Joseph Phillips Wilson

Tel  949-397-2292  -  Former IRS Attorney, Former Federal Tax Prosecutor, Former FTB Attorney.  Always Defending You and Your Business. SuperLawyer, Named Top 20 California - Daily Jornal

Joseph P. Wilson has been handling tax controversy matters for numerous years. He has a particular expertise in criminal tax matters, including tax evasion, return preparer fraud, white collar crime and asset forfeiture. He also has extensive experience representing individuals, businesses, corporations, partnerships, estates, owners, return preparers, and beneficiaries in matters involving tax audits, 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 our clients.

Mr. Wilson began his career at the Tax Division at Deloitte & Touche LLP in San Diego, California. He handled state and local taxes, real estate law, mergers and acquisitions, international taxation, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and employment and contract law. Mr. Wilson assisted with the codification of California Assembly Bill 964 into Revenue & Taxation Code §§ 401.17, 441 and 1153.5, involving the tax assessment and audit methodology for certified aircraft.

Mr. Wilson worked as a trial attorney for the IRS, Office of Chief Counsel in San Diego, California. Mr. Wilson represented the IRS in civil tax litigation matters before the United States Tax Court and provided legal guidance to the IRS Exam Division and the Collection Division. He also worked on criminal tax matters, including IRS referrals to the Department of Justice for tax prosecution.

Mr. Wilson became an Assistant United States Attorney with the Tax Division of the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Wilson represented the United States of America in virtually all types of tax litigation in United States District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Superior Court. He handled both civil and criminal tax matters, and bankruptcy tax matters. Mr. Wilson worked on cases that were upheld on appeal with the Ninth Circuit.

Mr. Wilson held the position as a Tax Counsel III Specialist with the Legal Division of the California Franchise Tax Board, working as lead technical counsel in numerous areas of tax law, specializing in 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. Mr. Wilson acted as a hearing officer in protest hearings and prepared complex income and franchise tax cases in administrative appeal hearings before the State Board of Equalization.

Prior to founding the Wilson Tax Law Group, Mr. Wilson worked for a tax controversy firm.

Recognition & Awards

Selected 2018 Editor-in-Chief, California Tax Lawyer, (the official legal tax publication for the State Bar Taxation Section)
Executive Committee Member, State Bar of California, Taxation Section 2018
Tax Lawyer of the Year in California: International Advisory Experts Award, 2018
Golden Adviser Awards: Worldwide Financial Adviser Awards Magazine 2017
Top 100 Lawyer, American Society of Legal Advocates 2017
Executive Committee Member, State Bar of California, Taxation Section 2017
Articles Editor, California Tax Lawyer, State Bar of California, Taxation Section’s official publication, 2017
Tax Chair Recognition Award, Orange County Bar Association, 2016 (received)
Executive Committee Member, State Bar of California, Taxation Section 2016
Top 100 Lawyer, American Society of Legal Advocates 2016
Awarded Who’s Who in Tax Law by Orange County Lawyer magazine – April 2015 edition
Recognized as OC’s Top Lawyers, OC Register Metro, 2014
Rating of 10.0 on Avvo, the highest rating possible (Avvo is an independent lawyer ranking system)
Client Choice Award, Avvo, 2015
Chair, California Tax Procedure & Litigation Committee, State Bar of California, Tax Section, 2014-15
Chair, Orange County Bar Association, Taxation Section, 2015- 2016
Vice-Chair, Orange County Bar, Taxation Section, 2014
Second Vice-Chair, California Tax Procedure & Litigation Committee, State Bar of California, Tax Section, 2012-13
Editor-in-Chief, California Journal of Tax Litigation, 2012-13
State Bar of California, Tax Section, Sacramento Delegate, State Bar of California, Taxation Section, May 2013
State Bar of California, Tax Section, Washington DC Delegate, State Bar of California, Taxation Section, 2012
State Bar of California, Tax Section, Washington DC Delegate, State Bar of California, Tax Section, 2011
Chair, San Diego County Bar, Tax Section, 2007-2008
Chair, Tax Section, State Bar of California, Tax Section, Young Tax Lawyers, San Diego Chapter, 2003-2007
Applause Award, Deloitte & Touche LLP, October 2005 (assisted in obtaining a $26 million dollar reduction from the State Board of Equalization that generated over $550,000 in tax savings for a new client)
Domino Award, Deloitte & Touche LLP, October 2005 (leadership and advanced team planning and management)
Domino Award, Deloitte & Touche LLP, September 2005 (leadership and advanced team planning and management)
Outstanding Service Award, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, May 2005 (contribution to the Legal Aid Society’s Low Income Tax Clinic)
Wiley W. Manual Pro Bono Services Award, State Bar of California, May 2005 (contribution of pro bono services to San Diego residents)
Applause Award, Deloitte & Touche LLP, November 2004, (outstanding leadership and client development)
Outstanding Service Award, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, May 2004 (contribution to the Legal Aid Society’s Low Income Tax Clinic)
Wiley W. Manual Pro Bono Services Award, State Bar of California, May 2004 (contribution of pro bono services to San Diego residents)
AMJUR Award- Tax Valuation, Judge David Laro, US Tax Court 2003
Full merit scholarship, University of Arizona, College of Law (all three years)
Full merit scholarship, Providence College (all four years)