Don Kotval joins Blankenship CPA Group as a Senior Consultant handling tax controversy issues after an extensive and successful 30-year career with the IRS. Before his retirement in August 2018, he was an Appeals Officer in the Appellate Division for six years where he settled over 700 tax disputes through traditional hearings and mediation. Before IRS Appeals, he spent time in collections, compliance examination as a Revenue Agent in general and large case programs, Learning and Education as a National Subject Matter Expert, and as a Large Case Employment Tax Specialist. As an Employment Tax Specialist, he audited executive and non-executive fringe benefits, stock-based compensation, and international payroll tax issues.

Throughout his career, Don has had many opportunities to teach courses related to new hire corporate and partnership taxation, insurance tax accounting, and Basic and International Employment Tax. He even developed a course to detect money laundering in the insurance industry. Don also designed the first required financial accounting course for all IRS engineers. Throughout his career, he has been a presenter, guest speaker, and trainer. While serving as a Subject Matter Expert he coordinated the nationwide delivery of all training for insurance examiners conducting audits of life, health, casualty, and property insurance companies, and captive insurers throughout the United States.

Don has served as an Adjunct Professor of Accounting, teaching tax and accounting courses at Tennessee State University for sixteen years and at Aquinas College for eight years. Don holds a Master of Science degree in Accounting and Information Systems from Middle Tennessee State University and earned his MBA, with a concentration in Finance, from the University of North Alabama. He is proud to have studied public policy at the doctorial level. He is a CPA in the state of Tennessee and an IRS Enrolled Agent.

Outside of work and teaching, Don enjoys golfing with friends, spending time with his wife, Charity, of 39 years, and collecting seashells at the beach. He also spends time with his two sons, Jonathan and David, and daughter-in-law, Jenny, a future CPA who recently earned her Master’s in Accountancy.