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Matt Jones

Tax Counsel

Transaction Tax

ROLE

Matt is DMA’s go-to expert for navigating complex sales and use tax issues, particularly in legislative grey areas where tax laws are unclear on appropriate taxation. He works with industry professionals and government contacts to create a clear path for communication and resolution, getting clients clarity on their tax issues and often saving them on taxes. As a former Administrative Law Judge, Matt provides interpretations and points of view on major tax issues and is able to negotiate resolutions for clients who have tax interests in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. And as a leading expert in state sales and use tax, he also assists in monitoring administrative, legislative, and judicial developments. This ensures DMA and our clients are well aware not only of current interpretative decisions and legislation, but also what these decisions mean to our clients future tax compliance and tax planning.

 

EXPERTISE

15 years in sales and use tax; 1 year with DMA

  • Held high-level government positions, including General Counsel of the Audit Division, Senior Counsel for Tax Resolutions, Tax Administrative Law Judge, Liaison to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant Attorney General Tax Division
  • Main point of contact for key stakeholders in state agencies including the Office of the Comptroller, Office of the Attorney General, and auditors in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma
  • Generated over $2 million in transaction tax savings for clients since joining DMA
  • Represented clients at administrative hearings and obtained favorable resolution outcomes
  • Advocated successfully for tax policy determinations that were policy changes in favor of clients or that corrected auditors’ deviations from existing policies
  • In prior positions, responsible for overseeing policy developments, rule making, settlements, auditor training, and emerging issues (e.g., data processing).
JURISDICTIONS

Louisiana | Oklahoma | Texas

 

INDUSTRIES

Manufacturing | Oil & Gas | Retail | Software | Technology

 

EDUCATION / CREDENTIALS

  • Bachelor’s Degree – The University of Texas at Austin
  • Doctor of Jurisprudence – The University of Michigan, School of Law
  • LLM in Taxation – Southern Methodist University
  • Member of the Texas Bar (Active) and California Bar (Inactive)
  • Frequent presenter on sales and use tax topics for tax industry organizations and DMA educational forums