Pat Derdenger

Pat is the go-to lawyer for state and local tax issues. With his unmatched knowledge and strong communication skills, he ensures his clients get the best outcome for their bottom line.

Clients rely on Pat Derdenger for his deep knowledge of state and local tax issues that vitally impact business operations. Serving businesses across industry sectors, Pat understands how to evaluate complex transactions, applying the latest laws and regulations toward obtaining tax benefits and incentives, while reducing tax exposure.

In his extensive state and local tax practice, Pat advises businesses on corporate and individual income, multistate sales and use, and property tax matters, and counsels them on the state and local tax implications of their business transactions. He also represents clients in related litigation matters, from audits and appeals through various administrative states, as well as in federal and state courts and courts of appeals, and the U.S. Tax Court. He has obtained private tax rulings for clients on state and local tax issues and helped draft state tax legislation for clients and industry groups. Pat also advises businesses on the tax implications of various economic incentives and benefits of relocating to and operating in Arizona. In addition, he frequently represents construction industry and homebuilder clients on tax issues related to maintenance, repair, replacement, alteration (MRRA), and modification projects in Arizona.

Pat also counsels clients on federal income and employment tax matters, independent contractor/employee tax issues, responsible officer penalties, information return filing penalties, and federal and state excise taxes, and represents them in related litigation matters. Clients also turn to him for advice on constitutional issues, including the federal commerce clause, due process clause, and equal protection clause.

Personal Approach

Frequently described as “the problem solver,” Pat goes far beyond the typical options to find the solution that helps his clients achieve the best possible results. With his open and friendly communication style, Pat views his relationships with his clients as a true partnership.

Pat enjoys road and mountain biking, golfing, USC football, and traveling. He has traveled to each of the seven continents but still has a long list of places he wants to visit.

More About Pat Derdenger

Education

• LL.M., Taxation, George Washington University Law School, 1977
• J.D., University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, 1974
• M.B.A., University of Southern California, 1971

Bar Admissions

• Arizona, 1979
• California, 1974

Community

• National Tax Association
• Arizona Tax Research Association, Board of Directors and Tax Practitioners' Committee Member
• Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tax Committee
• National Association of Property Tax Attorneys, Board of Directors
• Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT)
• American Bar Association, State and Local Tax Committee, Section of Taxation
• Arizona State Bar, Tax Section, Prior Chair
• Council on State Taxation
• Strafford Legal Publications, Tax Law Advisory Board Member

News

Publications

Client Alerts

Blog Posts

Events

Pat is a frequent lecturer on state and local tax subjects for various professional audiences and continuing education programs, and also coordinates the Annual Construction Sales Tax Conference for contractors, homebuilders, and developers.

• Speaker, "Annual AZ Construction Sales Tax Seminar," October 2023
• Panelist, "Tax Litigation Update," ATRA 2023 Outlook Conference, November 2023
• Panelist, "Fun in the Sun?: Solar Energy Development in Arizona," Arizona State Bar, 2022 Advanced Current Issues: Real Estate, May 2022
• Speaker, "Annual Construction Tax Seminar," October 22, 2020
• Speaker, "2019 Arizona Tax Update," Arizona CPA Society, February 15, 2020
• Speaker, "How is it that Arizona and California Can Tax the Same Service Income - The Costs of Performance Test vs. Market Sourcing," Arizona Federal Tax Institute Conference, January 23, 2020
• Speaker, "Tax Litigation Update," Arizona Tax Research Association, November 14, 2019
• Speaker, "15th Annual Construction Industry Tax Seminar," Steptoe & Johnson LLP, September 20, 2018
• Speaker, "The Changing Sales Tax Landscape – What’s Ahead After Wayfair?" Lorman Seminars, August 9, 2018, October 3, 2018, April 3, 2019
• Speaker, "Taxation of Privately-Owned Property Located on Native American Reservations – Is it or Isn’t It Taxable?" ABA/IPT Advanced Property Tax Seminar, March 14-15, 2019
• Speaker, "Annual Sales/Property & Unclaimed & Unclaimed Property Tax Update," Phoenix Tax Workshop, Arizona Society of CPAs, February 16, 2019
• Speaker, "The Changing Sales Tax Landscape – What’s Ahead After Wayfair?" Tax Executives Institute (TEI) State Tax Day, September 26, 2018
• Speaker, "The City Speculative Builder Tax: A Hidden Land Transfer Tax?" State Bar of Arizona Tax Section Program - Specialization Credit, January 22, 2019
• Speaker, "Changes in the Internet Sales Tax Landscape," Arizona Association of Accounting and Tax Professionals, October 24, 2018
• Speaker, "A Hidden Land Transfer Tax," ASCPA Phoenix Tax Workshop, October 20, 2018
• Speaker, "Finding Your Way After Wayfair: Navigating 'Economic Nexus' and Internet Sales Taxation," ALI CLE, August 8, 2018
• Speaker, "Sales Taxation of Internet Transactions: What Now after Wayfair?" Lorman Seminars, July 30, 2018
• Speaker, "Sales and Use Tax Issues of Internet Transactions," Lorman Seminars, April 24, 2018
• Speaker, "14th Annual Construction Industry Tax Seminar," Steptoe & Johnson LLP, September 13, 2017
• Speaker, "13th Annual Construction Industry Tax Seminar," Steptoe & Johnson LLP, September 29, 2016
• Speaker, "Recent Sales and Income Tax Highlights (The Interesting 'Stuff')," Arizona Tax Conference, August 31, 2017
• Speaker, "Arizona Sales/Property and Unclaimed Property Tax Update," ASCPA, February 18, 2017
• Speaker, "Arizona Unclaimed Property Reporting," Lorman Seminars, November 11, 2016
• Speaker, "Sales and Use Tax Issues of Internet Transactions," Lorman Seminars, October 27, 2016
• Speaker, "Simplified Sales Tax - Where We Are in the Process," ASCPA, October 22, 2016
• Speaker, "Sales and Use Tax Issues of Internet Transactions," Lorman Seminars, April 28, 2016
• Speaker, "Annual Sales and Use Tax/Personal Property Tax/Unclaimed Property Update," ASCPA, February 20, 2016
• Speaker, "Arizona Tax Update," Tax Executives Institute, September 17, 2015
• Speaker, "Sales and Use Tax Issues of Internet Transactions," Lorman Seminars, April 1, 2015
• Speaker, "12th Annual Construction Industry Tax Seminar," Steptoe & Johnson LLP, September 24, 2015