Kurt Kawafuchi
E-Mail Address: kk@taxlitigator.com
Telephone: (310) 281-3200
Facsimile: (310) 859-1430
Kurt Kawafuchi specializes in tax controversies as well as tax, business, charitable and estate planning, and family wealth transfers. His representation includes Federal and state civil and criminal tax controversy matters and tax litigation, including sensitive tax-related examinations and investigations for individuals, business enterprises, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. Kurt is a frequent lecturer before national, state and local professional organizations and has authored articles in many national, state and local publications.
Kurt Kawafuchi was appointed by the Governor of Hawai段 and served as the Director of the Department of Taxation from 2002 to 2010. In this position, he was responsible for all aspects of tax administration for the state of Hawai段, including audits, collections, criminal tax investigations, legislation, administrative guidance, operations, taxpayer services and research and planning.
Prior to his appointment as Director of the Department of Taxation, Kurt supervised the Attorney General痴 Tax Division for the State of Hawai段, which represented the state in tax litigation in all federal and state trial and appellate courts, and acts as parens patriae in supervising charities and nonprofits. Prior to November 1999, Kurt practiced law at Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel in Hawai段. His practice focused on tax law, international and domestic business and estate planning, and representing clients in civil and criminal tax controversies and litigation. From 1986 to 1992, Kurt was a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, Washington, D.C., and represented the Internal Revenue Service in federal and state courts in Hawai`i and California.
Kurt Kawafuchi has served on behalf of the following organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Outstanding CPA in Government (2008).
Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants (HSCPA), Outstanding CPA in Government (2008).
President痴 Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication to the HSCPA (2000).
Western States Association of Tax Administrators (WSATA), President, 2008-2009.
Chair of the Hawai`i State Bar Association Tax Section,
Chair of the Hawai`i Society of Certified Public Accountants Tax Committee,
NYU Institute on State and Local Taxation, lecturer since 2005,
Advisory Board Member and lecturer for the UCLA Extension Annual Tax Controversy Institute, since 2000,
Annual D.C. Delegation on behalf of the Taxation Section of the State Bar of California in meetings with representatives of the U.S. Treasury, House and Senate Committees, the IRS and the US Tax Court,
Kurt has been a Member of the Advisory Board, and frequent speaker at the Chaminade Hawaii Tax Institute.
Member of the Committee on Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties of the ABA Section of Taxation,
Member of the Tax Procedure & Litigation Committee of the Taxation section of the State Bar of California.
Kurt Kawafuchi is licensed as both an attorney and certified public accountant in California and Hawai段 (Not in Public Practice). He is a Certified Tax Specialist by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Kurt is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. He has taught numerous taxation and estate planning courses at the University of Hawaii School of Law and Graduate School of Accounting, and at Hawaii Pacific University. Kurt received a Master's Degree in Taxation Law from Georgetown University
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