IPT 2026 Sales tax Symposium

Michael J. Hilkin will speak at the IPT 2026 Sales tax Symposium on September 27 – 30, 2026 at JW Marriott Orlando, Grand Lakes Orlando, Florida. He will speak on the following panel:

Handling Sales Tax Controversies to Win
Monday, September 28 | 2:45 – 3:45 PM

This panel will holistically address how to handle a sales tax controversy during each phase of its potential life cycle, including proactive strategies before a formal controversy even arises. The panel will start by discussing policy and pre-audit strategies, as well as defining a win upfront, before turning to strategies for navigating an audit, opportunities for tax department review, and the litigation process. The presentation will focus on seeking resolution as efficiently and beneficially as possible and offer advice on avoiding common traps for the unwary.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, the participants will be able to: Identify proactive steps that can prevent or narrow a sales tax controversy.
• Define measurable criteria for a successful outcome based on the taxpayer’s facts, exposure, and business priorities.
• Analyze audit and administrative-review strategies that improve the likelihood of a favorable resolution.
• Evaluate settlement and litigation options based on timing, cost, risk, available evidence, and procedural posture.