Multistate Tax Conference (E2211010)

Jim has over 25 years of professional experience in advising clients in the areas of ASC 450 (fka FAS 5), reverse sales and use tax audits, audit defense and appeal, sales tax systems automation, negotiation of voluntary compliance agreements, transaction analysis, Sarbanes/Oxley requirements, Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement and sales/use/excise tax compliance services. He assists numerous clients with complex indirect tax issues in industries including pharmaceutical, technology, retail, financial services, utilities, hospitality, entertainment, defense contractors, telecommunications and manufacturing. He is a leading sales and use tax specialist and developed trusted relationships with New Jersey and New York state government officials. He is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs and the NJCPA as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

SALT consultant specializing in state and local sales/use/excise taxation, including In-depth experience in nexus planning, taxability research studies, exposure analysis, audit defense, voluntary disclosure requests, sales/use tax registration and compliance, and review of sales tax codes for all US states and local jurisdictions.

Experienced in management of implementation of Vertex indirect tax and Avalara sales/use tax solutions and leads continued sales/use tax compliance calendar maintenance of Avalara and Vertex systems.

Experienced in assisting with preparation and filing of Canadian GST/HST, QST, and PST tax returns. Assists numerous clients in various industries including technology, retail, utilities, manufacturing, and healthcare. Manages unclaimed property voluntary disclosure projects and holder reporting.

Jim is a shareholder at Kulzer & DiPadova, P.A. He is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, is a member of the Bar of the State of New Jersey, and is a member of the Camden County Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Jim is a member of the tax sections of the NJBA and the ABA. In addition, he is a former president of the NJCPA, and has served as chairperson of the State Taxation Interest Group. He is a past president of the Southwest Jersey Chapter Board of Directors. Jim is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and serves on AICPA Council, its governing body. He is also a member of the New Jersey Tax and Fiscal Policy Commission and chaired the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax Review Commission.

Honored as “Tax Lawyer of the Year” in 2011 by State Tax Notes, Jeff Friedman provides sophisticated state and local tax planning, strategic advice and advocacy to numerous Fortune 100 and industry- leading companies. His comprehensive practice includes state and local tax planning, compliance, legislation and policy, and litigation and controversy matters involving income, franchise, sales and use and property taxes. Jeff’s clients span a variety of industries, including e-commerce, energy, technology and telecommunications.

A recognized thought leader on state and local tax issues, Jeffrey Friedman works on high-profile and precedent-setting litigation and controversy matters across the country. These matters impact critical questions on nexus, apportionment, the Multistate Tax Compact and the equal protection, due process and commerce clauses of the United States Constitution. Mr. Friedman is also a well-respected advocate on issues of tax policy, including the taxation of digital economy transactions.

Prior to joining Sutherland, he was a partner in KPMG’s Washington national tax practice; served as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy, where he assisted with the development of the U.S. government's position on domestic and international electronic commerce tax issues; and served as vice president and counsel of the Committee (now Council) On State Taxation (COST).

James Fruscione is a career public servant with thirty years of experience in State government operations. As the Director of NJDORES, he is responsible for New Jersey's centralized tax return and payment processing facilities, as well as the State’s business registry and non-tax debt collection programs. He now serves as the Department of the Treasury’s Technology Officer as well.

Mr. Fruscione continues his efforts to employ digital technologies to deliver efficient and value-added services to the State’s business and taxpayer communities. In his role as Technology Officer, he seeks to use Treasury’s information technology platform to support Enterprise-level service innovation, enhanced performance and cost savings.

Mr. Fruscione earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Rider University. He is a Certified Public Manager and Certified Information Professional. He has also earned certificates in citizen-driven performance management and electronic commerce.

Ron Hegt is a tax partner with over 40 years of experience in accounting and taxation. He has managed corporate, partnership, and entrepreneurial high net worth individual engagements in both the tax planning and tax compliance arenas.

Prior to joining Citrin Cooperman, Ron served as a tax partner at Janover LLC and a Top 10 national CPA firm. He currently serves as a member of the firm’s Federal Tax Policy Group and Quality Control Group in the trusts and estates area. Ron also chairs the firm's Individual Tax Subject Matter Expert Group.

Ron’s area of expertise is in serving as the entrepreneur tax and business adviser to middle market entrepreneurs, their businesses, and their families. He works extensively with partnerships, S corporations, estates, trusts, and ultra-high net worth individuals in tax compliance, as well as advises on business acquisitions, dispositions, and inter-generational transfers.

Karen L. Henderson, CPA is a Partner at Citrin Cooperman. She gained a depth of experience while working with clients in the public accounting sector, as well as in private industry, where her familiarity with strategic cash flow plans and other financial analysis added value for the companies she served. This combination of public-private perspectives enables her to provide critical insights for both the firm’s corporate clients and the individual taxpayers. Prior to joining Citrin cooperman, Karen was with SobelCo.

While serving in decision-making roles in accounting and tax firms across New Jersey, Karen developed a unique technical expertise for working with multi-state and start-up income tax returns and large, consolidated, corporate income tax returns as well as supervising and reviewing federal and state income tax returns and managing unclaimed property projects and tax exempt determinations and issues.

Over the years Karen has established a strong reputation in the community for delivering excellent client service. It is this key attribute that enabled Karen to assume a leadership role at the firm where she is having a positive impact on the professional staff and on the clients. A frequent speaker in the state, Karen has been asked to draw on her extensive experience to address critical tax topics for business leaders in manufacturing, healthcare, real estate, nonprofits and foundations.

Mr. Kline joined the NJ Division of Taxation in October 2016. He currently serves as Counsel to the Director. He is responsible for tax controversy, audit, legislative, regulatory and general legal matters. He leads the Division’s CBT Working Group, which is responsible for implementing the 2018 and 2020 statutory changes to the NJ Corporate Business Tax – including combined reporting. The CBT Working Group also played a significant role in drafting and finalizing recently issued CBT regulations and guidance.

Mr. Kline has a BA (Magna Cum Laude) from the George Washington University, a JD from Seton Hall, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University. After serving as a law clerk for the United States Tax Court, he worked as an attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, and was promoted to the position of special trial attorney. While at the IRS, Mr. Kline served as a special attorney for the United States Department of Justice – Tax Division on a special extended detail litigating complex refund cases involving tax shelters. He also served as the IRS Industry Counsel for Mergers and Acquisitions in the Service’s Industry Specialization Program. Mr. Kline has litigated cases for the IRS and the Department of Justice before the United States Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and in Federal District Court.

Melanie Lee has several years of experience in tax advisory and compliance services at both the federal and state and local levels. Her clients range from domestic partnerships, private equity groups, and venture capital funds to high-net-worth individuals throughout the global economy. She has experience in drafting legal memoranda, researching multi-state taxability issues, drafting complex partnership and corporate returns (both federal and state), and in working with clients to comply with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and related state (non) conforming legislation.

Prior to joining Andersen, Melanie was a legal intern for the Honorable Justice Stephen Bucaria of the Nassau County New York Commercial Division and in the County Attorney’s Office of Suffolk County. While in law school she was an active member of multiple organizations, including serving as Co-President of the Corporate & Securities Law Society, an Article and Notes Editor of the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, and Co-Director of Competitions for the Dispute Resolution Society.

Liz concentrates her practice in tax law with a focus on New York State, New York City, and multistate tax issues. She assists individual and business clients with New York State and New York City audits, including residency, sales tax, unincorporated business tax, commercial rent tax, and corporate tax audits. Liz has also helped many clients successfully navigate New York State’s voluntary disclosure process. She works with each client to determine the optimal strategy to resolve tax issues, whether negotiation through the audit process, litigation, or tax planning.

Prior to joining Hodgson Russ, Liz served as an intern for U.S. District Judge William Skretny in the Western District of New York. Before entering law school, she was a professor of comparative politics and has taught at Connecticut College, Wesleyan University, and University at Buffalo.