S06E08: Mohit Mookim

Tony Tuths, a KPMG tax expert, discusses the evolution of cryptocurrency taxation, explaining how blockchain, tokenization, and smart contracts are transforming financial markets while creating complex tax challenges. He highlights key IRS guidance on digital assets, the new broker reporting requirements, and unresolved issues involving tokenized securities, AI-driven trading, and tracking cost basis across platforms. Tuths emphasizes that the most urgent priority is closing the digital asset tax information gap through clearer regulations and more reliable transaction reporting, with the long-term potential for real-time tax reporting using blockchain technology.

In this episode of the ABA Tax Section's People in Tax podcast, Shail Shah discusses his career path from federal transactional tax at EY to California state and local tax controversy, working in government at the Franchise Tax Board and in private practice at accounting and law firms. He emphasizes the importance of staying flexible, developing technical expertise, building professional relationships, and participating in tax organizations to support career growth. Looking ahead, he is particularly interested in how artificial intelligence will transform tax practice and government agencies' handling of tax controversies.

Kathryn Meyer discusses her career in tax, beginning with her discovery of an interest in tax law in law school and her nearly two-decade career with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. She describes gaining extensive courtroom experience, moving into management and executive roles, overseeing litigation and national tax issues such as the research credit, and later serving as counsel to the National Taxpayer Advocate. After leaving government, Meyer discusses the challenges and rewards of running her own tax practice, including navigating IRS service issues from the taxpayer side. She closes by emphasizing that tax is constantly evolving and expressing particular interest in improving IRS support for caregivers who handle tax matters for aging parents.

Adam Abrahams discusses his unconventional transition into tax law, including earning a tax LL.M. at Georgetown, building a solo practice, and eventually joining his current firm. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, professional relationships, writing, and involvement in the ABA Tax Section, while also sharing his view that attorneys should embrace AI as a tool but carefully verify its output. Looking ahead, he expects technology to transform tax practice while human judgment, relationships, and adapting to constantly changing tax law will remain essential.

Host Alexander Powell interviews Bob Probasco, senior lecturer at Texas A&M and director of its Tax Dispute Resolution Clinic, about his path from accounting and business into tax law. Bob discusses how his earlier career shaped his teaching, the balance he strikes between giving clinic students autonomy and reining in overconfidence, and how working with low-income taxpayers builds empathy by showing students that small disputes matter as much to clients as large ones. He also touches on his unconventional path to law school at 45, what drew him to tax specifically, and closes with advice on volunteering for bar association work and building networks not for career gain, but to help others.