Taxing Issues for Taxing Times: DSA's 2009 Tax Seminar
Taxing Issues for Taxing Times
July 14, 2009 • DSA Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
During these troubling times, state and federal tax codes are being used as a critical source of extra funding for government budgets permanently stuck in the red. Direct selling companies and their independent contractor salesforces are uniquely susceptible to attack, and the changes being proposed could have permanent ramifications for our industry. Join us for this one-day event where we’ll explore these issues and others affecting the direct selling taxation landscape. Our speakers will provide you with critical information to take back to the office including:
- Details about state and federal attacks on the independent contractor status and what they could cost your company
- A state-by-state overview of laws and regulations relevant to direct selling companies
- Thorny sales and use taxation issues and the challenges you’ll face if you don’t report them correctly
- Your company’s legal rights associated with an audit process and what you need to know to survive them
- How to make “going green” one of your more profitable initiatives in the coming years
- The unique nature and resiliency of direct selling in poor economic times and the tax advantages these factors provide your company
Click here for Hotel and Registration Details
Tuesday, July 14
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
The Nitty Gritty of Sales and Use Taxes
Sales and use taxes can be exceptionally troublesome to direct selling companies. This session will provide a comprehensive guide to these thorny issues and how they can affect your business, including:
| • |
Reporting and calculating taxes on shipping and handling and what the ramifications could be to your business if you do this incorrectly |
| • |
Special conditions for dietary food and nutritional supplement companies – and ways to tell whether they apply to you |
| • |
Hostess credits and gifts subject to taxation and the challenges you’ll face if you don’t report them |
| – |
Jim Richmond, President, Professional Tax Services |
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The IRS and You: Helping Small Business Owners Find Their Way
Senior IRS officials will host this session, providing valuable insights into the most crucial aspects of small business and self-employment. Your company and distributors can – and should! – take advantage of the Small Business/Self-Employed Division’s (SBSE) services year round to understand the tax implications behind important business decisions. You won’t want to miss this review of:
| • | Schedule C filings including office-in-the-home deductions, record keeping, business deductions, retirement incentives and more |
| • | Recent SBSE activities that are helping small business owners and providing you with valuable information for your company and its salesforce |
| • | IRS and DSA cooperative initiatives that you can take advantage of for the betterment of your company’s financial results |
| – | Charlestine Hardy, Director, Exam Planning & Delivery, Small Business/Self-Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service |
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Preserving Your Salesforce's Independent Contractor & Direct Seller Status
Before you're briefed on the legislative and regulatory challenges impacting the independent contractor status, our expert will guide you through the basics about this issue. From unemployment compensation to employee classifications, a range of issues will always affect the independent nature of the direct selling salesforce. In this session, you'll learn:
| • | The distinction between direct seller and independent contractor classifications under state and federal laws |
| • | How to complete worker status questionnaires from governmental agencies |
| • | Preventative steps to avoid and successfully defend unemployment claims |
| – | Lewis Janowsky, Partner, Rynn & Janowsky, LLP |
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Newsflash: Your Independent Contractor Bulletin Hot Off the Wire
As state and federal lawmakers seek additional revenue streams to handle increasing budget shortfalls, new challenges are affecting employee classification and independent contractor withholding. Hear from our experts as they brief us about what was, what is and what will be, including:
| • | California independent contractor withholding proposals and other state issues that could catch your company, and its distributors, off-guard |
| • | State and federal attacks on the independent contractor status and what they could cost your company if not addressed |
| • | Proposed federal legislation affecting independent contractors and how it could change the landscape of our industry if not combatted |
| – | Dean Heyl, Attorney & Director, Government Relations, Direct Selling Association |
| – | Russ Hollrah, Attorney, Coalition to Preserve the Independent Contractor Status |
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Networking Luncheon
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Recession-Proof Financing: Funding Operations in a Challenging Economy
The current market turbulence may have you worried about your financial condition, and rightfully so. But it’s not all bad news for our industry. Join your peers as we discuss our industry’s growth prospects and financing options for the coming years. Our panel will cover:
| • | The unique nature and resiliency of direct selling in poor economic times and the advantages these aspects give your company |
| • | Smart fiscal behavior to maintain your business in an ever-changing and unpredictable market |
| • | Planning for the inevitable rebound when the turnaround comes, and how to keep it from sinking your profits |
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Smoothing Out the Process: Sales Tax Collection Agreements
Collection agreements are direct selling companies’ written accord with each state regarding collection and remittance of sales taxes owed. With the right format, your company can save time and money year after year. With the wrong format, your company could be bogged down in legal red tape, with no end in sight. Learn valuable techniques as our tax expert walks you through important framing and analysis for each step you take, including:
| • | Effective drafting techniques to save your company time and energy |
| • | Eligibility for rebates from the Department of Revenue that can give your bottom line a boost |
| • | Nexus landmines and other potential pitfalls that await an unaware company |
| – | Jim Richmond, President, Professional Tax Services |
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
State Status Sheet: Get the Regulatory 411
As all levels of government seek additional revenues, we are seeing new and creative methods being used to identify sources. One of the nation's top providers of tax publications and research—CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business—will give you a quick-paced overview of laws, regulations and trends relevant to:
| • | Sales and use taxes |
| • | Worker classification |
| • | Income taxes |
| • | Franchise taxes |
| – | Phil Schlesinger, Product Manager, Sales & Use Tax, CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business |
 |
All attendees will receive a FREE 30-day
trial of CCH's Tax Tracker News(TM) e-newsletter! |
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
How “Going Green” Can Put Your Company in the “Green”
Whether it is corporate deductions or tax credits, your company should know the best ways to go green – and how to get the most money back for it. This session will provide you with fascinating insights about:
| • | How to make “going green” one of your more profitable initiatives in the coming years |
| • | Green strategies that are easy to implement, afford and support when it comes time to fund them |
| • | Recent federal and state tax incentive programs available to make your bottom line even happier with these initiatives |
| – | PJ Stafford, Co-Founder, Green Irene LLC |
Hotel Information
Hotel accommodations can be arranged with:
The St. Regis Washington, D.C.
923 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC
(202) 638-2626
Hotel Details:
Hotel reservations are the responsibility of the individual delegate. Reservations can be made by contacting The St. Regis Washington, D.C., directly at (202) 638-2626. Identify yourself as being with DSA for a special rate of $199 per night. DSA's block of rooms will be released to the public on June 22, 2009. Reservations can't be guaranteed through this date so please make your reservations as soon as possible.
Please note that while hotel accommodations are being provided at the St. Regis, the seminar will take place at DSA's headquarters:
1667 K Street, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Click here to Register for DSA's 2009 Tax Seminar
The views expressed in these presentations and related materials are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, the Direct Selling Association. Any information presented is not intended as a substitute for your own legal counsel.
