National Tax Office Services for CPA Firms
Law Offices of Donald A. Barnes, PLLC Only the six largest CPA firms have national tax offices in Washington, DC - Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, BDO Seidman and Grant Thornton. Other national, regional and local CPA firms need similar tax services from time to time, but do not have a sufficient volume of work to justify organizing such an office. In addition, the expertise needed for a national tax office encompasses various areas of the tax law, including tax accounting, inventories, corporate taxation, partnership, compensation planning, estate planning, consolidated returns and international. This expertise cannot be provided by a single person.
In July 2005, I organized a law firm in Washington, DC with the intention of providing the most commonly-needed national tax office services to CPA firms that do not have a Washington tax office. These services principally are in the areas of tax accounting, inventories, corporate taxation, tax controversy and IRS rulings.
Because I provide services as a lawyer, the services are provided confidentially. Communications between each CPA firm and me are subject to the attorney-client privilege. If the CPA firm retains me, I bill the CPA firm directly for the tax services provided. In some instances, the CPA firm will request that I provide legal tax services directly to their clients. In that event, I enter into a fee agreement with the client and bill the client directly for my services.
My background
I am a tax lawyer with an accounting background. From 1991 to 1998, I worked in the IRS National Office in Washington, DC, both in the Office of Chief Counsel (Income Tax & Accounting division) and as an assistant to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Thereafter, I spent seven years in the National Tax Office of BDO Seidman, LLP, where I provided tax advice to BDO offices and to independent CPA firms that were members of the BDO Alliance.
I am an honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the University of Virginia Law School,
CPA firm clients
Since July 2005, I have provided national tax office services to CPA firms in California, New Mexico, Washington, Kentucky, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia and Ohio. Types of tax matters handled I have provided tax advice to CPA firms in the following subject areas:
• Changes in method of accounting
• LIFO inventory methods
• Revenue recognition
• Accrual of expenses
• Capitalization versus current deductibility of various expenses
• Amortization of intangibles under IRC § 197
• Evaluation of tax reserves for FAS 109 purposes
• Circular 230
• Depreciation
• IRS examinations
Fees
My current billing rate is $325 per hour. For smaller clients, I will discount my billing rate as appropriate. Contact information
Law Offices of Donald A. Barnes, PLLC
1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 728-4407
Cell: (202) 360-0275
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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
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