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About Bob


After over forty years of experience as a certfied public accountant addressing and advising Taxpayers of their compliance responsibilities Mr. Petersen is limiting his practice to that of a client advocate.  While for many years Petersen has been a recognized expert in state and local tax matters both advising clients and representing them as their advocate in disputes with the taxing authorities, his practice is now more directly focused.  In his state and local tax practice he:

  • Advises multi-state businesses on issues arising from the multi-state buinsses such as determining if a state has jurisdiction to levy a tax on income or require collection of a sales or use tax,
  • Works with the client to determine how their income must be apportioned amoungst the states which has jurisdiction to tax and considers opportunities to minimize state income taxes as approprate,
  • If a client is challenged by a state tax authority Petersen represents the client in the tax audit and appeal; particularly California franchise and sales tax

Petersen also works with individual clients who have responsibility for filing individual returns in several states as a result of investments, relocations, or other activities.  Responsibilities to individuals include:

  • Determining when an individual is obligated to file a return with a given state,
  • Advising as to the source of income for tax reporting purposes,
  • Representing a client in state audits and appeals

Finally based on prior successful expences Petersen serves as a consultant and expert witness in litigation matters.

Education & Professional License
University of Oregon, B.B.A. in Accounting and Business Statistics, 1963
UCLA - Anderson Graduate School of Business, Director Training and Certification
(2004)Certified Public Accountant - states of Oregon (1963), and California (1968)

Employment History
Currently an independent consultant and advisor
Petrinovich Pugh & Company, LLP, 2001 - present, Partner
Petersen Associates, CPAs, 1982 to 1994, and 1995 to 2001, sole owner
Petersen/Ginner, Inc., CPAs, 1994 - 1995, partner
Price Waterhouse, 1963-1982, Partner

Prior professional practice experience includes providing tax planning, compliance, and representation services primarily to individuals including their family businesses as corporations, partnerships, and limited liability entities.  Clients have included those residents in the United States and abroad, and a number of client businesses have had non-U.S. affiliates. Individual engagements include extensive assignments with attorneys in the use of trusts for succession and estate planning.  Representation services include resolving tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service, Franchise Tax Board, and other local agencies, nationally.  In addition to the general practice there have been two areas of unique service:

1.  As an important segment of the practice, Petersen is recognized as one of the leading authorities in the taxation of multistate businesses, including California sales/use taxes for those doing business in California whether that business is based inside or outside the state.

2.  The second area of unique capabilities is working with the legal community in providing litigation support including courtroom testimony in accounting standards of care, property distribution in family law cases, and business valuation.

Services
o Sales and use tax matters
o Resolution of tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service, Franchise Tax Board, and other agencies, local and nationally
o Individual tax planning and compliance
o Corporate tax planning and compliance
o Use of trusts for family tax planning and compliance
o Estate planning, both prior to and following death, to minimize tax
o Litigation support (malpractice, family law and valuation matters)

Community and Professional Affiliations (Not-for-profit organizations

California State Board of Accountancy - Appointed in March 2006 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Board of Accountancy for the State of California.  This Board, comprised of eight public members and seven CPA-licensees has regulatory oversight over the practice of public accountancy in the State of California which has approximately 73,000 licensees as certified public accountant and public accountant practitioners.  The Board is responsible for assuring the qualifications of California CPAs through examination, continuing education, and licensure.  The Board also monitors behavior of CPAs and oversees discipline and rehabilitation through its investigation of complaints.  The Board's purpose is consumer protection for those who are the stakeholders and users of accounting services.

The Sierra Health Foundation - In 1984 elected to serve as a founding board member of The Sierra Health Foundation [SHF].  Currently Chair of the nine member Board of Directors.  SHF is a private, independent philanthropy based in Sacramento, California.  It has an endowment of approximately $130 million (at March 31, 2005) which is invested in a broadly diversified manner.  The investment returns for 2003 and 2004 placed SHF in the top one percent of the investment returns of private foundations for those years in the United States.  Served as Chair of the Investment Committee for the four years ending June 30, 2004.  SHF is dedicated to promoting health and healthy family environments in the twenty-seven counties of northern California.  It is now undertaking a new ten-year initiative focused on youth between the ages of eight and fifteen in the greater Sacramento Capital region.  More information for The Sierra Health Foundation can be found at www.SierraHealth.org.

Grizzly Creek Ranch - Grizzly Creek Ranch [GCR] is in its third year of operations as a camp for children with special needs.  The money for the development of the camp and operational support has been provided by SHF.  Petersen was Chair of the Board for the two years ended June 30, 2004 and continues as a Board member.  The camp is located in Portola, California.  More information for GCR can be found at www.GrizzlyCreekRanch.org.

California Society of Certified Public Accountants - The California Society of CPAs [CalCPA] is a membership organization representing approximately 28,000 CPAs licensed to practice in California.  Petersen  has served as a member of its Governing Council.  In addition he serves as the immediate past-Chair of the Government Relations Committee which oversees the work of twenty-eight individuals.  This committee recommends both legislative and regulatory policy for the Society's representatives in Sacramento and the Society's governing Council and Board of Directors.  Staff monitors all legislation introduced in Sacramento including proposed changes which may impact members (for example, continuing education programs) and clients (for example, tax changes).  Petersen also serves as a member of the state Leadership Development Committee.

In 2000 Petersen received the Distinguished Service Award from CalCPA which is the highest award it bestows on its members for service to the profession.

Petersen has previously served as member of the Board of Directors for seven years, including service as Chair. He has held a number of other elective positions within the organization such as Treasurer, and a number of committee assignments including Chair of the Tax Committee

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants - The American Institute of CPAs [AICPA] is a 330,000 member organization representing CPAs nationally.   In the past Petersen has served as a member of the Tax Division Executive Committee (five years), three years as a member of the Board of Directors (22 members), Governing Council (ten years), and has held committee assignments such as a member of its Responsibilities in Tax Practice Committee, Government Affairs Committee, Legal Liability Committee,  and Committee on Specialization.

California Certified Public Accountants Education Foundation - Petersen currently teaches two courses each year for the California CPA Foundation which provides continuing education for CPAs in California.   In the past he has also served as its President and as a member of the Board of Trustees for six years.

In 1998 Petersen's teaching efforts resulted in his receiving the annual award of this group as the Outstanding Instructor for the year. 

Research Institute of America - At the request of the President of Thompson Publications Petersen formed a National Publications Advisory Board for lawyers, certified public accountants and other users of legal and tax research publications.  The Board was active for four years advising the publication staff with respect to marketing/user issues during the period when legal and tax research was transitioning from paper products to computer disk, and on-line.

IRS Commissioner’s Advisory Group of the Internal Revenue Service - During the period 1982 to 1984 Petersen was pleased to serve on this twenty-three member group advising the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Services on perceptions of the tax professionals and public towards tax administration.

Saratoga Education Foundation - In 1982 Petersen and his wife Carol were instrumental in forming this non-profit organization which provided supplemental funding to the local school district in Saratoga, California.  While no longer actively involved the Foundation effectively continues its mission today.

Political Activities

California Society of CPAs - Chair, Government Relations Committee responsible for working with Society staff in Sacramento, CA to monitor legislative and regulatory proposals affecting the practices of CPAs in California consistent with policy established by the Board of Directors.  Petersen founded the Government Relations effort with Society Staff in the early 1980s.

Congressman Tom Campbell - Campaign Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer for various election campaigns for state and federal office; currently responsible for filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Lincoln Club of Northern California - Former Treasurer and Board member of this organization which promotes individual republicans from the private sector to serve in public office.  Responsible for filings with the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

AICPA Political Acton Committee - Former Board Member of this federal PAC.

Washington Campus - Completed training course in Washington, D.C. to understand the political environment in which both elected officials and regulatory agencies operate.

Charitable Organization Working Group on Tax Restructuring (Washington, D.C.) - This was a two year private sector effort in 1998 - 1999  to consider alternatives for restructuring the tax code as applied to the philanthropic sector of the economy.  It was a joint activity of tax professionals with members of the philanthropic community.

Publications and Presentations

Author and Lecturer, California Sales and Use Tax; Procedures & Compliance: a continuing  education course of the California CPA Foundation for Education and Research; I teach this class to practicing CPAs two to six times each year.

Author and Lecturer, The Mobile Taxpayer, a continuing education course of the California CPA  Foundation for Education and Research; I have in prior years taught this course four times  each year.

Author, California Combined Reports and Multistage Taxpayer, continuing education course of the California CPA Foundation for Education and Research which addresses California’s taxation of multistate and multinational unitary groups

Author, California Tax Handbook, Research Institute of America, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996  editions
           
Consulting Editor, California Taxation, five volume research treatise published by Matthew Bender, Inc. (1982 to 1991)

Consulting Editor, Advising California Partners and Proprietors, A Guide for Attorneys and  Accountants. Matthew Bender, Inc. (published, May, 1992)

Contributor, The State Corporation Income Tax, Issues in Worldwide Unitary Combination, Charles McLure, Jr., Editor; Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University (1984)

Contributing editor or author for the California CPA Quarterly, The Journal of Taxation, New York University Institute of State and Local Taxation, and others

September 1, 2006


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