Agenda – Maine Tax Forum
11/4/26 and 11/5/26
Preliminary and Subject to Change Prior to the Event
Register
Day One–Wednesday, November 4
- 7:45 AM - 7:50 AM
VIRTUAL SESSION SIGN-IN
- 7:50 AM - 8:00 AM
Announcements & Opening Remarks
Charles WeidhasSCORE Maine - 8:00 AM - 8:55 AM
Using AI as it relates to tax practice and firm management
The presentation will focus on risk & governance, tax applications for AI, discussion of various tools available, how to develop better prompts and understanding limitations of AI in your tax practice.
Mike Santo, PartnerWipfli - 8:55 AM - 9:50 AM
Keynote – IRS Area Manager of
Stakeholder Liaison
TBD
Georgia Thomas, Area ManagerStakeholder Liaison - 9:50 AM - 10:00 AM
BREAK
- 10:00 AM - 10:55 AM
Estate Planning in 2026 and Beyond: Strategies for Planning in a High-Exemption Environment.
The presentation will examine how the 2025 tax law changes—particularly the $15 million federal estate tax exemption—are reshaping estate planning in Maine. It will highlight practical planning techniques for balancing transfer tax efficiency with income tax considerations, with a focus on strategic and holistic long-term planning.
Kristy M. Hapworth, PartnerRudman Winchell - 10:55 AM - 11:50 AM
General Update on Income Tax Law Cases
To provide an update with regards to important federal tax cases that relevant to taxpayers in Maine and hopefully interesting. The intent will be to keep the audience up to date with current developments in tax law and provide some insight and discussion concerning the direction courts may take with regards to future decisions.
Andrew J. Wells, AttorneyPreti Flaherty - 11:50 AM - 12:30 PM
LUNCH BREAK
- 12:30 PM - 1:25 PM
Session 5(a) – Federal
Minimizing tax impact for rental properties.
A discussion of Short Term Rental, Real Estate Investor, Real Estate Professional, Passive loss, Active participation, Single Economic Grouping election and GAA.
Jeff Hiatt, DirectorMS Consultants - 12:30 PM - 1:25 PM
Session 5(b) – Federal
Data Security and Common Tax Scams
To provide tax professionals with an overview of IRS data security and breach requirements as well as an update on common tax scams
Jeff Latessa, Stakeholder LiaisonIRS - 1:25 PM - 2:20 PM
M&A in 2026: Tax Law and Transaction Strategies including reorganizations and business sales
To learn common acquisition structure techniques and be able to identify related tax issues that could impact buyer or seller in a business purchase or sale transaction.
Cory Vargo, PartnerWipfli - 2:20 PM - 2:30 PM
BREAK
- 2:30 PM - 3:25 PM
General Federal Case Law Update – Estate & Gift Law
To discuss new federal case law which might have an affect on 2026 returns
Jim Hopkinson, PartnerHopkinson & Abbondanza - 3:25 PM - 4:25 PM
Ethics Essentials: Circular 230 and IRS Expectations
Get a clear overview of IRS ethics rules, including recent updates to Circular 230. This session covers what the Office of Professional Responsibility looks for, how violations are enforced, and how to protect your reputation and credentials.
Dan Doiron, PrincipalAlbin, Randall & Bennett
VIRTUAL SESSION SIGN-IN
Announcements & Opening Remarks
Using AI as it relates to tax practice and firm management
The presentation will focus on risk & governance, tax applications for AI, discussion of various tools available, how to develop better prompts and understanding limitations of AI in your tax practice.
Keynote – IRS Area Manager of
Stakeholder Liaison
TBD
BREAK
Estate Planning in 2026 and Beyond: Strategies for Planning in a High-Exemption Environment.
The presentation will examine how the 2025 tax law changes—particularly the $15 million federal estate tax exemption—are reshaping estate planning in Maine. It will highlight practical planning techniques for balancing transfer tax efficiency with income tax considerations, with a focus on strategic and holistic long-term planning.
General Update on Income Tax Law Cases
To provide an update with regards to important federal tax cases that relevant to taxpayers in Maine and hopefully interesting. The intent will be to keep the audience up to date with current developments in tax law and provide some insight and discussion concerning the direction courts may take with regards to future decisions.
LUNCH BREAK
Session 5(a) – Federal
Minimizing tax impact for rental properties.
A discussion of Short Term Rental, Real Estate Investor, Real Estate Professional, Passive loss, Active participation, Single Economic Grouping election and GAA.
Session 5(b) – Federal
Data Security and Common Tax Scams
To provide tax professionals with an overview of IRS data security and breach requirements as well as an update on common tax scams
M&A in 2026: Tax Law and Transaction Strategies including reorganizations and business sales
To learn common acquisition structure techniques and be able to identify related tax issues that could impact buyer or seller in a business purchase or sale transaction.
BREAK
General Federal Case Law Update – Estate & Gift Law
To discuss new federal case law which might have an affect on 2026 returns
Ethics Essentials: Circular 230 and IRS Expectations
Get a clear overview of IRS ethics rules, including recent updates to Circular 230. This session covers what the Office of Professional Responsibility looks for, how violations are enforced, and how to protect your reputation and credentials.
Register
Day Two–Thursday, November 5
VIRTUAL SESSION SIGN-IN
Announcements & Opening Remarks
Charles WeidhasSCORE MaineWashington Tax Watch: Legislative & Regulatory Insights
Get the latest on key federal tax developments, including legislative and regulatory changes from the past year. This session also previews potential shifts under the new Congress and administration—and what they could mean for your clients.
John GimiglianoKPMGIntroduction to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
To provide tax professionals with an overview of the office of the tax payer advocate and how to use its’ services
TBDBREAK
The Great Basis Reset: Modern Income Tax Basis Planning in the Era of Large Estate Tax Exemptions
This presentation examines the evolving role of basis planning, explores common strategies for achieving favorable basis adjustments, and highlights practical considerations for balancing income tax and transfer tax objectives in modern estate planning.
Nat Putnam, PartnerVerrill DanaDiscussion of various tax topics that effect tax exempt organizations
This session will identify and address provisions of the recent tax legislation that impact tax-exempt organizations. The presentation will discuss tax implications from the organization’s perspective as well as from donors’/funders’ perspectives.
Shy Joseph, Managing DirectorKPMGLunch break
Session 5(a) – Federal
Tokenized Real Estate: Blockchain Infrastructure and Emerging Tax Considerations
TBD
Seth Priebatsch, PresidentGromaBrian ButlerGromaSession 5(b) – Maine
The Issue of AI related to state Taxes
The focus of this session will be less on how companies use AI and more on the state tax implications of companies who offer AI-enabled or AI-native solutions to the market.
Jamie Szal, PartnerBrann & IsaacsonJoe Caissie, AssociateBrann & IsaacsonSession 6(a) – Federal
Tax Filing Structure Considerations
Eugene Syrovatkin, DirectorCBIZSession 6(b) – Federal
Navigating Health & Welfare Benefit Taxes
This session will prepare participants to navigate the complexities of health and welfare benefit taxation, proactively address common compliance challenges, and deliver strategic recommendations to clients.
Taylor Pottle, Vice President Employee BenefitsBCI Insurance SolutionsBREAK
Trust and Estate issues – a deep dive into tax issues and planning
To identify key trust and estate income, gift, and estate tax issues and evaluate planning strategies to optimize tax outcomes for clients.
Justin LeBlanc, AttorneyLeBlanc and DigginsEthical Decision-Making for Tax Pros: What the IRS Expects
This session explores the IRS’s ethical standards under Circular 230 with practical, real-life examples. Learn how to apply these rules to common situations—and avoid the penalties that come with missteps.
Tim Woodhouse, DirectorAries Wealth Management, LLCJustin Coffin, Founding PartnerApollon New EnglandRegister
Maine Tax Workshops Advisory Team
We greatly appreciate the assistance of the Maine Tax Workshops Advisory Team in planning this agenda. Their experience with the chosen topics was a great resource for the SCORE planning team.
Christopher Stevenson – Drummond Woodson
Jeff Hiatt – Cost Seg Studies
Justin Coffin – Apollon New England
Mike Santo – Wipfli LLP
Nat Hussey – Nat Hussey, Esq.
Timothy Woodhouse – Aries Wealth Management
Rick Abbondanza – Hopkinson & Abbondanza
Sno Barry – Berry Dunn
Frank A Schoenrock, CPA – SCORE
Thomas Cyr
Jeffrey Latessa – IRS
Nathan Pike – TSG, Your Trusted Accountant