Bruce Givner

Mr. Givner has been practicing tax law for over four decades concentrating on income tax planning, estate tax planning, sophisticated retirement plans, asset protection planning, charitable planning, capital gain planning, tax litigation, and the representation of high net worth and high-income families, as well as individuals and their closely held corporations.

Education

• New York University School of Law, New York, New York, 1977; LL.M. (Tax)
• Columbia Law School, New York, New York, 1976; J.D.
• University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 1973; B.A. – Major: History

Published Works

Los Angeles Daily Journal

• Anticipating Joe Biden’s Proposed Capital Gains Tax, 2020
• Charitable Lead Annuity Trusts May Make You Yawn, But They Work, 2019
• Anticipating Elizabeth Warren’s Wealth Tax, 2019
• Mitigating The New Limit On Home Property Tax Deductions, 2018
• Planning Under The New Tax Law: Relax, 2018
• “To C Or Not To C?” Is The Question Under The New Tax Law, 2018
• Use It Or Lose It: The Newly Doubled Estate And Gift Tax Exclusion, 2018
• California On The Brink Of Fixing Its Broken Tax System, 2017
• It’s Not Too Late To Find Ways To Reduce Your Taxes, 2017
• What Upcoming Tax Proposals Mean For California Taxpayers, 2017
• California Needs To Create A Court Devoted To Tax, 2017
• The Problem With An Underfunded IRS, 2017
• IRS to increase scrutiny of `micro captive’ insurance companies, 2016
• IRS Could Shake Up Special Valuation Rules In Coming Weeks, 2016
• Battle Continues Over How Post-Death Events Affect Value, 2016
• IRS Rules May Eliminate All Valuation Discounts, 2016
• Respected Tax Judge Indicted For Duping Tax Authorities, 2016
• IRS Continues To Battle An Important Estate Planning Tool, 2016
• Discounts of family entity interests threatened, 2015
• New Law Clarifies When IRS Gets More Time To Audit, 2015
• International Estate Planning Easier With New E.U. Rules, 2015
• LLCs Take A Back Seat To Limited Partnerships In 2014
• Another View Of The IRS Scandal, 2013
• Same Sex Marriage: Taxes And Real Estate, 2013
• Looking Ahead To 2014, 2013
• Taxpayer Responds To IRS 2,545 Days Late – Wins, 2013
• From Russia, With Money, 2013
• Tapping The Family Lawyer To Be Trustee, 2013
• Death Is Not The Only Capital Gains Loophole, 2013
• Understand The Economics Of A Franchise Tax Board Audit, 2013
• Why Aren’t More Lawyers Covered By Pension Plans?, 2013
• Tax Law: Is Substance Abuse An Excuse For Willful Tax Violations?, 2012
• Life Insurance: The Powerful and Despised Tax Shelter, 2012
• Your IRS Income Tax Audit: Know When To Say “No”, 2012
• US Tax Court Hears Cases on Professional Reliance in Tax Preparation, 2012
• Estate Tax Magic: Private Annuities, 2012
• March Madness: Taxpayers 3, IRS 0, 2012
• IRS: trustees and donees personally liable for estate and gift taxes, 2012
• IRAs and Living Trusts: An Uneasy Combination, 2011
• Government Seeks California Property Tax Records For Gift Tax Evaders, 2011
• Capital Gain Tax Is Voluntary, 2011
• Challenging IRS Regulations: The U.S. Supreme Court Makes The Path More Difficult, 2011
• U.S. Supreme Court Takes Up Issue Of Basis Overstatement In Tax Returns, 2011
• Nontaxable Settlement Proceeds Require Careful Documents, 2011
• Modifying Irrevocable Trusts To Reflect Family Changes, 2010
• Estate Tax Planning Is Asset Protection Planning, 2010
• Shock and Awe: Obama’s Concession on Estate Taxes, 2010
• Economic Substance Doctrine: The IRS’ Newly Fortified Weapon, 2010
• Zero Estate Tax Planning: Many Roads To Heaven, 2010
• Your April 15, 2011 Tax Return: It’s Not Too Late To Plan, 2010
• Never Pay Income Tax On Your Retirement Plan, 2010
• Poorly Drafted Trust Could Become Subject to IRS Lien, 2006
• Even After Death, Steps Can Be Taken to Lower Estate Taxes, 2006
• Careful Counseling Can Result In a Partnership IRS Will OK, 2006
• New Tax Decision, Legislation Have Little Impact In California, 2005
• Court Refines Formula For Family Limited Partnerships, 2005
• IRS Respects Well-Drawn Family Limited Partnerships, 2004
• “Stone” Proves Family Limited Partnership Is Alive And Well, 2003
• Planning Can Keep Assets Out of Debtor’s Bankruptcy Estate, 2003
• Privilege Lost – Pending Legislation Would Put Limits on Attorney-Client Confidentiality, 2003
• Self-Canceling Installment Note Can Be Powerful Planning Tool, 2003
• Timing Is Critical To Good Tax Planning Strategies, 2002
• Solar Energy Tax Incentives: A Progress Report, Part I, 1978
• Solar Energy Tax Incentives: A Progress Report, Part II, 1978

Accounting Today 

• Attacking The IRS: Ignorance or Stupidity?, 2013
• Taxpayer Victory Over IRS: Even A Bad Appraisal Can Be A “Qualified” Appraisal, 2013
• IRS Tackles Four-Time Super Bowl Champion For A $5 Million Loss, 2013
• IRS Loses on Statute of Limitations: Lawyer’s Fraud Not Imputed To Taxpayer, 2013
• Ring In The Tax Savings Before You Ring Out The Year, 2013
• Windfall Income Tax Planning, 2013
• IRS Loses Again Due To Taxpayer’s Oral Testimony, 2013
• The IRS Goes Easy On A Noncompliant Taxpayer, 2013
• A Major IRS Estate Tax Loss, 2013
• IRS Loses To Yankee Doodle Dandy, 2013
• Tax Planning For The Future Sale of A Business, 2013
• Doing Well By Doing Good With Year-End Tax Planning, 2013
• IRS Loses (A Little) On Taxation Of Damages, 2013
• IRS Win Contains Taxpayer Victory On Reasonable Compensation, 2013

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Arthritis Foundation, San Fernando Valley Branch; President
• Arthritis Foundation, L.A. Chapter; Member, Board of Directors and Board of Governors
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, L.A. Chapter; Member, Board of Trustees, Planned Giving Committee
• City of Hope, Finance Associates Chapter; Board of Directors
• Guardians of the Jewish Homes for the Aging; Board of Directors
• UCLA Alumni Association; Board of Directors, Legislative Relations Committee
• UCLA Alumni Association, 1991; Board of Directors, Public Service Awards Committee
• Beverly Hills Bar Association; Past Chair, Employee Benefits Committee
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Tax Section; Executive Committee American Bar Association, Section of Taxation; Employee Benefits Committee