Joseph Wilson
Former IRS, Former Tax Prosecutor, Ex-FTB Attorney Orange County/Newport Beach
- Biography
Mr. Wilson is a former Federal Prosecutor, IRS Attorney and FTB Attorney. Mr. Wilson is the managing partner at the Wilson Tax Law Group, which is a law firm serving the Newport Beach and Yorba Linda areas that specializes in civil audits and criminal tax matters, involving federal and state tax authorities. The firm represents taxpayers during civil audits, administrative appeals, all phases of collection, judicial proceedings in all trial and appellate courts. The firm handles a wide variety of matters including international compliance and offshore banking matters. The firm is headed by Mr. Wilson, whose impressive background includes positions as federal prosecutor of tax crimes, IRS attorney and Franchise Tax Board attorney. Mr. Wilson handles tax audits, collection, appeals, litigation, FBAR penalty, and criminal tax defense. Mr. Wilson has a particular expertise in handing civil tax audits, civil tax litigation and criminal tax matters, including tax evasion, tax return preparer fraud, white collar crime and asset forfeiture. His experience is extensive representing individuals, businesses, corporations and S-corporations, partnerships, estates, owners, return preparers, and beneficiaries in matters involving income tax audits, FBAR and offshore voluntary disclosure, tax collection, tax litigation, civil injunctions, estate and gift tax, sales tax, payroll tax and property tax. Mr. Wilson actively represents clients in a broad range of international tax matters, including voluntary disclosures, foreign trusts, international compliance, international businesses, and foreign partnerships. Mr. Wilson brings to the firm extensive experience with private and government entities, which greatly benefits the clients.
- Practice Areas
- Tax Law
- Business Taxes, Criminal Tax Litigation, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Planning
- White Collar Crime
- Gov & Administrative Law
- Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
- Bankruptcy
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Debt Relief
- International Law
- Human Rights, Imports & Exports
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Video Conferencing
- Fees
- Credit Cards Accepted
-
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Fees are determined based on the case matter and going rate at the time of service
- Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- California
- Since 2003
-
- Languages
- English:
Spoken, Written - Spanish:
Spoken
- Professional Experience
- Managing Partner
- Wilson Tax Law Group, Newport Beach, California
-
2014 –
Current
- Mr. Wilson is the founder and managing partner at the Wilson Tax Law Group located in Orange County, California. He has numerous years of handling tax controversy matters. He is a former Federal tax prosecutor, trial attorney for the IRS and trial attorney for the Franchise Tax Board. He has litigated a wide variety of civil and criminal tax cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Federal district court, U.S. Tax Court, California Superior Court, California Board of Equalization, California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and Property Tax Assessment Appeals Boards, in matters arising from various types of tax assessments, collection matters and criminal tax investigations.
- Tax Attorney
- Boutique Tax Controversy Law Firm
-
2011 –
2014
- Worked at a law firm that specializes in civil tax controversy and provides advice regarding tax-related issues in bankruptcy.
- Tax Counsel III Specialist
- California Franchise Tax Board, Legal Division, Sacramento, California
-
2010 –
2011
- Acted as lead technical counsel in numerous areas of tax law, focusing on abusive tax shelters as well as penalties imposed in connection with tax avoidance transactions at both the participant and promoter level and other subject matter areas. Acted as hearing officer, representing the Franchise Tax Board in protest hearings. Reviewed imposed legislation and suggested amendments to existing law as appropriate. Proposed, drafted, and/or reviewed regulations for submission to the Office of Administrative Law. Assisted the Attorney General and acted as Department liaison in litigation cases on complex tax issues. Prepared and argued complex income and franchise tax cases in administrative appeal hearings before the State Board of Equalization. Acted as lead technical counsel reviewing the work of other attorneys. Reviewed and researched in connection with preparation of rulings and/or position papers on a wide variety of the most difficult questions involving abusive tax shelter and tax avoidance transactions.
- Assistant United States Attorney
- United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, Tax Division, Los Angeles, California
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2008 –
2010
- Represented the United States of America in virtually all types of tax litigation in United States District Court, Bankruptcy Court, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Superior Court, including tax refund suits to determine various types of tax liabilities; the economic substantive of employee stock ownership plans and various sham transactions; wrongful levy actions; suits to enjoin tax collection; actions brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2410(a); suits against IRS employees; affirmative suits to enforce IRS summonses; suits to set aside fraudulent conveyances; actions to reduce tax liabilities to judgment and foreclose federal tax liens; suits to enjoin bogus return preparers; objections to creditor claims in bankruptcy; hearings regarding confirmation of proposed Chapters 11 and 13 plans; motions to sell property free and clear of tax liens; motions to convert or dismiss Chapter 11 cases; motions to lift the automatic stay; grand jury investigations and criminal prosecutions for violations of federal tax laws. Supervised covert investigations, using searches, surveillance, stings, grand jury subpoenas, and other investigatory tools with respect to criminal tax cases.
- General Attorney
- Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel, San Diego, California
-
2006 –
2008
- Represented the Internal Revenue Service in civil tax litigation matters before the United States Tax Court. Supervised and provided legal guidance to the IRS Exam Division on the correct interpretation of tax laws, approval of offers and compromise, and assertion of the civil fraud penalty against certain high profile corporations. Rendered advice to the IRS Collection Division on issues such as lien attachment, lien priority, levies, summonses, redemption, applications for certificates of discharge, and lien releases. Assisted U.S. Department of Justice and the US Attorney’s Office in defense of suits with tax implications brought against the United States. Recommended criminal tax prosecutions to the Department of Justice on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service.
- Tax Associate
- Deloitte & Touche, San Diego, California
-
2003 –
2006
- Extensive transactional experience in state and local taxes, real estate law, assessment, property tax reductions, complex property, valuations, mergers and acquisitions, international taxation, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, employment and contract law. Assisted to codify California Assembly Bill 964 into Revenue & Taxation Code §§ 401.17, 441 and 1153.5, dealing with tax assessment and audit methodology for certified aircraft.
- Education
- University of San Diego
- LL.M. (2003) | Masters in Law Taxation
-
2002
–
2003 -
- James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona
- J.D. (2002) | Law
-
1999
–
2002 -
- Providence College
- B.S. (1999) | Business
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1995
–
1999 -
- Awards
- Top 100 Lawyer
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- 2017
- Finance Monthly Global Awards 2017 Winner
- Finance Monthly
- 2017
- Who’s Who in Tax Law
- Orange County Lawyer Magazine
- 2016
- Top 20 Boutique Firms in California
- Daily Journal
- 2016
- OC’s Top Lawyers
- OC Register
- 2014
- Wilely W. Manual Pro Bono Services
- State Bar of California
- 2005
- Contribution of Pro Bono Services to San Diego residents
- Oustanding Service
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego
- 2005
- Contribution to Legal Aid Society’s Law Income Tax Clinic
- Domino
- Deloitte & Touche
- 2005
- Leadership and advanced team planning and management
- Applaud
- Deloitte & Touche
- 2005
- Assisted in a $26 million dollar reduction from the State Board of Equalization that generated over $550,000 in tax savings for a new client
- Wilely W. Manual Pro Bono Services
- State Bar of California
- 2004
- Contribution of pro bono services to San Diego residents
- Outstanding Service
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego
- 2004
- Contribution to Legal Aid Society’s Low Income Tax Clinic
- Applause
- Deloitte & Touche
- 2004
- Outstanding leadership and client development
- AMJUR
- Univesity of San Diego
- 2003
- Tax Valuation, Judge David Laro, US Tax Court
- Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Tax Section
- Member
- Current
-
- Association of Tax Counsel
- Member
- Current
-
- State Bar of California, Tax Section
- Member
- Current
-
- San Diego County Bar, Tax Section
- Member
- Current
-
- Orange County Bar, Tax Section
- Member
- Current
-
- Orange County Bar Association
- Vice Chair
- Current
-
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Chair
- Current
-
- State Bar of California Tax Section
- Vice Chair
- Current
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- Young Tax Lawers, San Diego Chapter, State of California
- Chair
- Current
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- Publications
- IRS recommendations in actions relating to Tax Court Decisions
- California Network Newsletter
- August, 2013
- Update on the FBARs
- California Network Newsletter
- May, 2013
- California Tax Network Newsletter
- February, 2013
- Tax-Exempt Mortgage Bonds: A Way to Alleviate the Self-Inflicted Damage Caused by CALHFA’s Reading of IRC Sec. 143, 2013
- State Bar of California, Sacramento Delegation
- February, 2013
- The Franchise Tax Board Gets More “Firm” About Collecting Delinquent Taxes
- California Tax Lawyer
- 2012
- California Tax Network Newsletter
- November, 2012
- Senate Bill 86 Financial Institution Records Match
- Los Angeles & San Francisco Daily Journals
- August, 2012
- Proposed Revision to Administrative Procedure for Collection Due Process Hearings Pursuant to IRC Section 6330
- State Bar of California, Washington DC Delegation
- May, 2012
- Lack of Statutory Levy Restrictions on Retirement Accounts
- State Bar of California, Washington DC Delegation, Tax Notes Today 2011 TNT 111-39
- 2011
- Websites & Blogs
- Employment Taxes, webinar
- September 17, 2018
- California Lawyers Association
- The Household Employment: Are Your Clients Tax Compliant?, The State Bar of California 2017 Section Convention, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego
- August 18, 2017
- The State Bar of California
- Tax Issues Facing the (…GROWING…) Marijuana Industry, 4th Annual Young Tax Lawyers Conference, Golden Gate University School of Law
- May 22, 2017
- The State Bar of California Taxation Law Section
- Contact & Address
- Rate This Lawyer