James A. Witzel

Columbus Office

Mr. Witzel is a state and local tax accountant in the tax group in the Vorys Columbus office.  He specializes in Ohio property and public utility taxes.  Mr. Witzel is responsible for reviewing personal property audits and real property appraisals, assisting clients with tax planning and compliance, providing litigation support to attorneys, and representing clients before taxing authorities on administrative matters.

Before joining Vorys, Mr. Witzel was a senior manager with the state and local tax group at Grant Thornton LLP specializing in multi-state property taxes.

Mr. Witzel worked for the Ohio Department of Taxation for over 30 years as property tax agent, Supervisor of the property tax Audit Review Section, Administrator of the Property Tax Division, Administrator of the Public Utility Tax Division and Special Assistant to the Tax Commissioner.  His experience at the Ohio Department of Taxation included the overall responsibility for administering Ohio’s property tax laws, drafting legislation, rules and regulations, formulating tax policy, developing audit and training programs, resolving complex tax problems and audit disputes with taxpayers, testifying before the Ohio General Assembly on proposed tax legislation and providing litigation support to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Mr. Witzel has testified extensively as an expert witness before the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, state and federal courts and several legislative committees.  He has also made numerous presentations before business and practitioner organizations, and has been a frequent attendee at tax workshops, seminars, schools and conferences.

Mr. Witzel has been a member of or affiliated with the Federation of Tax Administrators, Midwestern States Association of Tax Administrators, Midwestern State Association of Utility Appraisers, National Conference on Unit Valuation Standards, National Tax Association, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Public Utility Workshop at Wichita State University, County Auditors Association of Ohio and the International Association of Assessing Officers.  He is currently a member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation.

SPECIAL SKILLS

• Excel