Photo of Nikki E. Dobay

Nikki Dobay serves as a co-chair of the U.S. State and Local Tax (SALT) practice and is nationally known for her deep experience and understanding of state tax policy and the legislative process. She also advises her clients on sophisticated multistate tax issues as well as the consequences and planning opportunities related to corporate M&A transactions and oversees state and local tax controversy matters, ranging from audits to appellate litigation, and involving sales and use taxes, income and franchise taxes, property taxes, and constitutional issues.

Nikki regularly engages on key SALT issues impacting multijurisdictional taxpayers with national and statewide business and taxpayer associations, national tax administrator organizations, including the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA), the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) and Streamlined Sales Tax (SST), and state legislator organizations, including the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the Institute for State Policy Leaders (ISPL). She is also a frequent speaker on a broad array of SALT issues at various conferences across the country, including Council On State Taxation (COST), Tax Executives Institute (TEI), ABA, NYU, Hartman, Deloitte SALT Symposium, and various other regional conferences.

Prior to returning to private practice, Nikki spent five years as senior tax counsel for the COST, a national trade association representing large multistate businesses. While at COST, Nikki focused on the 13 most western states (including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon Utah, Washington and Wyoming), and has a strong working knowledge of the tax regimes in all of these states. Nikki’s time at COST as well as her continual work with state tax administrators through the FTA, MTC and SST have resulted in her having strong relationships with state tax administrators across the country.

Nikki’s broad experience and in-depth knowledge of tax regimes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho inform her handling of litigation and strategic tax matters in these states. Over the past 20 years, Nikki has consistently worked with taxpayers to address complex state and local tax issues in Oregon, including corporate income excise tax disputes, residency issues, and local tax home rule challenges. She played a pivotal role in drafting Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax legislation and has represented clients in the Oregon Tax Court on issues ranging from business/non-business income litigation to challenges involving Portland and Metro taxing authority.

In Washington, Nikki advises her clients on all aspects of B&O tax, including handling audits and litigation. She is also involved in efforts to consolidate and streamline B&O tax filing through legislative advocacy and coalition-building, as well as advising clients on sales tax and residency matters. Her work in Idaho includes drafting and successfully passing updated apportionment provisions, as well as advising on corporate tax matters and disputes and legislative initiatives.

 


In this episode of GeTtin’ SALTy, podcast host Nikki Dobay welcomes back Representative April Berg of Washington’s 44th District for a deep dive into the 2026 landmark 60-day legislative session in Olympia.

Rep. Berg walks through the passage of Washington’s new tax — a 9.9% levy on individual income exceeding $1 million — marking the

The Washington Department of Revenue (Department) has announced a temporary penalty relief program for businesses that did not collect or remit retail sales or use tax on certain services that became taxable on Oct. 1, 2025, under Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5814 (ESSB 5814).

The Department acknowledged the challenges associated with the transition to ESSB

During a special meeting held on Feb. 2, the Uniformity Committee of the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) voted to advance proposed amendments to its model sourcing regulation rule applicable to airlines. The MTC’s Executive Committee will hold a meeting on Feb. 17 to take public comments on the rule. The updated rule includes changes to