Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)

Current

Senior Manager, State and Local Tax Services at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP
Founder and Author of LeverageSALT, the State and Local Tax Blog at http://www.leveragestateandlocaltax.com/

Past

Senior State and Local Tax Manager at Opus Corporation
Director, National Tax Office at RSM McGladrey

Education

Washington School of Law
Millikin University

Connections

121 connections

Industry

Accounting

Websites

Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)’s Summary

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Working in the tax field since 1995, I have gained very broad tax experience with in-depth expertise in federal tax accounting methods and inventory, and state and local tax. I am also an Enrolled Agent with a Masters Degree in Taxation.

My strengths are research and writing, tax controversy, managing and mentoring staff, creating and building a team, and devising and implementing best practices.

In January 2009, I started sharing my state and local tax expertise, and developing relationships with clients and other tax professionals via my state and local tax blog, "LeverageSALT." Writing this blog has led to other opportunities such as: being the author of the State and Local Tax 360° blog on Accountingweb.com, a Contributing Editor for MyLegal.com, a Contributing Editor for SalesTaxSupport.com, and a Guest blogger on SpeedTax.com.

In addition to my state and local tax publications, I have written several articles and delivered several presentations on accounting methods and inventory issues such as UNICAP (263A), LIFO, LCM, subnormal goods, etc.

Overall, I enjoy research and writing, and helping others resolve tax problems. Contact me to resolve yours.

Tax Professional Experience (since 1995):
• National Commercial Real Estate Developer
• RSM McGladrey, Inc. (National Tax Office)
• PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
• Regional Accounting Firms
• Fortune 500 Companies

Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)’s Specialties:

Federal Tax Accounting Methods and Inventory; IRS Audit Defense; Impacts of Proposed Legislation / Court Cases; Nexus, Amnesty, Voluntary Disclosure Agreements, Private Letter Rulings; SALT Controversy; State Taxation of Pass-Through Entities and Their Owners; SALT related to Real Estate Developers / Construction Contractors; Apportionment; Unitary; Business vs. Nonbusiness Income; Sales and Use Tax; Real Estate Transfer Tax; Gross Receipts taxes; Credits and Incentives;

Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)’s Experience

Senior Manager, State and Local Tax Services

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

(Partnership; Accounting industry)

October 2009 — Present (3 months)

I am the Minneapolis Office State and Local Tax Practice Leader where I serve clients of all sizes in any state in the areas of income tax, gross receipts tax, sales and use tax, franchise tax, real estate transfer taxes, and credits and incentives.

My mission is to be Your State and Local Tax Partner, and provide you with cost-effective state and local tax services saving you time, money and mitigating risk.

You can contact me at 612.876.4824 or brian.strahle@bakertilly.com.
Founder and Author of LeverageSALT, the State and Local Tax Blog

http://www.leveragestateandlocaltax.com/

(Accounting industry)

January 2009 — Present (1 year )

LeverageSALT is THE State and Local Tax Blog providing technical updates and commentary.

Examples of Client Successes During My Career:
• Structuring and tax planning saved real estate developer approximately $1,300,000 in B&O tax and $1,000,000 in sales tax on 9 projects in Washington.
• Obtained $3,000,000 in Florida Enterprise Zone Sales Tax Refunds for real estate developer on four development projects. Saved real estate developer approximately $140,000 in outside consultant fees.
• Reduced original state income tax and sales tax audit assessments from $2,000,000 to under $500,000.
• Performed reverse audits on all Arizona real estate sales, resulting in the filing of amended returns and refunds of approximately $1,000,000.
• Filed and monitored California LLC Fee refund claims of approximately $300,000.
• Developed restructuring/planning idea for S corporations and pass-through entities. Resulted in annual state tax savings of $500,000 for $200 million dollar manufacturing client based in Illinois.
• Identified and obtained a $700,000 refund for a $150 million dollar manufacturer based in Illinois by applying P.L. 86-272. Also resulted in annual state tax savings of $150,000.
• Reviewed several clients’ invoices and supporting documents to obtain almost $2,000,000 in refunds under the Illinois Manufacturer Purchase Credit.
• Successfully protested a Minnesota sales tax audit regarding canned vs. custom software resulting in tax savings of $75,000.
• Successfully defended a business vs. nonbusiness income position in appeal of a New Mexico income tax audit resulting in tax savings, and more importantly, providing support for the position being taken by the company in all states.
• Researched the new Texas Margin Tax (franchise tax) rules and developed an application plan for how a group of pass-through entities should file returns. Also presented planning options (structure changes) to minimize the tax impact.
Senior State and Local Tax Manager

Opus Corporation

(Privately Held; Real Estate industry)

October 2006 — October 2009 (3 years 1 month)

Responsible for creating, building, and leading a new in-house state and local tax group.

Created and built a new in-house state and local tax (SALT) consulting group (prior attempts had failed). Built infrastructure for SALT group, including technical tools for regions, SALT intranet site, and monthly SALT Group newsletter providing technical updates to non-tax professionals throughout company. Travelled to five regional operating companies and delivered presentations, building relationships and synergy.

Played, and continue to play, a vital and integral role in implementing historic change within the culture and management of the company's tax department; changed reporting structure and redefined roles, resulting in improved people management and project management; making it a better place to work and reducing turnover;

Trained and developed inexperienced staff to not only learn, but also become a valued and reliable sales/use tax resource to the company. Developed strong mentoring relationships with staff, and viewed as someone staff can confide in.

During time at company, have reduced initial state tax audit assessments from approx. $2 million to $500,000, and obtained $3 million in state tax credits/refunds.
Director, National Tax Office

RSM McGladrey

(Public Company; HRB; Accounting industry)

October 2003 — October 2006 (3 years 1 month)

Accounting Methods and Inventory (AMI) Leader
Responsible for providing technical guidance, audit defense and appeals representation/consulting on federal tax accounting issues with an emphasis in inventory methods, the timing of income and deductions, capitalization issues, depreciation methods, changes in methods of accounting and tax accounting period issues to all tax professionals throughout the firm and network firms.

Built reputation as a strong and reliable tax technical accounting methods and inventory resource to RSM McGladrey (RSM) tax professionals and RSM Network firms throughout the country. Examples include: (1) Drafted IRS audit protest and successfully defended an office’s client in appeals re: IRC. 263A issues; (2) Drafted written explanation in response to an office’s client’s 21-day letter regarding their average cost inventory method and obtained approval from the IRS;

Built strong synergy with RSM offices throughout country resulting in a high-volume of work in National Tax by travelling to RSM offices, leading and developing Technical Advisory Group (TAG) monthly conference calls, writing weekly analysis of tax law developments for publication to RSM tax professionals and RSM network firms, and creating tax-efficient accounting method services.

Authored RSM’s firm sponsored public comments on the IRS’ update to Rev. Proc. 2002-9 (2006).

Prepared and collaborated with National Tax Leadership to implement strategic plan to grow Accounting Methods and Inventory services.

Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)’s Education

Washington School of Law

Masters Degree , Taxation , 1998 — 2000
Millikin University

Bachelor of Science , Accounting , 1991 — 1995

Additional Information

Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)’s Websites:

Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)’s Interests:

Increasing the profit margin and cash-flow of businesses by reducing their cost of doing business through state and local tax compliance management, planning and audit defense. Not only providing strong tax technical leadership, but mentoring and guiding staff and others to achieve success by focusing on their strengths and interests. Being a mentor and someone staff can confide in. Developing and communicating visions and strategy to grow tax practices and develop people.

Brian Strahle, Baker Tilly VK SALT Leader (MN Office)’s Groups:

Member of AICPA
Member of Minnesota Society of CPAs
Member of Baker Tilly International SALT Committee
Graduate Fellow of the National Tax Practice Institute.