In this episode of the SALTovation podcast, we speak with Samantha Breslow, a seasoned expert in state and local tax, who is serving as a prominent attorney at HMB, a firm recently acquired by Kilpatrick. Sam shares her thoughts on the intricacies of tax compliance, the significance of maintaining professional relationships, and the hurdles faced when dealing with aggressive tax authorities. Listen as we take a deep dive into the Colorado local tax landscape, revealing the challenges and strategies for navigating the state's unique taxing jurisdictions. 

Check out the VVF Intervest LLC v. Harris - BTA Case No. 2019-1233 (Sept.13, 2023) case here. 

Key Takeaways:

• Navigating Career Transitions: Sam's transition from aspiring family lawyer to tax attorney emphasizes the importance of flexibility and open-mindedness in career paths.
• Complex Tax Cases: The episode highlights challenging cases like the Illinois business non-business income issue and the Tractor Supply decision in South Carolina, offering insights into tax litigation strategies.
• Colorado Local Tax Nuances: An in-depth look at Colorado's taxing jurisdictions sheds light on the complexities of local compliance and strategic voluntary disclosures.
• Impact of Professional Relationships: Maintaining relationships within the industry plays a crucial role in career development and effective case management.
• Evolving Tax Laws: Discussions around the VDF case, digital services taxation, and leveling the playing field in Illinois underscore the dynamic and ever-changing nature of state and local tax laws.

Quotables

• "There aren't that many wins in the scheme of things, at least within my career so far, because we do ultimately resettle a lot because it's in the best interest of the taxpayer a lot of the times to settle.” -Sam Breslow [13:16]
• "When a state doesn't modify their ordinance or their statute but changes the way that they're doing things, I don't know if that's necessarily right.” -Sam Breslow [20:00]

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