Mauro P. Colabianchi, Esq., LL.M

Originally from San Francisco, Mauro attended the University of San Diego for his Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and Theology.  He then attended the University of San Diego School of Law.  During law school, Mauro volunteered for the VITA Tax Clinic assisting low-income taxpayers to file their taxes.  He was also involved with the law school’s state and local tax clinics.  Upon graduating, Mauro worked for another boutique law firm in San Diego while simultaneously finishing his Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.), also from USD.  

During his ten years representing taxpayers, Mauro has successfully defended income, payroll, and sales tax audits from the IRS and state tax departments.  Additionally, he has developed a reputation as an expert on tax collections and lien defense, seeing countless offers in compromise, payment plans, and hardship deferrals through to acceptance for both businesses and individuals.  He has worked on many cases with real estate professionals to assist in closing property transactions where tax liens are involved.  Mauro has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for the last 4 years and was chair of the San Diego Chapter of Young Tax Lawyers of the California Lawyers Association Taxation Law Section from 2018-2021. Mauro is also a California State Bar Certified Tax Law Specialist.

Master of Laws (LL.M) in Taxation, University of San Diego School of Law

J.D., University of San Diego School of Law

Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of San Diego

• Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018)
• CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Constitutional Law II, Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, 2011
• Outstanding Student Intern - State Sales and Use Tax Clinic, University of San Diego, 2010 

• State Bar of California  
• California Lawyers Association, Taxation Law Section  
• U.S. Tax Court  
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
• San Diego Chapter of the Young Tax Lawyers of the California State Bar Tax Section, Co-Chair (2018-2021)  

• IRS Creates Safe Harbor for Professional Sports Team Player Contracts, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2020
• IRS Allows Medical Deductions for Genetic Testing, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2020
• Federal Judge Dismisses States' Challenge to Tax Reform Law, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2020
• Court Upholds $800,000 FBAR Penalty Imposed on School Teacher, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2020
• Tax Court Unexpectedly Rules against IRS in Civil Fraud Case, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2019
• IRS Office of Chief Counsel Issues Guidance for Section 7345 Passport Actions, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2018 
• IRS Wins Victory in Virtual Currency Case, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2018
• IRS Makes It Easier for Small Charities to Become Tax-Exempt Organizations, California Tax Lawyer Magazine, 2015
• The Requirement of Findings for an Alimony Order, Contemporary Legal Issues, 2012 

• Speaker, Federal and California Payroll Tax Responsibilities of Employers, Presented to USD Community, 2016
• Speaker, A Guide to Federal Tax Collections, Presented to USD Community, 2014
• Speaker, Helping Your Clients with Offers in Compromise, Presented to San Diego Tax Forum, 2014