Craig Cookle

CPA, Partner, Wipfli LLP

Craig Cookle leads the firm’s state and local tax practice.  He brings over 28 years of state and local tax experience to his clients. His knowledge and experience enable him to consistently provide value to his clients in terms of state and local tax savings and efficient resolution of state audits. Craig spends the majority of his time assisting clients with sales and use tax issues. He has been involved with audit defense and has performed refund studies for clients in all kinds of industries including manufacturing, retail, service, hospitality, nonprofit, and construction. Craig strives to maintain close and lasting relationships with his clients through listening attentively to their needs and providing them with timely and creative responses to their questions and issues. Clients appreciate his talents in minimizing the amount of tax they may pay in an audit and maximizing their exemptions so they are not overpaying state sales and use taxes.

Specializations

  • Sales/use and state income tax audit defense assistance
  • Sales and use tax overpayment reviews
  • Entity and transaction planning to minimize sales and use taxes
  • Nexus studies
  • Voluntary disclosure agreements
  • Administrative appeals

Past Experience

  • Field auditor with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
  • Senior accountant in the state and local tax group for a printing company
  • Leader of the Wisconsin sales and use tax practice of a national accounting firm
Professional Memberships and Activities
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) - Member
  • Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants (WICPA) - Member
  • WICPA State Tax Committee - Member
  • Wisconsin State and Local Tax Group Inc. - Member

Education

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

  • Bachelor of business administration degree in accounting