemic world.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the participant will be able to:
- Adjust your plans for the audit, appeals, and litigation phases.
- Adjust how you communicate with the IRS during an audit.
- Improve your virtual communication and advocacy skills.
Sue Combs – Partner
307.734.4518 | SLCombs@hollandhart.com
Susan advises and defends companies through complex and high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters involving issues of federal income tax controversy and commercial litigation. Before joining Holland & Hart, Susan clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Bill Colgin – Partner
307.734.4510 | WFColgin@hollandhart.com
Bill represents corporate taxpayers in complex, high-stakes federal tax controversies and tax litigation with significant implications for his clients’ bottom line. Bill litigates in the U.S. Tax Court, federal district courts, state courts, and appellate courts throughout the country.
10:55 – 11:05 AM | Break
11:05 – 11:30 AM | Use of Unregulated Wyoming Private Family Trust Companies
Wyoming continues to rise in popularity as a trust situs. This session will review the use of an unregulated Wyoming private family trust company as trustee for family trusts.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the participant will be able to:
- Understand the benefits of a private family trust company, including Wyoming situs, trustee succession and family governance.
- Understand the basic structure with tax sensitive committees.
- Recognize the need for flexibility in the structure for different types of trusts, including revocable trusts, DAPTs, WINGs and directed trustee arrangements.
- Know the areas of professional expertise that are required to implement the structure.
Rebecca Schroer – Partner
303.295.8586 | RKSchroer@hollandhart.com
Clients depend on Rebecca's specialized knowledge and experience in the area of trust and estate law to help them achieve favorable results. In addition to over a decade of private practice in the area of trust and estate law, Rebecca brings institutional perspective from her prior experience as a client advisor in wealth management departments at financial institutions.
11:30 – 11:55 AM | The Tax Outlook for 2021
2021 has heralded a new administration, a closely divided Congress and a change in tax policies and priorities. This session will discuss President Biden’s domestic income and transfer tax proposals, both legislative and administrative, and some of the issues and opportunities they present. As a result of the current legislative landscape, administration proposals may be subject to considerable modification as they go through Congress.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the participant will be able to:
- Describe the domestic federal income tax objectives of President Biden.
- Explain the manner in which the new administration will effectuate its proposals.
- Evaluate the effect of the proposals.
Robert Keatinge – Of Counsel
303.295.8595 | RKeatinge@hollandhart.com
Bob advises a wide variety of businesses and their owners, from start-up companies to publicly- traded corporations. He acts as a consulting or testifying expert on matters of business organization, federal tax, and professional responsibility, at all stages of organizational life.
Diana Myers – Associate
307.734.3526 | DWMyers@hollandhart.com
Diana draws on her comprehensive tax counseling background to provide clients facing tax litigations and controversies with pragmatic, solution-oriented advice. She also advises multinational corporations, family offices, and private fund managers on federal and international tax consequences of their transactions.