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J. Scott Bogguss

J. Scott Bogguss Member

Contact Information

(319) 896-4082 (319) 366-7641 sbogguss@spmblaw.com Cedar Rapids, IA
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Rhonda Countryman

Rhonda Countryman

Legal Assistant

(319) 896-4110 rcountryman@spmblaw.com

Practice Area

Bar Admissions

  • State of Iowa

Court Admissions

  • Federal Courts
    • Northern & Southern Districts of Iowa
    • U. S. Tax Court

Education

  • University of Iowa College of Law, JD
  • University of Iowa, BBA
    • Finance and Insurance

J. Scott Bogguss is a business, transactional and tax attorney with extensive experience providing tax, trust and estate,  probate and general business law counsel to a wide variety of closely held businesses and their owners. Mr. Bogguss’ general activities include initial organization and reorganization of business entities to accomplish the financial, tax planning, management and other objectives of the owners and managers of such entities. His work also frequently involves the design and implementation of estate, pension, mergers, acquisitions, business succession and executive compensation plans. Mr. Bogguss’ experience includes transactional work in mergers, acquisitions and secured lending. He also represents business and individual clients with respect to disputed income tax matters and is a practicing member of the agricultural law practice group.

Prior to 2009, Mr. Bogguss was a member of the Cedar Rapids firm of Moyer & Bergman PLC where he served several terms in that firm’s management and as chair of its business and tax group.

  • Ranked in Chambers USA High Net Worth, 2017-2024, Private Wealth Law in Iowa, Band 2
    • "Scott is just a fantastic lawyer, he is very bright and very humble," says a peer, who adds: "I would take a personal matter to him in a second."
      --Chambers HNW
    • "He is an excellent lawyer and has a really good background in planning for retirement plans, not just for the corporation but also for the participant."
      --Chambers HNW
  • Included in Great Plains Super Lawyers list, 2007, 2009-2020, 2022-2024
  • Included in the Best Lawyers in America® list, 2025
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®

Professional Memberships

  • American Bar Association
    • Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section
    • Taxation Section
    • Division Membership in Senior Lawyers
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Probate, Trust & Estate Planning Section
    • Taxation Section (Tax School Chair 2007; Section Council 2007-2010; Section Chair 2009-2010)
  • Linn County Bar Association
  • American College of Tax Counsel (ACTC), Fellow
  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow
  • Iowa Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel, member 
  • Cedar Rapids Area Estate Planning Council 
  • Institute of Management Accountants

Community Involvement

  • Cedar Rapids Symphony Foundation, Former Board of Directors
  • St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation, Former Chair
  • Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Former Chair

2023 Presentation

  • Buy Sell Agreements: Best Practices, Tips, and Traps, ISBA Probate Seminar, Iowa City, IA
  • Buy Sell Agreements - Cultivating Connections: A Conference for Farm Transition Planners, Des Moines, IA 

2019 Presentation

  • The Secure Act of (2019?) - Strategic Financial Solutions (SFS) Seminar, Cedar Rapids, IA

2015 Presentations

  • Estate and Succession Planning for Farmers and Business Owners - LattaHarris, LLP and TD&T, Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Basic Estate & Succession Planning - LattaHarris, LLP, Tipton, IA

2014 Presentation

  • Subchapter S Stock in Trusts - Iowa Academy of Trust & Estate Counsel Webinar

2013 Presentation

  • Connecting the Dots with GCRCF for Advisors - Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Professional Advisor Breakfast, Cedar Rapids, IA

2012 Presentation

  • Tax Planning in the Era of Rising Tax Rates - University of Iowa College of Law & the Iowa State Bar Association Spring Tax Institute, Iowa City, IA

2011 Presentations

  • A Practical Guide to the Use of Life Estates - Look Before You Leap - ISU Center for Agriculture Law and Taxation Farm & Estate Planning Seminar, Ames, IA
  • Life Estate Fundamentals - Iowa State Bar Association Annual Meeting, Des Moines, IA
  • Overview of Succession Planning Process and Pre-Planning Steps; Sale to Non-Family Members and Related Tax Issues - ISU and Iowa Small Business Development Centers Planing Workshops, Cedar Rapids, Emmetsburg and Davenport, IA

2010 Presentations

  • Ethical Perspectives on the News - Tax Policy - KCRG-TV Panel Discussion on TV, Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Review of Current Estate Planning Documents During 2010 - University of Iowa College of Law & Taxation Section of the Iowa State Bar Association Spring Tax Institute, ACTEC Panel, Iowa City, IA