Double barreled representation: Tax Attorney and CPA

Michael Dallo, CPA, JD, LL.M., the founder of Dallo Law Group in San Diego, California, is both a tax attorney and certified public accountant (CPA). Unlike most tax attorneys who usually only have a J.D., the basic law degree, he also holds a masters of law degrees (LL.M.) in tax, is a Certified Tax Law Specialist, and is an adjunct professor of taxation in the Masters of Tax program at the University of San Diego. His dual background in both law and accounting, his dedication to the tax profession, his passion to educate in tax, and his persistence in the face of difficult challenges give Michael a winning, strategic advantage that enables him to represent clients far better before the IRS and state tax agencies than the vast majority of tax attorneys. As an attorney trained in the law, and specifically tax law, Michael has an exceptional track record of prevailing in hardball negotiations with the IRS. As a certified public accountant, he understands the detailed ins and outs of tax forms, which makes it impossible for the IRS to take him unaware.

As an attorney trained in the law, and specifically tax law, Michael has an exceptional track record of prevailing in hardball negotiations with the IRS. As a certified public accountant, he understands the detailed ins and outs of tax forms, which makes it impossible for the IRS to take him unaware.

Determination to Win

Michael’s practice focuses on tax problem solving, including representing clients for tax audits, audit appeals, settlements for back taxes, catching up on reporting foreign bank accounts and a myriad of other issues. He has saved both individual and business clients millions, performing such feats as getting a $100,000 IRS debt reduced to $0, getting a $500,000 debt reduced to $50,000 to be paid on easy payments, and getting a $35,000 debt reduced to $1,000. These are not unusual results for Michael Dallo. Michael is dedicated to his clients’ best interests, and he meets with every single client who walks through the doors of Dallo Law Group and oversees strategic development of their cases.

Lifelong Passion for Tax

Michael’s deep education, his extensive experience and his law practice are all focused on tax. He is aware of every minute change in the law that could affect his clients’ cases. Before he was an attorney, Michael founded a CPA firm where he prepared tax returns for individuals and small businesses, building an outstanding winning record representing clients in tax audits. Before that, he worked as a certified public accountant (CPA) in the Tax Department of Sempra Energy, a multi-national Fortune 500 Company, where he helped to resolve multi-million dollar tax disputes. He also worked in the Tax Department of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Paris, France and the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In addition to working at Dallo Law Group, Michael serves as general counsel for Dallo & Co., Inc. a conglomerate of 13 grocery stores in San Diego (Jonathan’s, Harvest Ranch and Foodland Markets), where he advises on tax issues, contract and lease negotiations and employment issues for over eight-hundred employees.

Finally, Michael is proud to serve as a Professor of Taxation at the University of San Diego (his alma mater), where he teaches tax research in the Masters of Tax program. In his course, Michael teaches aspiring tax professionals the ethics of tax practice and how to utilize research skills to efficiently and effectively advocate for their clients.

Education

Michael holds a master of laws in taxation degree (LL.M) from New York University, which is the highest ranked and most prestigious graduate tax program in the nation. His law degree (J.D.) is from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he graduated order of the coif, magna cum laude (Top 5%) and received the Ralph Gano Miller Tax Award for the highest overall grade point average in the area of taxation in his graduating class. As an undergrad, Michael obtained two bachelor degrees, one in accounting and one in business administration, from the University of San Diego where he graduated magna cum laude.

Michael is fluent in Spanish and Chaldean-Aramaic.

Certifications

• Certified Tax Law Specialist (State Bar of California)

• Certified Public Accountant (California)

Awards and Recognitions

• Accounting Advisory Board at USD

• 2019 – 2022 title of a Super Lawyers- Rising Star

• 2018 – 2022 CFO of the Year Award- San Diego Business Journal

• 2018 Top Lawyer by the San Diego Magazine

• 2018 Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent- Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell

• 2018 title of a Super Lawyers- Rising Star

• 2018 Law Firm Challenge award for having 100% Alumni Donation Participation within our firm

• 2017 CFO of the Year Award- San Diego Business Journal

• 2017 Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent- Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell

• 2017 “Top Law Firm” San Diego Business Journal

• 2017 “San Diego’s Favorite” by the Union Tribune Readers Poll

• 2017 Most Admired CEO Award by San Diego Business Journal

• 2017 Attorney of the Month by Attorney Journal Magazine

• 2016 Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent- Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell

• U-T San Diego’s Best:  Tax Law Firm (2016)

• San Diego’s Most Admired CEO Award (2016)

• Best of the Bar (2016)

• Best of the Bar (2015)

• U-T San Diego’s Best: Tax Law Firm (2015)

• San Diego’s Top General Counsel (2015)

• U-T San Diego’s Best: Tax Law Firm (2014)

• San Diego’s Top Young Attorney (2013)

• Ralph Gano Miller Award in Taxation (2011)

Court Admissions

• United States Tax Court

• United States District Court for the Southern District of California

• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Speaking Engagements & Publications

• Alter Ego, Successor In Interest and Nominee Liabilities: What They Are and The Best Tips on How to Limit Your Client’s Exposure- Panel speaker – University of San Diego– RJS Law Tax Controversy Institute, July 2018

• Fintech Seminar, How the IRS treats Cryptocurrency Now and How That Might Change in the Future- San Diego County Bar Association- March 2018

• THE TRUST FUND RECOVERY PENALTY: A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE 4180 INTERVIEW– Panel speaker at University of San Diego– RJS Law Tax Controversy Institute- December 2016

• Taxation Tips for Startup Clients- San Diego County Bar Association- November 2016

• Are you Ready for Taxmageddon? – University of San Diego School of Law, November 2012

• Overview of the IRS Collection Process – California Society of Tax Consultants, October 2013

• What Every Tax Practitioner Needs to Know About the Affordable Care Act – University of San Diego School of Law, January 2014

• FTB Retroactively Denies Tax Benefits for “Qualified Small Business Stock”, California Tax Lawyer, 2013

• Tax resolution expert discussion on 1700 am ESPN radio

Memberships & Affiliations

• San Diego County Bar Association

• American Bar Association – Taxation Section

• California Bar Association

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

• California Society of Certified Public Accountants