Updated: June 8, 2023

Taxation Section

The Taxation Section provides current information on federal and state tax issues that directly affect practitioners in Washington. It gives new attorneys with an interest in tax law an opportunity to meet and discuss mutual areas of concern with established practitioners. The Section assists in proposing and commenting on legislation and administrative rules affecting federal and state tax practice.

Through its website, list serve, and events throughout the year, the Taxation Section provides practical, up-to-date information regarding the Section's committees, activities, and other tax resources.

In accordance with the Section's bylaws, and with the exception of law students, an individual must be an active member of the Bar to join the Taxation Section.

Annual Report  |   Budget  |   Bylaws  |  Year in Review  |  Meeting Minutes

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Section Executive Committee Elections

The Section is conducting elections for open positions on the executive committee.

Voting is scheduled for June 5-19, 2023. All voting members of the Section will be sent an electronic ballot from SurveyMonkey via email on June 5, 2023.

Candidate Information, Open Positions, and Terms
For more information about the Section and its executive committee, please review the Section's bylaws. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by position.

Treasurer
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Alinsson A. Sierra | Statement of Interest

At-Large Member
Three positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Darek Jarski

Candidate 2: Robert Mahon | Statement of Interest

Candidate 3: Sandra Veliz

CLE Committee Co-Chair
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Jason Harn

Candidate 2: Sofia Meglioli

Communications Committee Chair
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: John Jetter

DEI Committee Co-Chair
One position open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023

        Candidate: Jessica Bejerea | Statement of Interest

DEI Committee Co-Chair
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Jessica Bejerea | Statement of Interest

Candidate 2: Ellen Tung

DOR Liaison Co-Chair
Two positions open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Candidate 1: Kimberly Anderson

Candidate 2: Tina Poley | Statement of Interest

DOR Liaison Co-Chair
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Kimberly Anderson

Candidate 2: Tina Poley | Statement of Interest

Estate & Gift Tax Committee Co-Chair
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Cat Connell

Candidate 2: Reed Jones

International Tax Committee Co-Chair
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Alinsson A. Sierra | Statement of Interest

IRS Liaison Co-Chair – IRS Office of Chief Counsel
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Logan Westerman

IRS Liaison Co-Chair – Private Practice
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Richard Johnson | Statement of Interest

Legislative Committee Co-Chair
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Callie Castillo

Candidate 2: Brett Durbin

Pro Bono Committee Chair
One position open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Candidate: Darin T. Jensen | Statement of Interest

Pro Bono Committee Chair
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Darin T. Jensen | Statement of Interest

Scholarship Chair
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Jennifer Gellner

State & Local Tax Committee Chair
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Aaron Johnson | Statement of Interest

Transactional Tax Committee Chair
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Daniel Sito

Young Lawyer Committee Chair
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Daniel French

Questions? Email sections@wsba.org.


 

NEW! 2023 Annual WSBA Taxation Section Luncheon

Registration Now Open!

The WSBA Taxation Section is pleased to announce the keynote speaker will be Michael J. Desmond, former Chief Counsel for the IRS and current partner in the Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Michael will discuss the increase in funding provided to the IRS by the Inflation Reduction and more specifically, how that funding might be deployed to increase clarity and certainty in the tax law through additional guidance as described in the Strategic Operating Plan released on April 6, 2023.

When: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Time:
11:30 a.m.-noon: Registration and Networking
Noon-1 p.m.: Program

Where: Washington Athletic Club (New location!), 1325 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101

Cost: $60 - Standard; $30 - Law Students, Government Lawyers, Lawyers in their first year (after adding seminar to cart, enter promo code LSDB and click checkout)

Speaker: Former IRS Chief Counsel, Michael J. Desmond - Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Registration will close on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 3 p.m. PDT. Cancellations are nonrefundable.

Event Details

Register for Individuals Now!

For more information and/or Group Registration!

 


 

NEW Benefit - Washington State Tax Conference Discount for Section Members!

As a benefit of the WSBA Tax Section membership, Professor Jeffrey Gramlich and the Hoops Tax Institute at Washington State University have graciously offered to provide a 50% tuition discount for the annual Washington State Tax Conference that is being held in Pullman and online this year on July 13-14. The reduced registration fees are $87.50 for members who register by June 19 and $112.50 for members who register after June 19. The registration fee is the same for both in-person and online options. In-person participants receive some meals as well as networking opportunities. CLE/CEU credit hours are available for full and active attendance (either online or in-person).

Additionally, a discounted room block has been reserved for in-person attendees at both Marriott properties in Pullman.

Tentative topics for this year's conference include: Apportionment, DOR transparency, Capital Gains Tax, Crypto/NFT/Metaverse, Tax Policy, Penalties, Legislative Updates, Court Updates, and more.

More information about the conference in general is available on its website.


Volunteer Opportunities 

If you have any questions or would otherwise like to get involved with the Pro Bono Committee, please contact Darin Jensen at 206-624-1230 ext. 175 or jensen@lasher.com.


Taxation Section CLE Slide Decks

Find the most recent CLE slide decks from the Taxation Section.


Newsletters

Winter 2017-2018  â”‚   Spring 2017  â”‚  Winter 2016-2017

Archived issues are available to section members upon request. To request an issue, please email sections@wsba.org.


Executive Committee

ChairKristi Richards (2022-2023) 

Chair-ElectMegan Tahl (2022-2023) 

Secretary: Cat Connell (2022-2023) 

Treasurer: Jason Harn (2022-2023) 

Immediate Past Chair: Claire Taylor (2022-2023) 

At-Large Members

Darek Jarski (2022-2023) 
Robert Mahon (2022-2023) 
Sandra Veliz (2022-2023)

Board of Governors Liaison*: Nam Nguyen (2022-2023) and Brent Williams-Ruth (2022-2023)

Young Lawyer Liaison*: Aimee Miller (2022–2023) 

*Nonvoting member

Committee Chairs

CLE Co-ChairsJason Harn & Sophia Meglioli  (2022-2023) 

DOR Liaison Chair: Kimberly Anderson & Tina Poley (2022-2023) 

Estate and Gift Tax Co-ChairsCat Connell & Reed Jones (2022-2023) 

International Tax Co-ChairsTuan NgoAl Mullins (2022-2023) 

IRS Liaison Co-Chairs: Logan Westerman (IRS Office of Chief Counsel) & (Private Practice) (2022-2023) 

Legislative Co-ChairsBrett Durbin & Callie Castillo (2022-2023) 

Communications Chair: John Jetter (2022–2023) 

Pro Bono Chair: Darin Jensen (2022–2023) 

Scholarship Chair: Jennifer Gellner (2022–2023) 

State and Local Tax Chair: Aaron Johnson (2022–2023) 

Transactional Tax ChairDaniel SIto (2022–2023) 

Young Lawyer Committee Chair: Daniel French (2022-2023) 

DEI Committee Co-Chairs: Ellen Tung & Jessica Bejerea (2022-2023) 

 

Learn more about the Committees.

The WSBA Taxation Section Executive Committee generally conducts meetings on the third Friday of each month, 8–9 a.m. Please contact committee member for specific details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.


Join Our List Serve

To join the section list serve and for general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For more information and to get involved with the section, please contact section Chair Kristi Richards.