Speaker

KURT KAWAFUCHI, Director of Taxation, State of Hawaii Department of Taxation. As director, Kurt is responsible for all aspects of tax administration including audits, collections, criminal tax investigations, legislation, administrative guidance, operations, taxpayer services, and research and planning. Prior to his current appointment, Kurt supervised the Attorney General's Tax Division that represents the State in tax litigation in all federal and state trial and appellate courts, and acts as parens patriae supervising charities and nonprofits in Hawaii. Prior to November 1999, Kurt practiced law at Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel, and focused his practice on tax law, international and domestic business and estate planning, and representing clients in civil and criminal tax controversies and litigation. From 19861992, Kurt was a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, Washington, D.C., and represented the IRS in the federal and state courts in Hawaii and California. Kurt is licensed as an attorney and C.P.A. in Hawaii and California. He is a Certified Tax Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Kurt has served as Chairs of the HSBA Tax Section and the HSCPA Tax Committee. In 1987, Kurt received his Masters in Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.