Debra is the National Private Wealth Tax Controversy leader for Deloitte Tax and advises on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) controversy matters for estates, individuals, tax-exempt entities, and corporations, both US- and foreign-based. She is particularly experienced with valuation, hobby loss, claims, employment tax, and penalties. In addition, she assists in obtaining voluntary disclosure agreements, technical advice and pre-filing agreements, defending IRS examinations, and conducting IRS fast track and regular appeals and post-appeal mediation. She regularly performs IRS readiness projects for individuals and for-profit and tax-exempt entities.
Prior to joining Deloitte, Debra worked at the IRS Office of the Chief Counsel, where she litigated a wide variety of individual, estate, corporate, and partnership tax matters. She has more than 20 published US Tax Court opinions.
Debra regularly publishes articles and is quoted in the media. She is a frequent speaker at events sponsored by Deloitte and other organizations such as American Institute of CPAs, UCLA Tax Controversy Symposium, Bloomberg BNA lecture series, law firms, and estate planning groups throughout the country. She is an adjunct professor for Golden Gate University.
Debra has a BA from University of Washington and a JD from University of California Hastings Law School.
