Biography
Steven Katz is a highly experienced tax attorney who concentrates his practice on the full spectrum of taxpayer controversies, including tax disputes, business crimes and government investigations. Mr. Katz represents individuals, corporations, partnerships, and trusts and estates. He counsels his clients in all phases of disputes against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the California State Board of Equalization, the California Franchise Tax Board, and the California Employment Development Department, including audits, administrative appeals, and both routine and complex collection matters.
When matters cannot be resolved through administrative means, Mr. Katz represents his clients in litigation in the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Claims Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and California State courts. He also represents clients charged with business crimes, criminal tax matters, including government investigations, prosecutions, sentencings and appeals. In addition to tax matters, Mr. Katz represents clients in other white collar criminal defense cases.
Mr. Katz has assisted clients with the following tax matters as a tax attorney:
- IRS and FTB income tax audits
- Sales tax audits
- Employment tax audits
- Estate and gift tax audits
- IRS criminal investigations and prosecutions
- IRS search warrants
- IRS summonses
- IRS grand jury subpoenas
- Tax evasion
- False tax returns
- Unreported income
- Overstated deductions
- Tax shelters
- Unreported foreign bank accounts
- IRS and FTB settlements
- IRS and FTB penalties
- IRS fraud investigations and fraud penalties
- Interest abatement claims
- IRS whistleblower claims
- IRS and FTB liens and levies
- IRS and FTB offers in compromise and installment agreements
- Innocent Spouse Claims
Experience
Civil Matters
- Negotiated millions of dollars in reductions to IRS and FTB assessments of both taxes and penalties for both individual and corporate clients
- Represented the estate of a winery owner in the U.S. Tax Court, prevailing against the IRS in a valuation case
- Defeated an IRS jeopardy assessment and levy against an individual
- Represented a construction company in defeating California Employment Development Department claims of fraud and substantial tax assessments
- Negotiated a substantial settlement with the IRS on behalf of a food company related to overpayment of interest
- Represented a large family trust in a multimillion-dollar dispute with the California Franchise Tax Board regarding whether the trust was subject to taxation by California; the FTB conceded the case
- Represented taxpayers in securing a multimillion-dollar refund of interest from the IRS based on IRS delays
- Represented numerous individuals in securing offers in compromise with the IRS, resulting in substantial reduction of tax penalties and interest
Criminal Matters
- Successfully challenged an IRS summons in a criminal investigation on Fifth Amendment grounds
- Negotiated a non-prosecution agreement on behalf of a food market in a case involving alleged food stamp fraud
- Negotiated a deferred prosecution agreement in an alleged multimillion-dollar wire fraud case
- Secured non-prison sentences in numerous IRS criminal cases
- Persuaded the IRS and Department of Justice to terminate numerous criminal investigations
Professional Involvement
Recognized Tax Lawyer in The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation and Controversy – Tax: 2013-2023
Named Best Lawyers® 2021 San Francisco “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation and Controversy – Tax
Named In Best Lawyers® 2024 Edition
Listed in Northern California Super Lawyers: 2020-2023
Education
- University of Michigan B.G.S., with high distinction, 1990
- University of Michigan J.D. 1992, cum laude
Admissions
- California
