Direct: (925) 927-4534 | ccrescismith@littler.com
Treat Towers
1255 Treat Blvd, Suite 600
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Main: (925) 932-2468
Fax: (925) 946-9809
William Hays Weissman has extensive experience in numerous aspects of federal, state and local taxation and represents clients in employment tax audits, protests and appeals before:
- The Internal Revenue Service
- The California Employment Development Department
- The California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
- The New York Department of Labor, Unemployment Division
- The New York Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
- The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Unemployment Division
- The Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Board of Review
- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance Division
- The Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission
He also represents clients in litigation in state and federal courts and has specific expertise with the Internal Revenue Code (Subtitle C and Employment Taxes) and the California Unemployment Insurance Code.
Further, William counsels clients on a broad range of employment tax matters, including:
- The proper classification of workers as employees or independent contractors and the use of contingent workers
- The tax implications of various employer-provided payments and benefits
- Handling garnishments
- The tax implications of settlements
- The electronic payment of wages and use of payroll debit cards
In addition to providing tax expertise, William represents and assists government contractors with audits by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. He regularly advises clients on issues relating to OFCCP jurisdiction, alleged single employer status, and disparate impact and discrimination in hiring, promotion and compensation.
William is a frequent speaker and author on employment tax issues and writes a regular column on state tax-related issues. His articles have appeared in numerous tax-related publications. A shareholder at Littler Mendelson, he is a member of the Employment Taxes, Staffing and Contingent Workers and Affirmative Action/OFCCP Compliance Practice Groups.
Formerly, William worked as tax counsel for the California Franchise Tax Board where he served in the Multistate Tax Bureau. While at the FTB, he was involved in numerous highly complex and significant matters, including acting as counsel in a landmark case addressing distortion in the apportionment formula. William also served as a law clerk for the National Indian Gaming Commission from 1993 to 1995 and worked as an extern for Chief Judge Loren A. Smith of the United States Court of Federal Claims. In law school, William served as managing editor of the District of Columbia Law Review.
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
- Member, American Bar Association
- Chair, Employment Taxes Committee, Tax Section - American Bar Association
- Chair, Employment Taxes Subcommittee, Business Law Section - American Bar Association
- Member, American Payroll Association
- Member, Contra Costa Bar Association
- Member, East Bay Tax Club
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
PUBLICATIONS
VIEW ALL- September 23, 2011
- February 23, 2011
- February 1, 2011
- December 14, 2010
- November 3, 2010
- March 29, 2010
- February 23, 2010
BLOG ENTRIES
- Wage & Hour Counsel, January 11, 2012
- Employment Law Update, November 22, 2011
- Employment Law Update, September 15, 2011
- Wage & Hour Counsel, July 12, 2011
BOOKS & BOOK CHAPTERS
- Effectively Representing Your Client Before the IRS, Chapter 17 - Is the Taxpayer/Worker an Employee or an Independent Contractor for IRC Purposes?, co-author: GJ Stillson MacDonnell, Section of Taxation - American Bar Association, 2009
- LexisNexis Tax Advisor, Federal Insurance Contribution Act, co-author: GJ Stillson MacDonnell, LexisNexis
- LexisNexis Tax Advisor, Federal Unemployment Tax Act, co-author: GJ Stillson MacDonnell, LexisNexis
- Independent Contractors, Annotated Employment Document Guide, Chapter 4, CEB
PRESS
- January 11, 2012
- July 13, 2010
- February 22, 2010
- June 16, 2008
ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS & PRESS
VIEW ALL- March 21, 2011The Unemployment Tax Requires Real Reform, Not Just TinkeringState Tax Notes
- May 2, 2011The MTC’s Model Mobile Workforce StatuteState Tax Notes
- February 1, 2011The FedEx Litigation and the Employment Development DepartmentSpidell's California Taxletter, Spidell Publishing, Inc.
- January 4, 2010Can the Statutory Definition of an Employee Evolve?State Tax Notes
- February 8, 2010Employer’s Rights in California UI Benefit DecisionsState Tax Notes
- April 5, 2010California Independent Contractor WithholdingState Tax Notes
- June 28, 2010Ohio Loses First SUTA Dumping CaseState Tax Notes
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- September 7, 2008
ADDITIONAL PRESENTATIONS
VIEW ALL- December 15, 2011Wage Garnishing Rules & Regulations for HR Executives for 2012
ExecSense Audio Conference - November 4, 2011Payroll Tax Audits: Best Strategies
California Tax Policy Conference, San Jose, CA - November 10, 2011Worker Classification Strategies: The New IRS Voluntary Classification Settlement Program and Other Options
Webinar, American Law Institute - American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), Philadelphia, PA - October 7, 2011Understanding Employment Taxes
Driver Employment Council of America Conference - Napa, CA - January 26, 2011Essentials of California Wage Garnishments
Lorman Webinar - January 21, 2011State Employment Tax Update
Tax Section Meeting - American Bar Association - Boca Raton, FL - November 17, 2010Employment Law 101: Employment Law Basics for Accountants & Financial Professionals
14th Annual San Diego Tax and Accounting Institute - San Diego, CA