PRACTICE AREAS

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Flash

Taxation

Expanded Description

Transactions
  • Mergers and acquisitions

  • Tax-free mergers and reorganizations, recapitalizations, and business restructurings

  • Tax planning for distributions and redemptions

  • Minimization of gain on taxable sales and exchanges

  • Tax-efficient structures and planning for:

    • - Affiliated groups
    - Joint ventures
    - Minority subsidiaries and investments
    - Allocation of income among taxing jurisdictions
  • Tax-free property exchanges

  • Tax credit transactions and investment structures

  • Bankruptcy


    • Investment, Ownership, Business Operations, and Compensation
  • Choice of entity and business structure decisions

  • Equity, debt and hybrid investments

  • Taxation of ebusiness and internet transactions

  • Tax minimizing elections

  • Tax-favored compensation arrangements:

    • - Stock option and bonus agreements
    - Deferred compensation arrangements
    - Employee stock ownership plans
    - Split dollar insurance arrangements
    - Fringe benefits
  • Planning to minimize employment taxes

  • Multistate tax planning


    • International
  • Foreign sales corporations/domestic international sales corporations

  • Domestic subsidiaries and investments by foreign corporations; branch vs. subsidiary decisions

  • Controlled foreign corporations (Subpart F) planning

  • International joint ventures

  • Foreign tax credit planning

  • Transfer pricing

  • Tax treaty benefits; competent authority determinations

  • Customs and excise tax matters

  • U.S. permanent establishment issues

  • Tax aspects of expatriates and immigration


    • Tax Compliance
  • Tax returns for:

    • - Corporations and consolidated groups
    - Partnerships and limited liability companies
    - Family and closely-held businesses
    - Individuals, trusts, and estates
  • "Substantial authority" analysis for tax return positions

  • Reports and returns for non-profit and tax-exempt organizations and foundations


    • Property Tax Appeals
  • Counsel and represent clients in tax appeals issues for real and personal property used for industrial, office, retail and other commercial purposes as well as vacant and residential property

  • Represent taxpayers and municipalities in disputes regarding cash value, assessed value, taxable value and characterization of subject property and exemptions from taxation


    • Taxpayers:
  • Review annual assessments and counsel taxpayers regarding the assessment process and the assessment appeal process

  • Recommend experts in valuation/characterization of property to evaluate whether appeal is warranted and to support the appeal if it is

  • Appeal property value/characterization to the municipal board of review, Michigan Tax Tribunal, and Michigan Court of Appeals, if necessary


    • Municipalities:
  • Advise municipalities regarding appropriate methodology for determining assessed and taxable value for real and personal residential, commercial and industrial properties

  • Advise municipal assessors and boards of review regarding assessment matters

  • Represent municipalities in assessments matters before the State Tax Tribunal and the Court of Appeals


    • Controversies and Tax Litigation
  • Federal and state audits

  • IRS appeals, protests and state administrative proceedings

  • Michigan Single Business and Sales and Use Tax appeals

  • Property Tax Planning and Appeals

  • Tax consequences of litigation and litigation support

  • Collection matters; offers in compromise

  • Michigan voluntary disclosure

  • Appeals to U.S. Tax Court, Court of Claims, District Courts, and all Courts of Appeal

  • State tax tribunal and refund litigation


    • Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations
  • Formation and operational compliance for nonprofits and charitable organizations

  • IRS exemption letter rulings and state exemption proceedings

  • Operational aspects of charitable organizations and private foundations

  • Formation and operation of non and for-profit subsidiaries; supporting organizations