The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, taxes, democracy and more at ABA May Tax Meeting

April 15, 2026

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, taxes, democracy and more at ABA May Tax Meeting

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2026 - The nation's leading tax attorneys and government officials will meet to discuss the latest federal, state and local tax policies and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with eight dedicated sessions and a series of panels and special events around the theme "Taxes, The Declaration of Independence & American Democracy" at the American Bar Association 2026 May Tax Meeting. The meeting, May 7-9 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, is sponsored by the ABA Section of Taxation.

As part of the Declaration of Independence observance, Jeh C. Johnson, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, co-chair of the Task Force for American Democracy and past co-chair of the ABA Task Force for American Democracy, which completed its initiative with its September 2025 final report, will discuss American democracy and the final report's key findings and recommendations at "The State of Our American Democracy" program on Thursday, May 7, at 2 pm.

"In keeping with our national celebration of the Declaration of Independence, one objective of this year's meeting is to strengthen our members' understanding of the historic connection between taxes and the principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution," said David G. Richardson, a Tax Section council member who has been leading the planning of the 250th observance sessions. "We also want to remind them of the vital role that they, as lawyers, can play in strengthening our democracy."

The meeting will feature annual policy discussions, forums, panels and pro bono and tax clinics that demonstrate the section's commitment to making a more fair, equitable and efficient tax system through public service.

A panel of prominent tax experts will discuss "What Do Taxes Mean to Americans and Democracy? A Discussion of the History, Morality and Public Perception of Taxes in American Society" during the Saturday, May 9, luncheon and plenary session.

Panelists will explore how attitudes about tax have shaped American history, the moral landscape in which Americans experience and make sense of the tax system and how Americans' views on taxation in principle differ from the tax policies that they accept in practice.

What:
2026 May Tax Meeting
Sponsored by the ABA Section of Taxation

When:
Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9

Where:
Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C.
901 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, D.C.

More than 120 programs will cover myriad tax topics that range from artificial intelligence to employee benefits concerns to issues impacting individual taxpayers. The other 250th anniversary programs include:

• "Taxes and the Declaration of Independence"
• "The Evolution of American Tax Law"
• "Landmark Supreme Court Decisions: 200+ Years of Tax Law Jurisprudence"
• "Tax Policy and Simplification"
• "Tax Practice and the Democratic Process"
• "The Constitution Pushes Back: Old Limits, New Tax Litigation Strategies"

Other sessions include:

• "Advising Tax-Exempt Organizations During an Election Year"
• "Entering the U.S. Tax System: Key Rules, Risks and Planning Opportunities for High-Net-Worth Individuals"
• "Tax Section Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Town Hall Meeting"
• "Redrawing the Lines: New Issues at the Intersection of Tax and Immigration Law ("Taxigration")"
• "I'm a Celebrity, Get My Case Out of Here - Considerations on When to Take Your Case to Court and the Court of Public Opinion"
• "The Future of Tax Collections"

The complete conference agenda is here. For media registration, please contact Betsy Adeboyejo at [email protected].