I welcome you to this site focusing on tax planning for golf, real estate development and private for-profit club owners, investors and operators. After over 30 years providing tax advisory services to the real estate industry within the structure of the "Big 4" (formerly "Big 8", "Big 5", and now perhaps the "Final 4") accounting firms, I look forward to the opportunity to provide tax advisory services from within a more intimate, personal and flexible structure. William E. Ellis, CPA

Bill has been Ernst & Young's Midwest Director of Real Estate Tax Services and KPMG's National Director of Tax Services for the Golf Industry Practice. He formulated, organized and led KPMG's engagement with the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Depreciation Initiative that was successful in obtaining a formal published Revenue Ruling (2001-60) allowing depreciation of certain golf course land improvements. These efforts, which encompassed more than two years, included numerous tax issues affecting the industry as outlined in the IRS' proposed Audit Techniques Guide for the Golf Course Owner, Developer and Club Industry. Bill has focused his practice within this industry on a national basis since 1999 advising clients from Hawaii to Massachusetts with developments in the U.S., Bahamas, Mexico and Turks & Caicos.

Bill has a broad tax background encompassing all types of real estate developments and transactions. Bill is associated with the Atlanta accounting firm of Bennett Thrasher PC and the international group DFK International USA providing audit, accounting and tax services. In addition, he has an intimate knowledge of specific capabilities that can be accessed from KPMG or Ernst & Young on a fee basis, if appropriate.

Bill is a regular faculty member of several golf & resort development conference and seminars including the CLE International Golf & Resort Conference and the Urban Land Institute's Developing Golf Courses and Communities Conference.