David M. Repp
Suite 3700
Des Moines, IA 50309
PAM GOODMAN: (LEGAL ASSISTANT)
pgoodman@dickinsonbradshaw.com
515.246-5836
Introduction
David practices primarily in the area of taxation. He provides a broad range of tax counsel to small businesses on topics including federal and state income tax planning, taxation of employee benefits, equity structure and mergers, and succession planning. He also counsels and advises clients with respect to the management of their wealth to minimize estate and inheritance taxes through the use of asset protection trusts, grantor trusts, powers of appointment, lifetime gifts, QTIP trusts and generation skipping trusts. As part owner of a family farm operation, David provides income tax, FICA tax and succession planning counsel to many farm clients.
Practice Areas
Education & Background
- J.D., University of Iowa College of Law (With Distinction, Phi Delta Phi, Journal of Corporation Law Managing Editor)
- M.A., University of Iowa
- B.B.A., University of Iowa (With High Distinction)
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion since 2007 in The Best Lawyers in America in the following areas:
- Non-Profit / Charities Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts & Estates Law
- David is the 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" for Tax Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
- David is the 2021 "Lawyer of the Year" for Nonprofit / Charities Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
- David is the 2018 "Lawyer of the Year" for Trusts and Estates Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
- David is the 2014 "Lawyer of the Year" for Nonprofit / Charities Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
- David is the 2012 "Lawyer of the Year" for Tax Law in Des Moines as recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America.
Chambers USA
- David was selected for inclusion in the 2018-2020 and 2022-2024 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a leader in the area of Private Wealth Law in the state of Iowa. David has drawn the following published commentary from the editors of Chambers USA:
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2020: Repp enjoys a strong reputation among his peers in Iowa. "He is very good," describes one source, who adds: "He has strong technical knowledge and equally strong knowledge in partnership and income tax. He has a broader-base skill set than most lawyers and is a great communicator with in-depth knowledge."
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2022: "Repp is pragmatic and easy to work with."
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2024: "Repp has particular expertise in advising high net worth clients on tax matters. He is a very intelligent attorney."
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Martindale-Hubbell
- AV Preeminent Peer Review rated since 2007 – the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards.
Super Lawyers
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Named a Great Plains Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters since 2018 in the area of Tax Law.
Jurisdictions
Admitted to practice in the following states:
- Iowa
- Missouri
Admitted to practice before the following federal courts:
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
Reported Cases and Representative Matters
Reported Cases
- In re Wright v. Repp Farms, Inc. 699 N.W.2d 684 (Iowa Ct. App. 2005). Successfully represented the defendant in a water drainage action brought by a neighboring land owner.
Other Representative Matters
- Advises and assists small business start-ups with entity selection; drafts and implements LLC operating agreements for a broad variety of business ventures including restaurants, construction companies and agribusinesses.
- Advises and consults small businesses with respect to employee stock ownership plans.
- Represents business and individual taxpayers in Tax Court and before the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance on a broad array of topics ranging from corporate acquisitions to horse breeding and showmanship businesses.
- Uses advanced estate tax planning techniques for high net worth clients utilizing trusts and special purpose entities such as corporations and limited liability companies.
- Advises and consults small businesses with respect to ERISA welfare benefit plans and nontaxable fringe benefits.
- Advises and consults farmers and agribusinesses with respect to income tax, FICA tax and succession planning.
- Advises and consults individuals with respect to asset protection.
Memberships & Activities
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Fellow, 2010-Present
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Chair, Taxation Section, 2008-2009
- Member, Agricultural Law Section
- Member, Corporate, Banking and Business Law Section
- Member, Corporate Counsel Section
- American Bar Association
- Member, Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust; Member, Taxation Section
- Polk County Bar Association
- Des Moines Estate and Financial Planners Group
- Member, 1993-Present; Past Chair
- Iowa Homeless Youth Center
- Chair, Community Advisory Board, 1995-Present
- Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute
- Class of 2004
- High School Volleyball Coach
- Farmer
Articles, Presentations, and Publications
- Author, "Employee Repayment of Compensation - Update", Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, Iowa Employer Law Blog, May 26, 2023
- Presenter, "Asset Protection Planning," 2021 Bloethe Tax School, Iowa State Bar Association, Des Moines, Iowa, December 3, 2021
- Presenter, "Choice of Entity" and "Trusts and Estates," 47th Annual Federal Income Tax Schools, Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Sioux City, Iowa, November 10, 2021
- Presenter, "Basis Gifting," Iowa Trust and Estate Counsel, Des Moines, Iowa, November 5, 2021
- Co-Presenter, Bank Mergers and Acquisitions: Data Processing Agreement Considerations and Taxation issues (available on demand)," Dickinson Law Virtual Banking Seminar, September 1, 2021
- Presenter, “To Gift Or Not To Gift in 2021, and Other Helpful Tax Tips from B Shakespeare,” Spring Tax and Estate Planning Institute webinar, Iowa State Bar Association, May 26, 2021
- Presenter, "How to Socially Distance the Tax Collector After Death," Summer Tax School live webinar, Iowa State Bar Association, June 16, 2020
- Presenter, "Farming in the 2020s: Will I Thrive or Take a Dive?" Hills Bank 2020 Ag Outlook, Riverside, Iowa, March 4, 2020
- Presenter "S Corporations" and "Trusts and Estates," 47th Annual Federal Income Tax Schools, Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, December 15, 2020
- Presenter, "Business Entity," 2020 Bloethe Tax School, Iowa State Bar Association webinar, December 3, 2020
- Co-Author (with Cody Edwards), To C-corp or Not to C-corp? That is the Tax Question!, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, Iowa Table Salt Blog, Start-Up Group Blog, January 8, 2018
- Author, One Family Unit or Two?, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, August 14, 2017
- Author, Michigan Passes Law to Collect from 2008 -- Can they do that?, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, June 6, 2017
- Author, Nontaxable Employee Fringe Benefits -- Qualified Employee Discounts, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, May 19, 2017
- Author, Nontaxable Employee Fringe Benefits -- No Additional Cost Services, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, May 17, 2017
- Author, Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, April 17, 2017
- Author, A Professional Note to Congress: How to Increase Taxes on Farmers and Make Them Very Happy! Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, March 7, 2017
- Author, I Give All My Assets to My Children, Per Stirpes -- What?, Iowa Trusts & Estates Blog, March 6, 2017
- Author, Long Term Care Insurance, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, March 3, 2017
- Author, Helping People Help Themselves -- Iowa ABLE Accounts, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, March 2, 2017
- Author, Trump's Border Tax Could Boost U.S. Jobs But I Have a Better Idea, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, February 27, 2017
- Author, Little League Rodeo, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, February 27, 2017
- Author, I Am, Therefore I Must Pay Taxes, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, February 21, 2017
- Author, Amounts Paid in Settlements of Personal Injury Suits, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, February 16, 2017
- Author, Estate Tax Repeal Bill Introduced By the Senate, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, February 16, 2017
- Author, Being a Good Samaritan Can Be So Much Work, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, January 3, 2017
- Presenter, Sales, Gifts & Devises of LLC Interests - Special Problems, 77th Annual Bloethe Tax School, Des Moines, Iowa, December 9, 2016
- Presenter, Partnership Profit Interests: What Every Business Attorney Should Know, 77th Annual Bloethe Tax School, Des Moines, Iowa, December 9, 2016
- Author, FICA Tax Planning Using LLCs, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, October 17, 2016
- Presenter, "The Big Block: IRS Issues New Valuation Discount Regulations," 2016 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, West Des Moines, September 7, 2016
- Author, The IRS Never Liked Those Valuation Discounts, Iowa Banking Law Blog, Iowa Tax Cafe Blog, Iowa Trusts & Estates Blog, August 25, 2016
- Author, Employee Repayment of Compensation, Iowa Employer Law Blog, Iowa Tax Café Blog, August 19, 2016
- Author, No Will for Prince Means Big Money for Siblings, Iowa Tax Café Blog, April 28, 2016
- Presenter, Advising the Caregiver on Discretionary Trusts and Powers of Attorney, Iowa Trust Association Conference, West Des Moines, October 1, 2015
- Author, Captive Insurance Companies Tax Free Income for Farmers, Iowa Tax Café Blog, May 7, 2015
- Presenter, Keeping the Next Generation Farm Client, 2014 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, West Des Moines, September 4, 2014
- Author, Taxation of Terminations, Settlements and Judgments, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., April 15, 2014 (updated)
- Author, Digging the Gold Out of Family Farm Corporations, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, July 2012 (updated)
- Author, Economic Substance, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, July 2012 (updated)
- Author, Estate Planning for Farmers, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, July 2012 (updated)
- Author, Dead People’s Wages, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, July 12, 2012 (updated)
- Author, Limited Liability Companies in an IRA? Part 1, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, July, 2012 (updated)
- Author, Estate Planning for Persons With Health Challenges, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, July 10, 2012 (updated)
- Author, Planning to Avoid Medicaid, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, July 9, 2012 (updated)
- Author, Sales, Gifts and Devises of LLC Interests: Special Problems (Updated), Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, June 28, 2012 (updated)
- Author, Charitable Organizations Reporting Requirements, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, June 11, 2012 (updated)
- Author, Parental Liability in Iowa: Who Pays for Dennis’s Menace?, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., March 16, 2012
- Presenter, Sales, Gifts & Devises of LLC Interests – Special Problems, 72nd Annual Bloethe Tax School, Iowa State Bar Association, Des Moines, Iowa, November 30, 2011
- Author, Opportunities in a Low Interest Rate Environment, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, November 2011 (updated 2012)
- Presenter, Planning to Avoid Medicaid, 138th Annual Iowa State Bar Association Meeting, Des Moines, Iowa, June 23, 2011
- Presenter, Estate Planning for Farmers, Iowa State Bar Association Spring Tax Institute, Iowa City, Iowa, May 6, 2011
- Author, Special Report on Estate Planning for Farmers, Part 1, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 6, 2011
- Author, Special Report on Estate Planning for Farmers, Part 2, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 6, 2011
- Author, Special Report on Estate Planning for Farmers, Part 3, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 6, 2011
- Author, Special Report on Estate Planning for Farmers, Part 4, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 6, 2011
- Author, Special Report on Estate Planning for Farmers, Part 5, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 6, 2011
- Author, Special Report on Estate Planning for Farmers, Part 6, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 6, 2011
- Author, Special Report on Estate Planning for Farmers, Part 7, Iowa Tax & Estate Planning Blog, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 6, 2011
- Author, “Codification of the Economic Substance Doctrine,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., November 23, 2010
- Author, “Opportunities in a Low Interest Rate Environment,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., November 23, 2010
- Presenter, “Asset Protection: IRAs and Qualified Retirement Plans,” University of Iowa Probate Seminar, Iowa City, Iowa, November 19, 2010
- Author, Estate Tax Planning for Persons with Health Challenges, Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., February 16, 2010
- Presenter, “Helping Your Client Choose the Best Entity Option,” National Business Institute Seminar, Des Moines, Iowa, March 6, 2009
- Presenter, “Digging the Gold Out of Family Farm Corporations,” Iowa State Bar Association’s 69th Annual Tax School, Des Moines, Iowa, December 4, 2008
- Presenter, “Drafting Estate Planning Documents and Living Wills,” Iowa State Bar Association Nuts & Bolts Seminar, Des Moines, Iowa, October 16, 2008
- Presenter, “Estate Planning for Landowners,” Iowa State Bar Association Fall Traveling Seminar, Sioux City/Mason City/Des Moines/Cedar Rapids/Dubuque/Davenport/Ottumwa, Iowa, September-October 2008
- Presenter, “LLCs, LLPs and Partnerships: Organization and Operation in Iowa,” Lorman Education Services, Des Moines, Iowa, August 12, 2008
- Presenter, “Throwing Mama from the Train: A Banker’s Guide to Estate Planning Through 2010,” 2008 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., West Des Moines, Iowa, May 2, 2008
- Author, “Asset Protection (For the Rich and Not) in Iowa,” Drake Law Review, Volume 56, Number 1, Fall 2007
- Presenter, “Drafting Iowa LLC Operating Agreements For FICA Tax Avoidance,” University of Iowa College of Law’s 54th Annual Spring Tax Institute, Iowa City, Iowa, May 5, 2007
- Presenter, “Partnerships – Drafting Operating Agreements in Iowa,” University of Iowa College of Law’s 54th Annual Spring Tax Institute, Iowa City, Iowa, May 5, 2007
- Presenter, “Hot Topics Panel: Succession Planning & S-Corp Issues,” 2007 Iowa Banking Law Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., West Des Moines, Iowa, April 13, 2007
- Presenter, “Joint Revocable Trusts,” University of Iowa College of Law CLE, Iowa City, Iowa, September 29, 2006
- Presenter, “Who Should Be The Trustee Of Your Trust,” University of Iowa College of Law’s 52nd Annual Spring Tax Institute, Iowa City, Iowa, May 6, 2006
- Presenter, “FICA Tax Planning,” Iowa State Bar Association’s 66th Annual Tax School, Des Moines, Iowa, December 7, 2005
- Presenter, “Asset Protection in Iowa,” University of Iowa College of Law’s 51st Annual Spring Tax Institute, May 7, 2005
- Author, “Deducting Attorney Fees Paid Out of a Judgment or Settlement Award,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., January 31, 2005
- Author, “Selection of a Business Entity,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., January 25, 2005
- Author, “Charitable Organizations Reporting Requirements,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., January 14, 2005
- Presenter, “Minimum Distribution Requirements,” National Business Institute Seminar, Des Moines, Iowa, April 8, 2004
- Author, “A Free Lunch,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., April 1, 2004
- Author, “A Trip to Remember,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., January 1, 2002
- Author, “New Estate And Gift Tax Legislation Creates Timing Issues,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., June 1, 2001
- Author, “Estate Planning for the Problem Child,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., June 1, 2001
- Author, “Split Interest Acquisition of Real Estate between a C-Corporation and a Shareholder,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., March 1, 2001
- Author, “Tax Planning for Retirement,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., February 25, 2001
- Author, “An Introduction to ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans),” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., February 2, 2001
- Author, “Parental Liability: Who Pays for the Misdeeds of Today’s Dennis the Menace?,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., December 1, 2000
- Author, “Dead People’s Wages,” Dickinsonlaw.com, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., November 1, 2000
- Author, “Limited Liability Companies in an IRA?, Parts I & II,” LLC Advisor, Commerce Clearing House, Issue Nos. 42 & 43, February 22, 1999, and March 23, 1999
- Author, “Limited Liability Company May Not Be the Best Entity for Family Estate Planning – But Don’t Give Up the Ship,” LLC Advisor, Commerce Clearing House, Vol. 1, No. 5, January 29, 1996
- Author, “Planning Opportunities Under the Nexus Approach to Consolidated Reporting,” Journal of Multistate Taxation, May/June 1993
- Author, “State Taxation of Nonresident Pension Income: Whose Golden Years?,” Parts I & II, 11 Journal of State Taxation, Fall/Winter 1992
- Author, “Supreme Court Rules on Constitutionality of State Value Added Tax,” 10 Journal of State Taxation, Fall 1991
- Author, “Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Protection at a Cost,” 15:1 Journal of Corporation Law, 1989