Dear Taxation Section Members,
Tax Council stayed busy during the summer months working on several initiatives that tie to the Taxation Section’s Mission to educate members, engage in public policy, support pro bono initiatives, and facilitate networking opportunities for members.
On May 23, the Taxation Section hosted its 32nd Annual Tax Conference at the Inn at St. John’s. The event was well attended, and the new specialty break-out tracks offered in State and Local Tax, Federal Income Tax, Estates and Trusts, and Employee Benefits were well received by attendees. Tax Council is already busy planning the 33rd Annual Tax Conference, set for May 2020 at Inn at St. Johns. Watch for more information in future Tax in the Great Lakes State editions.
A few years ago, the Section rolled out a new, annual Fundamentals of Tax program in the fall that attendees—newer tax attorneys, attorneys from other practices seeking a tax primer, as well as seasoned attorneys looking for a refresher on tax—have found beneficial and relevant. We are looking forward to another successful Fundamentals program on November 13 in Detroit: stay tuned for more information.
In line with the goal of improving tax policy, on August 7, 2019, the Taxation Section filed a motion to file an Amicus Curiae Brief in a sales and use tax case pending before the Michigan Supreme Court regarding the industrial processing exemption, TOMRA of North America, Inc v. Michigan Department of Treasury, and the Supreme Court accepted the Brief for filing on August 14, 2019, as described in more detail below.
Tax Council’s hard work over the summer months is illustrative of all the work accomplished over the past year. Since I took over as Chair of the Taxation Section in September 2018, it has truly been a privilege and honor to serve on Tax Council with so many wonderful tax attorneys who have applied their energy, creativity, diligence, and intelligence together as a team toward efforts to make Tax Council and the services provided to the Section the best in class among SBM Sections. It has been a genuine pleasure working with the team currently serving on Tax Council, and I know the hard work will continue under new leadership into the next fiscal year.
As Tax Council closes the chapter on the current fiscal year and begins a new one, the Tax Section will be hosting its Annual Meeting and Past Chairs Dinner on September 18 in Birmingham. Please consider joining us as we honor past Section Chairs, reflect on recent achievements, and set new goals for next year.
Jackie J. Cook, Taxation Section Chair
The Mike Cox Law Firm, PLLC
jcook@mikecoxlaw.com