The Vermont Department of Taxes has announced the creation of the Tax Technical Working Group. Comprised of 13 tax professionals, the Tax Technical Working Group will provide a regular forum for communication and collaboration between Vermontâ s Commissioner of Taxes and representatives of the tax professional community.
â As Tax Commissioner, I am committed to improving taxpayer engagement and communication,’said Tax Commissioner Mary Peterson. â Tax professionals represent key strategic partners in this effort.â
Members of the Tax Technical Working Group will keep the Commissioner apprised of developments and concerns within the tax professional community on matters of tax administration, policy, and outreach. Beyond relaying the concerns of taxpayers and the tax professional community, working group members may be asked to participate in periodic activities and projects to enhance the Departmentâ s administration of taxes and general operations.
The Tax Technical Working Group is not the only new effort to connect the Department of Taxes with taxpayers and its key strategic partners. The newly formed Vermont Tax Advisory Board and new Division of Policy, Outreach, and Legislative Affairs represent complementary initiatives designed to strengthen the Departmentâ s communication and collaboration.
â Overall, our new outreach initiatives are designed to provide timely information and education, and great customer service in an increasingly complex world,’said Peterson. â I am grateful that so many Vermonters continue to be willing to step up to volunteer their time and talents.â
A complete list of Tax Technical Working Group members is below:
Joseph Bilodeau, CPA, President of Bilodeau, Wells & Co.
Patti Bisson, Compucount Inc., Chair of the Government Relations Committee of the Vermont Chapter of the National Association of Tax Professionals
Ray Cota, CPA, President of the Vermont Society of CPAs
Michelle Eid, CPA, Hall & Holden, PC
Robert Holden, CPA, Hall & Holden PC
Donald Hunt, Enrolled Agent, Vice President of Pat Hunt Inc.
Lauren Jarvi, Enrolled Agent
Kim Loewer, Enrolled Agent, Managing Partner of Loewer and Associates; President and Founder of the Vermont Chapter of the National Association of Tax Professionals
Donald Murray, CPA, Fothergill, Segale, & Valley CPAs
Russell North, CPA, Wilder Business Services
Claude Phipps, AARP Tax-Aide
Carol Tremble, CPA
Rick Wolfish, CPA, Gallagher, Flynn & Company
Vermont Tax Advisory Board
The purpose of the Vermont Tax Advisory Board (VTAB) is threefold:
Provide a public forum for communication between Vermontâ s Commissioner of Taxes andrepresentatives of the public interested in Vermontâ s tax administration and policy, and;Provide ideas, input and perspective to the Commissioner, assisting her in developing tax policyand identifying improvements in the administration of taxes, and;Provide constructive observations regarding current or proposed policies.
â The tax law is becoming more complex, reflecting our world,’said Tax Commissioner Mary Peterson. â Simultaneously, customer service expectations are rising. Open and transparent collaboration is thekey strategy to help government agencies, businesses, and individuals work together in a positivemanner. As Commissioner of Taxes, I am convening the Vermont Tax Advisory Board to foster this typeof collaboration.â
Other taxing jurisdictions, including the IRS, convene an advisory body comprised of some combinationof tax professionals, business stakeholders, activists, scholars, and citizens to provide non-binding publicinput to management on important tax administration and policy matters. This type of board isconsidered a best practice in promoting collaboration and transparency.
â I am pleased that Commissioner Peterson is working to enhance relationships with the Department'skey stakeholders, - the people, businesses, property owners, cities and towns, and non-profits that makeVermont great,’said Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding. â The Vermont Tax Advisory Boardrepresents the type of innovation and transparency that is important to our state and GovernorShumlin.’
A complete list of VTAB members is below:
Jerry Bowin, CPA, McSoley, McCoy & Co; Chairman of the Vermont Society of CPAâ s TaxCommittee
Laird Cameron Bradley, Realtor; former Chairman of the Board for the Vermont Association ofRealtors; Williamson Group Sotheby's of Woodstock
Andrew Brewer, Owner, Onion River Sports
Jody Fried, Executive Director, Catamount Arts
Kathleen C. Hoyt, former Secretary of Administration and Chief of Staff for Governor HowardDean and Chief of Staff for Governor Madeleine Kunin
Sharon Lockwood, Site Spending Manager, IBM
Jim Loewer, Enrolled Agent, Managing Partner of Loewer and Associates; President andFounder of the Vermont Chapter of the National Association of Tax Professionals
Kathryn H. Michaelis, Attorney, Rath, Young, and Pignatelli of Concord, NH
Janet Spitler, Chief Financial Officer, Merchants Bank
Patrick Walsh, Assistant Professor of Economics, St. Michaelâ s College
Vermont Department of Taxes 5.31.2012