William M.Backstrom, Jr.
- Position
- Partner
- Office
- New Orleans
Bill Backstrom is a partner and leader of the firm's Tax Practice Group. For more than 35 years, he has focused on state and local tax matters in Louisiana and on a multistate basis.
Bill provides comprehensive, practical, and solution-focused tax guidance to a broad range of business enterprises. Known for the quality of his counsel, his commitment to client service, and his ability to explain sophisticated issues in clear terms — particularly with respect to Louisiana’s highly complex state and local tax system — he is recognized as a go-to tax attorney for clients with interests and operations across the region and nationally.
Bill regularly provides advice on tax and business planning, utilization of tax and business incentives, tax audits, government relations, administrative appeals, judicial appeals, and legislative matters. He has worked closely with tax officials at every level and, drawing on this experience, helps clients navigate tax controversies and other challenges in a manner that can minimize business disruptions.
A Board Certified Tax Specialist as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, Bill writes and lectures frequently on a variety of tax topics, including all aspects of Louisiana state and local taxation, as well as state and local tax issues relating to multistate and multinational operations. He is a founder and editor of Cooking with SALT, a legal blog committed to providing timely insights on recent legal and practical developments concerning clients in many state and local taxing jurisdictions on matters involving income, franchise, net worth, gross receipts, sales/use, business and occupational license, severance, ad valorem property, and other miscellaneous taxes. Bill also is a contributing author to the Council on State Taxation’s (COST) State Tax Report and a member of the Advisory Board of the Paul J. Hartman Memorial State and Local Tax Forum, the Advisory Board of the National Multistate Tax Symposium, and the IPT.
Bill is dedicated to helping taxpayers better understand complex tax laws and their relationship to business performance and growth opportunities. He has lectured at programs presented by the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Georgetown University Law Center Continuing Legal Education, the Tulane University Law School Tax Institute, the American Bar Association Section on Taxation (State and Local Tax Committee), the Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT), the Paul J. Hartman Memorial State and Local Tax Forum, COST, the National Multistate Tax Symposium, the Southeastern Association of Tax Administrators (SEATA), the Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators, the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Tax Executives Institute, Inc. (TEI), and the American Petroleum Institute. Additionally, Bill was honored with the 2023 COST Paul Frankel Excellence in Taxation Award which is presented annually to individuals making outstanding contributions to the state and local tax profession.
A competitive cyclist, Bill has competed in numerous cycling races, emerging as the Champion in his age group in a 2018 Criterium series of races.
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A: Tax (listed annually since 2010); Tax (2024)
-
Council on State Taxation, “Paul Frankel Excellence in Taxation Award” (2023)
- New Orleans Magazine, Top Lawyer (listed annually since 2020, also listed in 2013 and 2018)
- The Legal 500 United States, Tax: US Taxes – Non-Contentious (listed annually since 2017)
- Louisiana Super Lawyers, Tax (listed annually since 2007)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation and Controversy – Tax and Tax Law (listed annually since 1995)
- New Orleans CityBusiness, Leadership in Law Award (2019)
- Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Tax Law, New Orleans (2019); "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation and Controversy – Tax, New Orleans (2013, 2016)
- State Tax Notes, "Top 10 State Tax Lawyer" (2011)
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
- "Louisiana Announces a New 'Transfer Pricing Managed Audit Program'," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, November 1, 2021
- "Tax Relief Available to Victims of Hurricane Ida," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, September 1, 2021
- "Squeezing the (Remaining) Golden Geese: Refinery Closures May Lead to Increased Tax Scrutiny on Operating Facilities," Oilman Magazine, January 6, 2021
- "COVID-19: Back-To-Work Toolkit," Jones Walker LLP Disaster Prep & Recovery Client Alert, May 18, 2020
- "BCI Delays Deadlines for Incentive Programs," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, April 27, 2020
- "Louisiana Supreme Court 'Deals' a Win to Wal-Mart.com and Other Online Marketplaces," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, January 2020
- "Full SALT Deduction Coming Back?" Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, December 2019
- "Louisiana’s New Remote Sellers Law: What Does H.B. 547 Have in Common with a Box of Donuts?" Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, June 2019
- "House and Senate Release Final Tax Reform Bill," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, December 18, 2017
- "House Releases Tax Reform Bill," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, November 2, 2017
- "GOP Releases Framework for Federal Tax Reform," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, September 28, 2017
- "Jones Walker LLP and the BCNO Host Discussion on Federal Tax Reform Led by Derek Theurer, Tax Counsel to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, July 6, 2017
- "If the U.S. Estate Tax is repealed, do I need to update my will?" Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, May 9, 2017
- "Louisiana Governor Announces 2017 Budget Stabilization Plan," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, March 30, 2017
- "Going Bold Across the Board on Pro-Growth Tax Reform," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, March 3, 2017
- "Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch Speaks on Tax Reform," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, February 2, 2017
- "Tax Reform Q & A with Dr. Charles Boustany, former senior Member of the House Ways and Means Committee from Louisiana," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, January 23, 2017
- "Q&A with Kimberly Lewis Robinson, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue," Jones Walker LLP State & Local Tax Client Alert, October 4, 2016
- "Corporate Taxpayers Face Major Changes in Louisiana, Mississippi, Attorneys Say," Bloomberg BNA, October 8, 2015
- "Your June Vacation Plans Are Now Toast! - Get Your 2014 Louisiana Income/Franchise Tax Returns Filed by June 30th!" Jones Walker LLP State & Local Tax Client Alert, June 15, 2015
- "First Circuit Declines Second Bite at Utelcom Apple," Jones Walker LLP State & Local Tax Client Alert, April 29, 2015
- "Predictable Uncertainty in State and Local Taxes," CFO Magazine, October 22, 2013
- "Spring is Just Around the Corner - Is Your Louisiana Property Tax House in Order?" Tax Report, February 27, 2013
- "Louisiana Governor 'Rejects' Department of Revenue's Emergency Rule on Alternative Fuel Tax Credit ... But New Claims Regarding 'Flex Fuel' Vehicles May Still Qualify for Credit," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, June 20, 2012
- "Proposed Legislation Would Significantly Expand State's Income Tax Nexus Standard," Jones Walker LLP State & Local Tax Client Alert, March 14, 2012
- "Louisiana Supreme Court Denies Writs in UTELCOM Case," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, March 2, 2012
- "Non-Resident Corporate Limited Partnership Not Subject to Louisiana Franchise Tax," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, September 13, 2011
- "Louisiana Department of Revenue Expands List of Taxes Considered by Audit Protest Bureau," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, February 17, 2011
- "Out of the Clouds and Back to Earth: The Louisiana Department of Revenue Suspends Policy Statement on Sales/Use Tax Aspects of Digital Transactions," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, December 1, 2010
- "Independent Audit Protest Bureau Created by Louisiana Department of Revenue," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, July 14, 2010
- "Inactive Well Severance Tax Exemption Set to Expire June 30, 2010," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, June 15, 2010
- "Terrebonne Parish Assessor, Alleging Fraud, Files More than 30 Suits Against Oil and Gas Companies," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EBulletin, August 26, 2009
- "Nonresidential Sales and Purchases of Natural Gas, Electricity, Water Utility Service, and Steam To Be Restored to Full Exempt Status," Jones Walker LLP Tax & Estates EBulletin, July 1, 2009
- Jones Walker Attorneys Present "Advanced Sales and Use Tax in Louisiana," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, August 13, 2008
- "Louisiana Supreme Court Addresses Further Processing Exclusion for Louisiana State and Local Sales/Use Taxes," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, January 2008
- "Jindal Appoints Cynthia Bridges as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, December 6, 2007
- "Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals Holds Plant Gas of Co-owners and Other Producers is Not Subject to Louisiana Sales & Use Tax," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, August 7, 2007
- "Federal Court Holds That a 'Sale' Between Affiliates is not a 'Sale' for Sales and Use Tax Purposes," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, June 18, 2007
- "Revenue Ruling 07-002 (May 22, 2007): Department of Revenue Announces Position on the Interstate Commerce Exclusion After Word of Life," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, June 6, 2007
- "Louisiana Department of Revenue will now impose personal liability on individuals who sign agreements on behalf of a taxpayer without proper authorization," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, April 11, 2007
- "Federal Judge Rules That On-Line Book Retailer Does Not Have a Substantial Nexus with Louisiana Parish for Sales/Use Tax Collection Purposes," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, March 27, 2007
- "Parish Property Tax Rolls Are Opening for Inspection," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, August 3, 2005
- "Louisiana Supreme Court Holds Fuel Purchased to Operate Drilling Barges is Taxable in Louisiana," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, August 2, 2005
- "Louisiana Supreme Court's Willis-Knighton Decision Defining Component Parts of an Immovable Will Only Apply Prospectively," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, June 28, 2005
- "Louisiana Court Holds That Electing Out Of Partnership Treatment Did Not Affect Determination Of Allocable Income," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, January 10, 2005
- "Louisiana Department Of Revenue To Issue Proposed Regulations On Combined Reporting," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, December 2004
- "Louisiana Inter-State Commerce Exclusion Survives Another Attack," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, May 24, 2004
- "Effective Date of Phase in of Louisiana Manufacturing Exclusion Accelerated," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, May 20, 2004
- "Louisiana Legislature Sends Mixed Signals to the Business Community," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, April 5, 2004
- "First Circuit Denies Rehearing of AutoZone Notwithstanding The Recent Louisiana Supreme Court Decision of Kevin Associates, L.L.C.," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, March 29, 2004
- "Louisiana Supreme Court Holds Delaware Holding Company Is Taxable Based on Commercial Domicile in Louisiana," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State Local) EZine, March 2, 2004
- "Louisiana Supreme Court Lifts Local Limitation on Interest, Penalties, and Attorney Fees," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EZine, October 24, 2003
Presentations
- "Let's Get Together, See What's in the Bag and Acquire Some M&A Knowledge," 31st Annual Paul J. Hartman State and Local Tax Forum, Nashville, Tennessee, October 29, 2024
- "Acquisitions, Mergers, and Divestitures," COST Intermediate/Advanced State Income Tax School, Atlanta, Georgia, May 21, 2024
- "In-House and Outside Counsel Privilege – How to Protect It," 2024 Council on State Taxation (COST) Spring Conference and Audit Session, Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 1, 2024
- Jones Walker Houston Maritime Seminar, Houston, Texas, April 18, 2024
- Tax Executives Institute (TEI) Houston Chapter Meeting, Houston, Texas, February 28, 2024
- "Pass-through Entity Tax Planning and Prep: Practicalities for Corporations," Deloitte National Multistate Tax Symposium, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, February 9, 2024
- "Envisioning a New Multistate Tax World with Purpose the Next 20 Years," Deloitte National Multistate Tax Symposium, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, February 8, 2024
- "Acquisitions, Mergers, and Divestitures," Council on State Taxation's (COST) SALT Intermediate/Advanced Sales & Use Tax School, Dallas, Texas, May 9, 2023
- "Louisiana Jeopardy," Tax Executives Institute (TEI) Houston Chapter's 2023 Tax School Week 1, February 14, 2023
- "Incentives and Credits – Take Advantage of the Opportunities & Avoid the Pitfalls," Council on State Taxation 2022 Tax Property Workshop, September 13–15, 2022
- Jones Walker LLP 13th Annual State & Local Tax Seminar, October 6, 2021
- "The Time Is Now – 2020 Tax Traps And 2021 Planning," Jones Walker LLP Webinar, December 10, 2020
- "Visible Taxes Hidden Costs," Paul J. Hartman State & Local Tax Forum, October 27, 2020
- "It's All in the Roux," Jones Walker LLP 12th Annual State & Local Tax Seminar, October 7–8, 2020
- "The Game Changes on July 1, 2020: Get Ready Now for Louisiana’s New Rulebook for Remote Sellers and Marketplace Facilitators," Jones Walker LLP Webinar, June 17, 2020
- "Now is the Time! 5 Steps to Restart Your Tax Department," Jones Walker LLP Webinar, June 3, 2020
- "New-Age Mergers & Acquisitions Post-Wayfair and Federal Tax Reform," Paul J. Hartman State & Local Tax Forum, Nashville, Tennessee, October 29, 2019
- "Best Practices in Pursuing Refund Claims of Indirect Taxes," Council on State Taxation’s Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, October 22–25, 2019
- Jones Walker LLP 9th Annual State and Local Tax Seminar, October 5, 2017, Hilton Americas-Houston
- Backstrom and Seligman to Speak at NYU 2017 Summer Institute in Taxation Conference, July 17, 2017
- "State Tax Research Tools," COST 2017 SALT Basics School, January 27, 2017
- "Cooking With SALT Goes to the Movies," Jones Walker LLP 8th Annual State & Local Tax Seminar, Houston, Texas, October 6, 2016
- "Get Your Fair Share - Including Credits & Incentives in Your Business Strategies," Council on State Taxation's 2015 Spring Audit Session/Income Tax Conference, April 22, 2016
- "State Tax Research Tools," COST SALT Basics School, Dallas, Texas, January 29, 2016
- "SALT Gameday: Key Plays in State & Local Tax," Jones Walker LLP 7th Annual SALT Seminar, Houston, Texas, October 8, 2015
- COST Southwest-West Regional State Tax Seminar, Dallas, Texas, June 11, 2015
- "What is Cooking in State Income Taxation with a Dash of Ethics," Tax Executive Institute’s (TEI) 2015 Tax School, Houston, Texas, May 6, 2015
- "Get Your Fair Share - Including Credits & Incentives In Your Business Strategies," Council on State Taxation 2015 Spring Income Tax Conference, Memphis, Tennessee, April 28, 2015, Memphis, Tennessee
- "Best Practices for the Tax Administration of Income Taxes," American Bar Association's Advanced Income Tax Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 16, 2015
- "Navigating State Taxation in a Global Business Environment," The National Multistate Tax Symposium, Orlando, Florida, February 5, 2015
- "State Tax Research Tools," Council on State Taxation's 2015 SALT Basics School, Atlanta, Georgia, January 26, 2015
- "Corporate Income and Other Business Activity Taxes Part I," NYU/SCPS Summer Institute in Taxation: Introduction to State and Local Taxation, July 21, 2014
- "Up to Bat: The Grand Slams v. Biggest Strikeouts of 2013 State Update - Best and Worst Cases," Institute of Taxation's 38th Annual Conference, June 30, 2014
- "Acquisitions, Mergers & Divestitures," Council On State Taxation's ("COST") 2014 Intermediate/Advanced Sales Tax School, May 20, 2014
- "Dotting Your 'I's' and Crossing Your 'T's' – Mixing SALT into Your Transaction Documents," COST Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, October 23, 2013
- "2013 Louisiana State & Local Tax for Texans," Houston, Texas, October 17, 2013
- "Mock Trial: You Can't Tax This," IPT 2013 Sales Tax Symposium, October 1, 2013
- "Multistate Tax Update: Developments, Trends & Hot Topics," New Orleans Chapter of Tax Executives Institute, Inc. State and Local Tax Seminar, May 21, 2013
- "The Nitty Gritty of Increased Taxpayer Reporting and Disclosure," COST 2013 Spring Audit Session/Income Tax Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 20, 2013
- "Acquisitions, Mergers and Divestitures," COST 2013 Intermediate/Advanced Sales Tax School, April 30, 2013
- "Staying Out of Trouble: Effective Due Diligence for Sales/Use Taxes During the Mergers & Acquisitions Review Process," Council on State Taxation Sales Tax Conference, February 26, 2013
- "2012 Louisiana State & Local Tax for Texans," Houston, Texas, October 18, 2012
- "2011 Louisiana State & Local Tax for Texans," Houston, Texas, October 13, 2011
Memberships
- American Bar Association, Section of Taxation, Committee on State and Local Taxes, Member and Vice-Chair (2009–2010)
- Louisiana State Bar Association, Section of Taxation
- The Mississippi Bar, Section of Taxation

Education
- New York University School of Law
LLM, Taxation, 1980 - The University of Mississippi School of Law
JD, 1979 - Mississippi State University
BS, Accounting, with distinction, 1976
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana
- Mississippi