FTA Tax Breaks

Hosted by Federation of Tax Administrators

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Apr 2026

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About the show

Welcome to FTA Tax Breaks, a podcast by the Federation of Tax Administrators, where we delve into current subjects and their relevance to the realm of tax administration. Each episode of our podcast features conversations with esteemed professionals from government, academia, and the private sector. Our guests generously share their wealth of knowledge and unique perspectives, providing invaluable insights and expertise to our listeners.

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24 recent

April 9, 20261 hr 2 min

How Executives and Attorneys are learning about AI with Alex Denniston

GenAI is evolving at a breakneck pace — and organizations across the private sector are racing to keep up. But how are they actually building meaningful knowledge, not just awareness?In this episode of the Tax Breaks Podcast, FTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Minnick sits down with Alex Denniston, Director of Insights & Innovation at Factor, to dig into exactly that. Alex draws on his experience developing the Sense co-learning program and training attorneys and executives on GenAI around the world — bringing a practitioner's perspective that goes well beyond the usual hype.And in true Tax Breaks fashion, expect a few wild analogies along the way — including one surprisingly apt comparison between teaching GenAI and teaching someone how to cook. Whether you're just starting to think about AI literacy in your organization or looking to sharpen your approach, this episode is packed with takeaways you can actually use.

December 11, 20251 hr 4 min

Tax Breaks Live: A Candid Conversation with Former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel

Get ready for one of our most energizing Tax Breaks episodes yet—recorded live and unfiltered in front of a room full of state and local tax administrators!Join FTA's Executive Director Sharonne Bonardi and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Minnick as they sit down with former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel at the 2025 FTA Compliance Workshop for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of tax administration and where it is headed next.From the big-picture challenges facing tax agencies to the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence, this episode dives into the opportunities, risks, and transformations reshaping the future of tax. Sharonne guides the discussion through national trends and opportunities for evolving federal–state partnerships, while Ryan brings questions about the rapidly developing world of AI—what’s real, what’s hype, and what agencies should be doing right now to prepare.Tune in for a rare, dynamic conversation with one of the nation’s most respected tax leaders, with candid insights and practical takeaways on leadership, technology, trust, and the future of service delivery.If you’re working in tax administration—or curious about how innovation is changing the way government serves the public—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

October 10, 20251 hr 9 min

Turning Data into Insights

Tax agencies hold an abundance of data but are they using it to its full potential? In this latest episode of the Tax Breaks Podcast, FTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Minnick and Comptroller of Maryland Chief Deputy Comptroller Andy Schaufele dive into this critical question, exploring the importance for tax administrators to define their approach to data, performance measurement, and accountability.From the fundamentals of what data agencies rely on today, to the pitfalls of chasing vanity metrics and the role of AI and advanced analytics in shaping the next generation of tax systems, this conversation covers it all.Don't miss key insights about:How agencies balance taxpayer privacy with actionable insights.Why the right KPIs can drive real improvements in compliance and operations.The challenges of measuring what matters in a government setting.Where innovation and data sharing are taking tax administration next. This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about building smarter, fairer, and more effective tax systems.

August 14, 202547 min

Tax Breaks Live: The Future of Tax Technology

This live recording of the Tax Breaks podcast brings together a panel of forward-thinking leaders for an examination of technologies set to redefine tax administration. From generative AI and intelligent automation to real-time data pipelines and secure cloud ecosystems, Ryan Minnick hosts a trio of tax technology's top leaders as they share the breakthroughs they’re piloting today and the bets they’re making for tomorrow. This is a candid conversation filled with insights you can take back to your agency to stay ahead of the curve.

June 30, 202549 min

Talking Tax Collections with Virginia's Chiquita Hills and Wisconsin's Kyle Duerstein

Chiquita Hills with the Virginia Department of Taxation and Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Kyle Duerstein are veterans within tax administration collections, leading these vital programs within their respective states. They joined FTA's Director of Compliance and Regional Sections Charlie Helms for this enlightening conversation about collections, with all the challenges and rewards that come from this critically necessary process for delivering the essential funds that keep our nation running.

May 16, 202532 min

Discussing Data Analysis and Community Outreach With Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman gives a sneak peek into a learning session she's leading at FTA's Annual Meeting in Chicago on boosting earned income tax credit (EITC) uptake in Maryland through data, outreach, and innovation. Lierman discusses a new research partnership the Comptroller of Maryland has with the Urban Institute, aimed at increasing EITC claims through targeted data analysis, community engagement, and taxpayer education.

April 4, 202551 min

Nancy Prosser Reflects on Celebrated Career in SALT Law

This episode of Tax Breaks published just off the heels of Women’s History Month with FTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Minnick catching up with recently retired Multistate Tax Commission General Counsel Nancy Prosser.Prosser looks back with gratitude on her esteemed tax career, strongly rooted in her time with the Texas Office of Attorney General and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts where she set out on a path few women had traveled at that time while working her way up to serve as general counsel before coming to her position as MTC general counsel. She proudly shares accomplishments and challenges had along the way as she deftly pieced together an understanding and interpretation of the often-complex world of tax law. Being a role model now to so many attorneys in tax to include many female attorneys, Prosser points to moving up in her career and the importance of seeing and learning from women in leadership positions and the value of finding that familiarity. She stresses the importance of professional networking and shares ideas for building relationships with others in the SALT world.It’s a refreshing conversation that celebrates Prosser’s career and the privilege she feels having had the honor of knowing and working with so many amazing people along her journey.This is a celebration of her journey. Please enjoy this episode of FTA Tax Breaks with Nancy Prosser.

February 14, 202540 min

Understanding Generations in Today's Workforce

Leadership & Talent Development Consultant and generations expert Kitty Kollmeyer takes us on a trip through the ages to better understand our multigenerational workforce and how we can all work better together.

December 13, 202441 min

Building a Culture of Kindness: The Nuts and Bolts of a Healthy Workplace

In this episode of FTA Tax Breaks, we talk with Marina Sallas with the Missouri Department of Revenue and Lauren Smith with the South Carolina Department of Revenue about the intersection or kindness and employee engagement and its impact on tax administration. Both of their organizations are known and have been recognized for promoting kindness through appreciation, engagement, and good wellness strategies focused on physical, emotional, and financial health. Missouri and South Carolina, like so many top-ranked employers, place a central emphasis on the benefits of a healthy workplace and its positive effects on employee morale and retention. This is a must listen for anyone interested in learning about the details that go into building a positive organizational culture built with the good health and wellbeing of their employees at its core.

October 16, 202455 min

Ethics and the Era of Transparency with Andrew Blasi

Happy Global Ethics Day! Our latest FTA Tax Breaks guest believes we are well into an unprecedented global era of transparency, and you'll want to know why that matters. As our member tax agencies already know, the journey toward building and maintaining public trust can be challenging, influenced by rapidly changing technology, transparency, and expectations coming from our increasingly complex and stakeholder-driven global economy. In this latest episode of the FTA Tax Breaks podcast, FTA COO Ryan Minnick talks with Ethicist International CEO Andrew Blasi about ethical leadership and how leaders and organizations - both public and private - are evolving in their approaches to transparency, communications, and ethics to successfully navigate this era.