2008-08-29 21:12:02 -

www.ryanco.com - Ryan, the leading tax services firm in North America, with the largest transaction tax practice in the United States and Canada, today announced that the Louisiana Legislature has adopted House Bill 579, a Ryan-backed bill signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal, which will greatly benefit taxpayers by requiring the state to pay refunds

within 45 days of a final determination.

In recent years, taxpayers who were due refunds from the State of Louisiana often waited months to receive payment after their right to the refund had been determined. Ryan identified this problem and the detrimental effect it had on its clients and worked diligently with bill sponsor Representative Jane Smith, R-Bossier City to remedy the issue legislatively. Also contributing heavily to this persistent effort were Representative Hunter Green, R-Baton Rouge, Representative Joel Robideaux, I-Lafayette, and Senator Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia. Working with other tax practitioners, taxpayers, and taxpayer organizations, Ryan's Public Affairs professionals helped forge a workable solution that will create fairness for all taxpayers.

House Bill 579 originally passed the House 99-0 and was amended in the Senate before passing by a vote of 36-0. The House concurred in the Senate amendments by a vote of 91-0, sending the bill to the Governor with an additional 52 House members adding their names as co-authors of the legislation. Governor Bobby Jindal approved the measure, thereby enabling it to become Act 826, which went into effect July 1, 2008.

"This outstanding effort by our Public Affairs team demonstrates the Ryan commitment to working with state and local tax authorities to continually produce fair and equitable results for our clients, as well as all taxpayers," said G. Brint Ryan, Managing Principal of Ryan. "We will continue to expand our rapidly growing Public Affairs practice on behalf of our clients to ensure that their interests are represented throughout every taxing jurisdiction where they conduct business."

About Ryan

Ryan is the leading tax services firm in North America, with the largest transaction tax practice in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, and strategic planning. With a multidisciplinary team of more than 750 professionals and associates, Ryan serves many of the world's most prominent Fortune 1000 companies.

Ryan
G. Brint Ryan, 972-934-0022
Managing Principal
brint.ryan@ryanco.com