2021 Teddy Ball Host
RONSON J. SHAMOUN
RSJ Law - A Tax Law Firm, CEO
Direct: (619) 777-7700
Email: rshamoun@rjslawfirm.com
Website: rsjlawfirm.com
Ronson J. Shamoun is the founder and CEO of RJS LAW, A Tax Law Firm. Mr. Shamoun and his experienced team of attorneys specialize in federal and state taxation matters, with an emphasis in criminal tax defense, tax controversy, and international tax and estate planning. He has extensive experience representing individuals and businesses before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the Employment Development Department (EDD), and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).
Mr. Shamoun has dedicated over twenty years of his life advocating for small and large tax resolution matters. Mr. Shamoun’s client-centered approach for legal matters is well-suited for any client, from small mom-and-pop business owners to large international companies with complex tax issues. He has saved his clients hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties and debts and is passionate about providing steadfast quality legal care.
In criminal tax matters, Mr. Shamoun has successfully fought for reduced criminal charges against clients accused of tax evasion and has and helped dozens of clients avoid criminal prosecution all together. Mr. Shamoun has a sterling reputation with the United States Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office in many of California’s jurisdictions and will tirelessly work with them to ensure each client receives a fair and just result.
Ronson J. Shamoun is an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law and the University of San Diego School of Business, where he teaches a plethora of classes including Tax Practice and Penalties and Federal Tax Procedures and Policies. Mr. Shamoun sits on the University of San Diego School of Law Board of Visitors and the University of San Diego School of Business Board of Advisors.
Mr. Shamoun is an advocate and ally for education. He is a consistent financial supporter of the University of San Diego and has established annual scholarships at the University San Diego School of Law and the University of San Diego School of Business in his name to encourage student success and growth in our community.
In 2016, Ronson J. Shamoun co-founded the nationally acclaimed University of San Diego School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute. Since then, Mr. Shamoun and USD annually bring together the nation’s most renowned tax attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax preparers to discuss the latest news and practices in tax. The institute has also raised thousands of dollars for student educational scholarships.
Ronson J. Shamoun is the recipient of many honors and awards. In 2017, Mr. Shamoun was honored with the University of San Diego School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award, USD Law’s highest honor. This prestigious designation has only been bestowed upon 83 of the university’s most acclaimed graduates since its inception in 1977. Since 2017, Mr. Shamoun has been recognized as a San Diego Top Attorney by SD Metro Magazine. In addition, every year since 2016, Mr. Shamoun has been ranked as a Top Lawyer by San Diego Magazine. Most recently, he was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as a 2020 CEO of the Year Winner in the Small Private Company Category. Also, Mr. Shamoun was also recently selected as one of San Diego’s 50 Leaders Making a Difference by the San Diego Business Journal in 2020. Additionally, from 2016-2019 he was named one of the Top 500 Influential Business Leaders by the San Diego Business Journal and a Super Lawyer by his San Diego peers. Since 2013, Mr. Shamoun has been recognized by Martindale Hubbell as an AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practices. This award recognizes Mr. Shamoun by his peers for his high ethical standards and professional excellence.
In addition, Ronson J. Shamoun was named a 2017 Best of the Bar by the San Diego Business Journal. In 2017, Mr. Shamoun was recognized for his stellar client reviews and recommendations from other attorneys in the community when he was awarded with the Client’s Choice award in all of his practice areas: tax, business, trusts, and real estate. In 2013, he was named a Top Young Influential and a Top Tax Attorney by the San Diego Daily Transcript, a Top Lawyer by San Diego Magazine, and a Top Lawyer in California by American Lawyer Media.
RJS LAW has also won many awards as a firm. RJS LAW was named as San Diego’s Most Admired Companies from San Diego Metro Magazine in 2014.
RJS LAW was named a finalist in the small business category for the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, presented by the Better Business Bureau of San Diego, Imperial, and Orange Counties in 2014. RJS LAW won the honor of being called one of San Diego’s Most Admired Companies from San Diego Metro Magazine in 2014, and as a Family Owned Business Finalist by the San Diego Business Journal during the same year. The firm was also given the title of Business of the Year by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
Previously, Mr. Shamoun served as general counsel for a regional supermarket chain with over thirteen locations. He was responsible for overseeing all legal issues for the company and its eight hundred employees.
Ronson J. Shamoun is a frequent legal commentator for many media outlets. He has been featured on Fox 5 News, ABC Channel 10 News, KUSI News, and NBC 7 News in San Diego for his legal expertise. He also is a legal and tax contributor to the San Diego Union Tribune and the San Diego Business Journal.
Ronson Shamoun is a San Diego native and a three-time graduate of the University of San Diego. He received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Accountancy in 1998, his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2002, and his Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.) in 2003. During his undergraduate education, Mr. Shamoun was a founding father of the USD chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Shamoun is an active member and advocate for the local San Diego community. He is the owner of the 2020 winner for the Union Tribune’s San Diego’s Best coffee shop, Café Bella, in Ocean Beach, California. Additionally, Mr. Shamoun, is a real estate and business investor.
Ronson J. Shamoun currently resides in San Diego with his wife, Melanie, and his children Mariella, Audriana, Emilia, and Ronson Jr.
RJS Team
Awards and Commendation:
2021 Winner – RJS LAW – San Diego’s Best Readers Poll – Legal – Real Estate and Tax Law Firm
2021 Recognized San Diego Metro Men of Influence – SD Metro Magazine
2021 CEO of the Year Finalist for small private companies – San Diego Business Journal
SD500 Most Influential People in San Diego Special Edition – Professional Services – San Diego Business Journal 2020
2020 San Diego’s Top Attorney- San Diego Metro Magazine
2020 San Diego 50 Leaders Making a Difference by the San Diego Business Journal
2020 winner of the CEO of the year for small private companies – San Diego Business Journal
Top Lawyer – San Diego Magazine 2020
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2020
Top 500 Influential Business Leaders- San Diego Business Journal 2019
San Diego Best Attorneys- San Diego Metro Magazine 2019
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2019
San Diego Best Attorneys- San Diego Metro Magazine 2018
Top 500 Influential Business Leaders- San Diego Business Journal 2018
Top Lawyer – San Diego Magazine 2018
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2018
Top 500 Influential Business Leaders- San Diego Business Journal 2017
San Diego Best Attorneys- San Diego Metro Magazine 2017
Most Admired CEO Finalist – San Diego Business Journal 2017
Top Lawyer – San Diego Magazine 2017
Voted San Diego’s BEST Tax Law Firm – Union Tribune Reader’s Poll 2017
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2017
Best of the Bar – San Diego Business Journal 2017
Top 500 Influential Business Leaders- San Diego Business Journal 2016
Most Recommended Law Firm – Our City San Diego Magazine 2016
Top 10 Best Accounting Firms in San Diego, CA – AdvisoryHQ News 2016
Voted San Diego’s BEST Tax Law Firm – Union Tribune Reader’s Poll 2016
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2016
Real Estate Tax Law – San Diego Magazine 2016
Best of the Bar – San Diego Business Journal 2016
Most Admired CEO Finalist – San Diego Business Journal 2016
San Diego Best Attorneys- San Diego Metro Magazine 2016
Voted San Diego’s BEST Tax Law Firm – Union Tribune Reader’s Poll 2015
Top Tax Lawyer- San Diego Magazine 2015
Top Tax Attorney – San Diego Daily Transcript 2015
40 Under 40- San Diego Metro Magazine 2015
Best of the Bar – San Diego Business Journal 2015
Most Admired CEO Finalist – San Diego Business Journal 2015
Top Lawyer – San Diego Magazine 2015
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2015
Voted San Diego’s BEST Tax Law Firm – Union Tribune Reader’s Poll 2014
Client’s Choice in Tax – Avvo.com 2014
Client’s Choice in Business – Avvo.com 2014
Client’s Choice in Trusts – Avvo.com 2014
Client’s Choice in Real Estate – Avvo.com 2014
Torch Award Finalist – Better Business Bureau of San Diego, Imperial, and Orange Counties 2014
Most Admired Companies – San Diego Metro Magazine 2014
Top Tax Attorney – San Diego Daily Transcript 2014
Best of the Bar – San Diego Business Journal 2014
Best Attorney – San Diego Metro Magazine 2014
Mover to Watch – San Diego Metro Magazine 2014
Top Lawyer – San Diego Magazine 2014
Family Owned Business Finalist – San Diego Business Journal 2014
State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition – RJS LAW 2014
California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition – RJS LAW 2014
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Merit – RJS LAW 2014
City of San Diego Certification of Recognition – RJS LAW 2014
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2014
San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year – RJS LAW 2013
Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent: Highest Excellence in Legal Ability and Ethical Practice – 2013
Top Young Influential – San Diego Daily Transcript 2013
Top Tax Attorney – San Diego Daily Transcript 2013
Top Lawyer – San Diego Magazine 2013
Top Lawyers in California – American Lawyer Media 2013
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition – RJS LAW 2013
State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition – RJS LAW 2013
California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition – RJS LAW 2013
San Diego County Board of Supervisors Certificate of Recognition – RJS LAW 2013
Top Young Attorney – San Diego Daily Transcript 2010
Top Young Attorney – San Diego Daily Transcript 2009
Representative Matters:
Litigated case against U.S. government for failing to provide timely responses to Freedom of Information Act requests.
Represented taxpayer who had 30 million dollars in alter-ego liens erroneously assessed against it. Successfully appealed the filing of the liens and IRS withdrew all liens.
Appealed IRS Excise Tax Return disallowance of $1 million in exemptions on taxpayer’s return. Successfully appealed the claim which resulted in no tax due to IRS.
Successfully negotiated with IRS counsel to reduce gift tax penalties from several hundred thousand dollars to zero.
Client was facing numerous counts of tax evasion and aiding and abetting after the government accused him of planning faulty tax returns for himself and others. Successfully settled the case pleading guilty to one count of personal tax evasion, resulting in $92,000 restitution and NO jail time.
Tax planner was assessed $200,000 in penalties for recklessly and willfully planning tax returns for third parties. Successfully negotiated with the IRS and settled the case for only $34,000 in penalties.
Client plead guilty to one count of structuring to evade reporting requirements. Initial recommendation by government would have been 30-37 months in jail plus $225,000 in forfeiture and instead was reduced to $150,000 forfeiture and NO jail time.
Client was a tax attorney charged with filing false tax returns for his clients and himself. The maximum sentence for Conspiracy to Defraud the Government is 10 years custody. The maximum sentence for the False Tax Return count is 3 years custody. Client was sentenced to 10 months custody and $268,000 restitution for both counts.
Represented a large home care facility with two locations that missed the deadline to file a petition for redetermination of an EDD Workers Classification audit which could have resulted in a large payroll tax liability. He successfully represented the client before the ALJ so as to uphold the untimely petition.
Represented a small business owner in an IRS audit where losses were taken over more than a 10-year period with little substantiation available. The client was facing potential fraud charges and a six-year audit. However, he successfully limited the audit to a three-year audit with no fraud penalties assessed and limited accuracy related penalties.
Represented renowned and successful entrepreneur in an FTB audit with a potential disallowance of more than a million dollars in losses. Successfully limited the audit to one year with no changes made.
Convinced the IRS in an audit to respect a management company instead of disallowing it. Saved the taxpayer tens of thousands of dollars in proposed tax liabilities.
Convinced the IRS in an audit that the taxpayers were active rather than passive in their business entities, and therefore persuaded the IRS that the losses from those business entities were active not passive. Saved the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in proposed tax liabilities.
Handled a trust fund recovery interview and ensured that only one officer of the corporation was a responsible party in a company which has accrued over $350,000 in payroll taxes. The president of the corporation was not determined to be a responsible party.
Represented a client in an IRS audit with an exam change of more than $250,000. After taking over the case from the CPA, the IRS refunded the client over $100,000.
Successfully reduced a Sales Tax Audit Assessment from greater than $130,000 to less than $40,000.
Successfully settled a final sales tax liability of almost $90,000 for just over $60,000.
Reduced a client’s IRS liability from $250,000 to $0 by taking advantage of a little-known provision in the Internal Revenue Code and filing an amended return.
Successfully abated over $30,000 in penalties for a taxpayer who took an improper deduction on an income tax return, which was disallowed in audit.
Represented a client in a Business Property Tax Audit that resulted in a refund, rather than a tax due.
Handled an EDD audit with a proposed assessment of greater than $100,000, which resulted in no tax due.
Client was charged with failure to file FTB returns for 4 years and filing false returns for an LLC for four years. Client was facing up to three years of imprisonment and received just three years of probation and community service.
Client involved in tax evasion and received no jail time but just three years of probation.
Speaking Engagements:
Appeals, Collections, OIC, & Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program IRS & FTB Issues – Southern California Tax Professionals 2014
The Daily Transcript Executive Round Table – May 2014
Careers in Tax Law Panel – California Western School of Law 2014
Audit Techniques- CSTC CLE 2013
Tax- USD Tax Panel 2013
Entrepreneurship Planning Panel- USD 2012
Tax Topics: Payroll Tax, Criminal Tax, Collection- Continuing Education Presentation for Considine & Considine, Certified Public Accountants 2012
Careers in Tax- USD Tax Law Society 2011
Criminal Tax Seminar- MCLE California Society of Enrolled Agents 2011
Areas of practice:
Civil Tax Controversy and Planning
Business and Real Estate Transactional Law
Business Litigation
Professional affiliations:
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Awards – Board of Governors Treasurer 2014-2016 (Pacific Southwest Chapter)
Knights of Columbus 2nd Degree Knight
Admitted to practice before the following courts:
United States District Court for the Southern District of California
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Supreme Court of the State of California
