(Columbus) - The Ohio Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business Tax Conference is just a few weeks away.
The 2022 Business Tax Conference is a two-day event on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 25-26, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency, downtown Columbus. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has purchased the Business Tax Conference, previously hosted by MEC. We help host this Tax conference every year in conjunction with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Department of Taxation. It’s the largest tax conference in the country. We had over 700 people attend in 2019, right before COVID-19. And then last year, while it was a virtual event due to COVID-19, it was still very successful. Now this year, we are happy to say that it will be both in-person and virtual. So whichever way you choose to attend, we are excited to have you join us. As usual, there will be all kinds of great speakers, workshops, breakout sessions, etc. It is and will be a great two-day event.
Of the many sessions going on during the two-day event, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of the Legislative Tax Panel/roundtable discussion, which will be on Tuesday, January 25th, at 4:15 – 5:15 pm (1 hour max). Tom Zaino, from our office (former Ohio Tax Commissioner and known tax guru), is the moderator of the Legislative panel. In attendance will be both Chairmen and Ranking members from both the House and Senate Ways and Means Committee’s, so that’s 4 legislators that will be on the panel this year as well a representative from the Ohio Department of Taxation. The main discussion will be focused on tax policy and fiscal issues.
Some specific issues discussed will be regarding the Business Income Deduction (BID); the Municipal income tax issue as it relates to COVID-19 and people working from home; possibly some tax-related budget-type questions; and a few other tax bills that the General Assembly is working on.
Below are a few DRAFT agenda excerpts with some details (for Tuesday afternoon, January 25th):
AA. Priceless Insights from Ohio’s General Assembly Leaders on Ohio Business Taxes in a Post-Pandemic Era Including the Future of Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) and HB 234 to Phase Out CAT by 2026. (4:15-5:15pm)
Priceless opportunity to hear from Ohio policy makers on the ‘State of the State’ on business tax and fiscal policy, moderated by former Ohio Tax Commissioner & Past Board Chairman of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Thomas M. Zaino.
Thomas Zaino, Founder & Managing Member, Zaino Hall & Farrin LLC;
Timothy Lynch, Legislative Director, Ohio Department of Taxation;
The Honorable Louis W. Blessing, III (District 8-R, Colerain Township), Chairman, Ohio Senate, Ways & Means Committee;
The Honorable Nickie Antonio, Minority Member, Ohio Senate, Ways & Means Committee (and the Assistant Minority Leader);
The Honorable Derek Merrin (District 47-R, Monclova Township), Chairman, Ohio House of Representatives, Ways & Means Committee;
The Honorable Lisa Sobecki (District 45-D, Toledo), Ranking Minority Member, Ohio House of Representatives, Ways & Means Committee;
There is also another very interesting and timely workshop hosted by Tom Zaino regarding the impact of COVID-19 to municipal income taxes and employees working from home, which is right before the Legislative Tax panel, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.:
L. Advanced - Funding Municipalities in a Post-COVID Environment Roundtable (3-4pm)
Frank discussion about the integrity of Ohio's municipal income tax system and the impact of the post-COVID working environment on major cities. Various differing perspectives -- cities, taxpayers, policy makers and practitioners. Options for reforming Ohio’s municipal tax system.
Rick J. Shapiro, Associate General Counsel, American Electric Power, Columbus, Thomas M. Zaino, Founder & Managing Member, Zaino Hall & Farrin LLC, Columbus; Donald W. Smith, Executive Director, Regional Income Tax Agency, Brecksville; Greg Saul, Tax Policy Director, Ohio Society of CPAs, Columbus; Rasheda Hansard, Income Tax Division Administrator, City of Columbus; The Honorable Derek Merrin (District 47-R, Monclova Township), Chairman, Ohio House of Representatives, Ways & Means Committee.
Immediately following the legislative tax panel (Workshop AA), everyone is invited to the evening reception. We hope you can stay, have a drink and some food, and mingle with many of the participants and fellow attendees.
5:15 p.m. Nation’s Premier Business Tax Networking Reception
Co-sponsored by: Avalara, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum, EY, Ice Miller,
Plante Moran, Ryan and Zaino Hall & Farrin.
At the nation’s premier business tax networking reception, interact with
invited members of the Ohio General Assembly including Chairs & Ranking
Minority Members of the Ohio Senate & Ohio House Ways & Means Committees,
Ohio Department of Taxation and local municipal and regional officials and
your peers, and discuss major business tax issues impacting Ohio’s economic
future.
I hope you find this BUZZ informative, and I certainly hope you can join us for this exciting conference and the legislative/tax panels. Please contact Rich Bitonte, Tom Zaino or any other ZHF Consulting Professional if you have questions, would like more details, or if we can be of any assistance now or in the future.