David Holtz

I’m a tax litigation attorney with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and businesses resolve complex IRS and state tax controversies—audits, investigations, criminal matters, collections, and Tax Court litigation. I began my career as a CPA, working with firms including Deloitte. I later earned a J.D. and an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida, and served as a Senior Trial Attorney with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. I’m a founding principal at Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin, APC—a Southern California tax controversy firm composed exclusively of former IRS litigators. We bring deep institutional insight and extensive trial experience to every matter we handle. Over the years, I’ve also taught tax law as an adjunct professor and argued several reported cases before the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court. In parallel with my legal work, I’m currently completing doctoral training in clinical psychology and am a long-term Zen meditator. These disciplines have broadened my understanding of how people navigate fear, stress, and uncertainty—especially when facing the emotional weight of a serious tax dispute. I bring fierce advocacy, clear strategy, and grounded presence to every case I take on—because resolution requires more than technical skill. It takes trust, clarity, and the ability to meet complexity with care.