What Does COST Offer?

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

COST offers its members high quality education, including conferences, schools, regional meetings and special symposia, featuring the hottest topics, delivered by the nation's most recognized experts, at a price well below comparable programs. Attendees at our conferences find a relaxed atmosphere in which to interact with professional peers.  The majority of COST programs qualify with state boards of accountancy and state bar associations for continuing education credits.

COST events include:

INVALUABLE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

One of the most often cited reasons for joining COST is the opportunity to network with other state tax professionals.  The experienced state tax professional knows that the answers to the many different state tax questions are often not available through research, but are based upon years of experience and discussions with peers.  COST promotes networking opportunities through its online member forum and at COST conferences and schools.

POWERFUL ADVOCACY

COST's advocacy program is oriented toward active involvement on state tax issues of broad importance to the membership.  COST advocates on behalf of its membership in the legislative, judicial and administrative arenas.  State and local government policymakers rely heavily on COST staff in formulating, implementing, and changing the state tax landscape.  COST's reputation as the nationwide voice of corporate taxpayers has garnered respect from the leadership of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Federation of Tax Administrators, the National Governors Association, and even the Multistate Tax Commission.  COST's involvement in an issue on behalf of its corporate membership signals to state leaders that the issue is one of importance.  COST also serves as a resource on business tax issues to other organizations, including State Chambers of Commerce and state taxpayer associations, as those groups develop strategies to address complex state tax matters.

Specifically, the COST team disseminates information on pertinent legislative, judicial and regulatory developments through regular publications, and coordinates advocacy activities with members and other sympathetic parties.  COST staff files amicus briefs with state and federal courts, provides testimony (oral and written) before legislative and administrative bodies, meets with state policymakers, and brings together interested members to enhance advocacy activities on targeted issues.

COST staff also furthers COST's advocacy agenda through frequent participation as speakers at all national state and local tax conferences, state department of revenue conferences, individual state chamber of commerce and other business organization conferences, and, of course, all COST-sponsored national and regional meetings.  These programs provide the opportunity for COST staff to both promote COST's advocacy agenda to a wide audience and network with COST members and other interested parties on a frequent basis.

CRITICAL NEWS & INFORMATION

For more than 50 years, COST has been a leading source for state tax information critical to its members.  COST members use a variety of ways to stay connected to industry information, including publications, newsletters, exclusive website content, forums, special reports, and current development outlines.  Members have access to up-to-date information when they need it.

 

"COST has been a tremendous resource for me and my company.  In attending the COST meetings I return back to my company with various issues to research that could add value to my tax department.  I frequently use the COST member forum and the COST members as a resource for audit and controversy issues for insight I might not have considered.  This is a fantastic organization and I’m proud to belong to it."  Mike Halleron - Tribune Company, Chicago, IL


For questions regarding membership, please contact Judy Slotnik   (202/484-5227).