Overview
Sean Deneault is a Director in Kaufman Rossin’s Tax Resolution & Advisory practice. Sean assists clients with issues before the Internal Revenue Service, including examinations, appeals, and collection matters. He brings deep experience with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel and has developed specialized expertise in international tax matters, voluntary disclosures, John Doe summonses, jeopardy assessments, and FBAR examinations.
Sean joined Kaufman Rossin in 2026 after previously serving as a Senior Manager of International Tax, where he advised high-net-worth individuals and cross-border families on inbound international tax planning and offshore noncompliance. Prior to that, Sean spent over a decade with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, rising to the role of Senior Counsel in the Litigation and Advisory Division. During his tenure with the IRS, he served as lead attorney on hundreds of U.S. Tax Court cases, including precedent-setting matters involving fraud, Subpart F income, PFIC, offshore trusts, conservation easements, and micro captive insurance. He also routinely assisted the Department of Justice in civil cases, summons enforcement, refund suits, and penalty cases, including matters before U.S. appellate courts and the Supreme Court. As a Staff Attorney, Sean supervised the IRS’s FBAR program, and provided counsel on the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program and Streamlined Filing Procedures.
Sean has been recognized with several honors for his work at the IRS, including the SB/SE Commissioner’s Award, the Chief Counsel Trial Advocacy Lucite Award, the Office of Fraud Enforcement Team Merit Award, and the Chief Counsel Legal Service Award. He is a member of the Florida Bar and holds a Chainalysis Cryptocurrency Fundamentals Certification. Sean is also a published author, with works including Farhy, Zuch, and the Fragmented, Difficult Path for Taxpayers, Tax Notes (November 2025), and High-Stakes Reset for the IRS and DOJ (co-author), Bloomberg (February 2026).
Sean earned his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where he served as Executive Articles Editor of the Indiana International & Comparative Law Review. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Vanderbilt University.
Education
Juris Doctorate, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Bachelor of Arts, History and Political Science, Vanderbilt University
