Practice Areas: Tax, Estate Planning & Probate, Business & Corporate; view more
Licensed in California since: 1979
Education: Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2025 Call today:
310-517-8600
Virtual Appointments KFB Rice LLP
21250 Hawthorne BlvdSuite 500
Torrance, CA 90503 Visit website
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A premier attorney at the law firm of KFB Rice, LLP, in Torrance, California, David Lee Rice is judicious in his advocacy and helps his clients in a plethora of legal matters, including elder law, tax law, entertainment law, business law, estate planning, probate and consumer law, among others. He serves the residents of Southern California such as San Fernando Valley, Riverside County, Orange County, Irvine, Pasadena and Glendale.
Sagacious in his work ethic and knowledgeable in his field, Mr. Rice understands the strategies his clients require to give them respite in their issues. A notable example involved a client who had over $1.5 million to pay in taxes, which was settled in tax court for $13,000. His shrewd thinking and client-centric approach to his practice have earned him the adulation of his peers and many prestigious legal organizations, including being peer-review rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell and holding a perfect “10.0” rating on Avvo.
A 1974 B.A. degree graduate cum laude in economics from Arizona State University, Mr. Rice went on to attend the Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and received his Juris Doctor cum laude in 1979. To further progress his legal acumen and bolster his strong legal foundations, he enrolled at the University of San Diego School of Law and obtained his LL.M. degree in taxation in 1988. In addition, for all his college education, he has been included in the dean’s list for all of them.
Mr. Rice has been licensed to practice in California since 1979, and he is also admitted to practice before all the federal district courts of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, the United States Tax Court, the California Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. His experience of nearly 45 years has helped him keep in touch with the bedrock traditions of what makes him an efficaciously hard worker while still bringing in new and innovative practices to the forefront of his representation.
Within his legal community, Mr. Rice is an obelisk of high ethics and leadership, mentoring new and up-and-coming attorneys on his mammoth level of knowledge and practical advice as a professor at Cal Poly Pomona, while maintaining a strong influence across many prominent legal organizations. These include the American Bar Association, The State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association – where he also served as a former chair for the tax committees and sections for all the organizations. In addition, he is also a member of the South Bay Bar Association and the South Bay Estate Planning Council, and moreover, he is certified in tax law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and in elder law by the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Tax: Business, Estate Planning & Probate, Tax: Consumer, Business/Corporate, Elder LawFocus areas
Business Formation and Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Tax Law, Trusts, Wills
- 30% Tax: Business
- 30% Estate Planning & Probate
- 20% Tax: Consumer
- 10% Business/Corporate
- 10% Elder Law
First Admitted: 1979, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.kfbrice.com/attorneys/david-l-rice/
- U.S. Tax Court, 1980
- Los Angeles County Bar, Former Chair Tax Section
- American Bar Association, Former Chair of Income and Family Tax Committee
- California, 1979
- Supreme Court of California, 1979
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1980
- Former Chair, State Board of Legal Specialization Tax Section
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1980
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1980
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2006
- Cross Border Divorces - A Trip Through Alice's Looking Glass This seminar discusses the various tax issues that arise with cross-border divorces. Were you aware that London is the divorce capitol of the world?, 2022
- Collection Due Process Hearings - What Every Practitioner Needs to Know., 2022
- COVID - 19 This seminar discusses the current state and trends in IRS Collection procedures during the pandemic., 2021
- AB 150 California's Answer to SALT Limitations. This program discusses the various ways to get around the SALT limitations under Federal and State law., 2021
- Community Property - The Rules and Their Impact on Income Tax and Estate Tax return reporting., 2020
- Collection, Payroll Taxes, and Criminal Investigation Division This seminar covered Employment taxes and how to avoid criminal prosecution., 2020
- Special Needs Trusts This seminar covered the use of Special Needs Trust and whether one is needed. The seminar also covered the use of ABLE accounts and how to integrate them with Special Needs Trust., 2020
- Getting It Right: Dealing with Foreign Tax Issues (Cal Society of CPAS), 2018
- Seminar - Getting it Right: Dealing with Foreign Tax Issues (Cal Society of CPAs), 2018
- Admitted to American College of Tax Counsel., 2017
- American Bar Association - Chair of the Individual and Family Law Section., 2010
- Beverly Hills Bar Association
- South Bay Estate Planning Council
- Former Chair, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Tax Section
- Former Chair, State Bar Tax Procedure and Litigation Committee
- South Bay Bar Association
- Former Chair, State Bar Income Tax Committee
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Former Director, Board of Directors, Fibromyalgia Treatment Center
- Settled Partnership Tax Case for MMA-TapouT with the IRS. IRS asserted $35,038,798 in net gain from 4797 and settled with IRS for $13,632,837. Additionally, the IRS agreed that all of the gains would be treated as capital gain, instead of taxing $8,047,860 as ordinary income. The IRS reversed its decision and allowed in full $1,262,326 in depreciation. The accuracy-related penalty of 20% was abated., 2018
- Marital Deduction Clauses in Estate Drafting This seminar covered the various ways of using a martial deduction in estate planning, including the use of a pecuniary versus a fractional bequest., 2019
- Caretacker Contracts Tax and Medi-Cal Planning for Caretaker Contracts., 2019
- Divorce and Taxation and the Innocent Spouse (Orange County Bar Association - Family Law Section, 2018
- The client was assessed over $100,000 in taxes, interest, and penalties for relief of liabilities. IRS granted us a reaudit and reduced the tax obligation to $0., 2017
- Settled a Tax Court case where the assessed amount was over $1,500,000 for $18,000., 2012
- Won an innocent spouse case for Mary Brown resulting in the relief of over $40,000,000 in tax liabilities., 2017
- The firm just won an innocent spouse case relieving a spouse of over $3,000,000 in liabilities. Settled a case with penalties that approached $50,000 for less than $3,000. On a recent panel at the annual ABA meeting in May, I spoke on the alter-ego/nominee lien and the lack of due process. It is my understanding that TAS is now looking at this area seriously with the intent on making recommendations to the IRS in implementing some modicum of due process.
- Client owed the IRS in excess of $2,000,000. Settled the case with the IRS for $400,000 though and Offer in Compromise.
- The appeal of Donald Finch II. The client had a website that dealt with diabetes and allowed individuals and their caregivers to communicate with each other regarding their illness and treatments. A small part of the website allowed individuals to get advice from physicians. The Company was sold for millions of dollars and California denied the client the ability to pay tax as if the business were classified as a qualified small business stock. The FTB caved in and dismissed the case after we filed our initial brief in the matter. , 2017
- In addtion to handling tax audits and tax litigation, our firm also handles numerous collection matters and can properly advise the taxpayer on the best way to resolve his or her tax issues with the tax agency in question. Our firm also handles probates, estate planning and elder law matters, including Medi-Cal planning and financial Elder Abuse cases. In a recent Elder Abuse case, an elderly client was induced to sell her property for $300,000. Our firm realized that the elderly client had been taken advantage of and settled the case to $2,700,000. , 2006
- The client was assessed over approximately $400,000 in taxes, interest, and penalties. I settled the case for $11,000., 2016
- Hlavacek vs. United States - The IRS assessed an additional $20,000,000 againt the taxpayer contending that the taxpayer had to recognize income equal to the amount of the issue price of the debt instrument which is the face amount of the promissory note. We filed an action in the Court of Claims and the IRS conceded the case prior to judgment, thereby in essence agreeing that the Treasury Regulation was questionable at best. , 2015
- Client assessed over $1,000,000 in additional income and settled case for $0.
- Resolved taxpayer dispute with the Franchise Tax Board. The FTB proposed an assessment of $1,300,000, which was settled for $250,000.
- SBE Entertainment Beats Entertainment LEDtronics Cisco Corporation
- Resolved numerous tax collection cases through non-collectible status, installment agreements, and Offers in Compromise.
- Tri City Models, Inc., 2018
- Calpiping Industrial, LLC
- SBE Entertainment Hlavacek Enterprises CalPipping Balian Markets Pilgrim Entertainment Farmers & Merchants Trust Company McNearny's Mortuary Dr. Patricia Sacks Cisco Corporation Wells Fargo Bank NA Bonnie Hanna Mickey Rooney (deceased)
- Client assessed over $1,600,000 in taxes. Settled the case in tax court for $13,000.
- Velur Enterprises
- Certified Elder Law Specialist by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2005
- Certified Specialist in Taxation by the State Bar of California. Certified Elder Law Specialist by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 1990
- The University of San Diego - Awarded L.L.M. in Taxation, Honors: Deans List all years, 1988
- Arizona State University, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, Honors: Dean’s List, 1974
- This whitepaper focuses in on the limitations of Section 104(a)(2)., Comments on Limitation of Section 104(a)(2) Exclusion, 2012
- Quandary at National Health Company, International Research Journal of Applied Finances, 2013
- Professor, Accounting & Business Department: Cal Poly Pomona, CA
- Taxation of Domestic Partnership and Same Sex Couples, California State Bar
- Tax Consequences of Short Sale and Foreclosures, California Polytechnic University
- Income Tax Planning for Disabled Clients, American Bar Association
- Ethical Consideration in Advising Same Sex Couples, American Bar Association
- Income Tax Consequences for Caregivers, National Academy of Elter Law Attorneys, 2006
- Is it De Jevu All Over Again- The Need for New Legislation, UCLA Annual Tax Controversy Institute, Innocent Spouse: Eight Years Later, 2006
- The Ethics of Fraudulent Conveyance: What Every Tax Lawyer Must Know, Annual Meeting California Tax Bar and the California Tax Policy Conference, 2006
- Tax Collection Procedures: Money Still Talks, CCH Tax Practice & Producer, 2007
- Elder Law and the Tax Practitioner- How to Navigate the Murky Waters, Tax Development Journal, Volume II, 2011
- The Kinder and Gentler IRS is Targeting E File Practitioners- Are You Compliance?, CCH Tax Practice & Producer, 2011
- Taxation of Special Needs Trust, CEB- Special Needs Trust, 2013
- Mr. Rice has published numerous articles inlcuding, but not limted to the following:1. Elder Law and the Tax Practitioner How to Navigate the Murky Waters Tax Development Journal. Volume 2, Spring 2011;
- It is important for every tax practitioner to understand the State Property laws to properly advise clients on tax planning, estate planning and tax controversy matters. Federal tax law has always deferred to State laws to determine the character and nature of property.1 This article will focus on the California Community Property Laws., Co-Author, Community Property - The Rules and Their Impact on Income Tax and Estate Tax Return Reporting, Tax Law, Family Law, Estate Planning, Trust Administration, 2017
- Co-Author of Capital Gains Planning After 2008, Matthew Bender (USC Tax Institute).
- The Ethics of Fraudulent Conveyance: What Every Tax Lawyer Must Know. 2006 California Tax Bar and the California Tax Policy Conference.
- Co-Author of Desperate Spouses - What Every Tax Practitioner Needs to Know About Fraudulent Conveyances and States' Property Rights to Protect the Innocent Spouse. Matthew Bender USC Tax Institute 2007.
- Is a Worker and Employee or Independent Contractor? California Tax Bar and California Tax Policy Conference 2010.
- Divorce and Registered Domestic Partner Dissolutions - A Reminder that Hisotry Does Indeed Repeast Itself. American Bar Association Annual Meeting, May 2011.
- Encouraging The Fair Treatment of Emotional Distress Damage Awards, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, May 2010.
- Innocent Spouse From the Front Lines. American Bar Assocation Winter Meeting 2010.
- Papers presented to the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Treasury, United States Senate and House Ways and Meand Committee: A. IRC Section 213 - the Medical Deduction: A Need for Statutory Reform. B. Proposed Amendment to IRC Sections 1034 and 6013 (May 1993) C. Propsed Amendment to Section 1034 of the Internal Revenue Code (May 1994) D. Comment to the Proposed Treasury Regulations Addting Section 1.664-4(c)(3)(iii) and 1.664-4(c)(2). E. Comments to Proposed Amendments to Circular 230 (May of 2005 and May of 2006) F. Proposed Regulations of the Accuracy Related Penalty (May 2002).
- Califonria Tax Lawyer, Spring 2008(Vol 17, No2) "Long Term Expenses and the Medical Deduction - the Need for Regulatory Reform"
- RIA Journal of Taxation (August 2003) - IRS and the Courts Provide Guidance for Taxapyers Seeking Relief as an Innocent Spouse.
- California Tax Lawyer, Winter 2005, "Tax Defense Protection Strategies - Whay Can the Tax Practitoner Legally Advise?"
- Los Angeles Lawyer, March 2005, "Protecting the Innocent"
- RIA Estate Planning Journal, August 2003, "Fraudulent Transfers - New Developments Affect the Statutes of Limitations for Fraudulent Transfers."
- ABA, Family Law Advocate - "Planning for Innocent Spouse in Divorce" Fall 1995.
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (April 2006), "Tax Consequences of Caregiver Contracts."
- The IRS has been audited tax practitioners who e-file returns and has been discplining some of them for violations that the IRS has been less than transparent on. This article focuses in on the areas the IRS is looking at and what the Practitioner should be aware of when an audit does take place., Co-Author, The Kindler and Gentler IRS is Targeting E-File Practitioners - Are you in Compliance?, CCH - Journal of Tax Practice & Procedure, 2011
- Admitted to the American College of Tax Counsel (approximately 700 tax attorneys have been accepted), 2017
- Entertainment
- High Wealth Individuals
- Industrial
- International Estate Planning
- IRS and FTB Penalty Abatement
- Medi-Cal Planning
- Real Estate
- Real Estate Development
- Technology
- Transportation
Office location for David Lee Rice
21250 Hawthorne Blvd
Suite 500
Torrance, CA 90503
Phone: 310-517-8600
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2025
