Joseph Wilson

2014 - Current

Wilson Tax Law Group, Newport Beach, California

Managing Partner

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.

2011 - 2014

Boutique Tax Controversy Law Firm

Tax Attorney

Worked at a law firm that specializes in civil tax controversy and provides advice regarding tax-related issues in bankruptcy.

2010 - 2011

California Franchise Tax Board, Legal Division, Sacramento, California

Tax Counsel III Specialist

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.

2008 - 2010

United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California, Tax Division, Los Angeles, California

Assistant United States Attorney

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.

2006 - 2008

Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel, San Diego, California

General Attorney

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.

2003 - 2006

Deloitte & Touche, San Diego, California

Tax Associate

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.

2002 - 2003

University of San Diego

LL.M. (2003) | Masters in Law Taxation

1999 - 2002

James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona

J.D. (2002) | Law

1995 - 1999

Providence College

B.S. (1999) | Business