|
Mr. Olson is a leader in Utah in organizing and advising nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, including some of the largest private foundations, universities, health care institutuions, and charities in the State, as well as small tax-exempt organizations. He prepares organizational documents, helps secure tax exemption from the IRS and provides advice on charitable solicitation matters, Board member duties and State and Federal tax matters. His numerous contacts with the Utah State Tax Commission and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assist in resolving complex legal circumstances. As principal drafter of the Utah's Nonprofit Corporation Act, he is in an exceptional position to advise Utah nonprofit corporations concerning their statutory rights and duties.
Tax Planning and Tax Controversies
Mr. Olson provides tax planning advice to new and existing limited liability companies, corporations, and partnerships. He advises boards of directors and officers concerning their duties, counsels organizations relative to filing positions on tax returns and assists them in complying with tax and business requirements. Mr. Olson also has many years experience handling controversies for taxpayers before the IRS and State Tax Commission, including representation at the audit level, appeals division, and filing documents in court. Mr. Olson has been a member and chair of numerous IRS practitioner liaison groups. These working relationships with government officials have provided Mr. Olson important contacts to help resolve Federal and State tax disputes.
State Taxation
Mr. Olson has advised taxpayers concerning their rights and duties under Utah state law and has represented their interests before administrative tribunals and in court. His counsel extends to both profit and nonprofit entities and includes all types of State and local taxes. He has sat on numerous boards and practitioner groups and reviewed program initiatives of the Tax Commission before they were made public. His practice includes providing tax opinions. Mr. Olson maintains an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating awarded to attorneys for professional competence and ethics. He has also been named as one of The Best Lawyers in America in Tax Law, and has also been voted by his peers throughout the state as one of Utah’s Legal Elite in the categories of Government Law and Taxes/Estates/Trusts (as published in Utah Business Magazine).
EDUCATION
Brigham Young University, J.D., 1981
cum laude
Managing Editor, BYU JOURNAL OF LEGAL STUDIES
Phi Alpha Delta
Brigham Young University, B.S., Accounting, 1975
magna cum laude
PRACTICE AREAS
Business Formation, Planning and Transactions
Charitable and Exempt Organizations
Health Care Law
Tax Planning and Tax Controversies
PRIOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve, Retired
United States Army Officer, 1975-78
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
All Utah Courts
United States Supreme Court
United States Tax Court
United States Court of Federal Claims
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
Washington College of Law - Instructor on Exempt Organizations
Member, Tax and Nonprofit Law Sections, Utah State Bar Association; Former Chair, Tax Section and Nonprofit Section; 2001 Tax Practitioner of the Year
Principal Draftsman, Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act
Member, Tax and Business Law Sections, American Bar Association
Member, IRS TE/GE Pacific Area Exempt Organization Council
Former Chair, ABA IRS Regional Liaison Committee (Southwest)
Former Member and Chair, IRS Western Regional Bar Association
Former Chair, IRS Salt Lake District Advisory Council
Former Member, IRS Ogden Service Center Advisory Council
Former Member, IRS Dallas Key District EP/EO Council
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Guardianship of Minors and Incompetents in Utah, BYU JOURNAL OF LEGAL STUDIES (1980)
Taxation of Members of the Military, BNA TAX MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL PLANNING JOURNAL (July 1986)
Utah Editor, Limited Liability Company Laws, Aspen law Publishers
Written articles on Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act
Speaker at numerous educational seminars | 