RSM Welcomes Deborah Gordon as Excise Tax Practice Leader, Washington National Tax

CHICAGO – (August 19, 2020) – RSM US LLP (RSM), the nation’s leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market – is pleased to welcome Deborah (Debbie) Gordon as a principal with the firm’s Washington National Tax (WNT) team, where she will lead the firm’s excise tax practice.

Gordon is a nationally recognized thought leader with nearly 20 years of government and private sector experience. Her advisory services include excise tax consulting with IRS controversies for clients in the transportation, industrial products and consumer products industries. She covers a complete range of excise taxes, including manufacturers taxes, retail taxes, air transportation taxes for passengers and property, environmental taxes, foreign insurance excise taxes, wagering excise taxes, Affordable Care Act provisions, communications excise taxes, fuel credits, and the excise taxes administered by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Prior to joining RSM, Gordon led the excise tax practice in the Washington National Tax office of a Big Four accounting firm. She also worked in the excise tax branch in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Office of Chief Counsel, where she was responsible for published guidance on excise taxes, technical advice to the IRS excise tax agents, and letter rulings to taxpayers. She also served as an attorney advisor to the Honorable Juan F. Vasquez, United States Tax Court.

“We are excited to have Debbie as part of the RSM team,” said Patti Burquest, principal in charge – Washington National Tax with RSM US LLP. “At RSM, we understand the unique differences of the various industries we serve, and we know that the insights Debbie has around both the substantive and procedural aspects of federal excise taxes, as well as the IRS administration of those taxes, will enhance our ability to provide our middle market clients across all industries with the best possible services to help them achieve their business objectives.”

Gordon’s insights on excise taxes have been published in numerous tax media outlets including Tax Notes, Daily Tax Report and the AICPA’s Tax Adviser. She holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University, a Juris Doctor from State University of New York at Buffalo where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.