I’m Kelly Phillips Erb, better known as Taxgirl.
Years ago, I found myself sitting in Moot Court at law school, wearing an oversized, itchy blue suit. It was a horrible experience. In a desperate attempt to avoid anything like that in the future, I enrolled in a tax course. I loved it. I signed up for another. Before I knew it, in addition to my JD, I had an LL.M. in Taxation. I needed only to don my cape… Taxgirl® was born.
While at law school, I interned at the estate & gift tax attorney division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where I participated in the review and audit of federal estate tax returns. At one audit, where I was the lead, opposing counsel read my report, looked at his file, and said, “Gentlemen, she’s exactly right.” I nearly fainted.
Today, I’m a managing shareholder at The Erb Law Firm, P.C., where I advise individuals, families, and businesses on tax, estate, and trust matters. My practice includes estate and tax planning, wills and trusts, and tax compliance and controversy, with experience in both domestic and international tax issues. I’m licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and before the U.S. Tax Court.
I’m also a longtime tax writer. These days, you can find my work right here at Taxgirl.com and in my Taxgirl newsletter, where I cover tax news, policy, law, and tax and financial crime. Previously, I was a senior writer at Forbes and served as a staff writer and Insights & Commentary Team Lead at Bloomberg Tax.
Over the years, I’ve written and been interviewed about taxes for CNN Money, CNBC, Reuters, Time, and U.S. News & World Report, and I’ve been asked to explain taxes in plain English by NPR’s Marketplace, Esquire, CBS Radio, Inc., Martha Stewart Living, MarketWatch, and plenty of podcasts. That plain-English part matters to me: tax can be complicated without being incomprehensible.
Speaking of podcasts, I also host the Taxgirl Podcast. It’s been on a bit of a hiatus, but a relaunch is in the works — so keep an eye out.
I also speak regularly on tax and legal topics at conferences, law schools, universities, bar associations, and professional events across the country. I present continuing education programs that qualify for CLE and CPE credit, and I’ve spoken for organizations including the AICPA, National Association of Tax Professionals, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Drexel University, Villanova University School of Law, and others. Whether I’m talking to tax professionals, lawyers, students, or taxpayers, the goal is the same: making complicated topics accessible without dumbing them down.
I also believe pretty strongly in putting all of this tax and legal knowledge to good use. Over the years, I’ve volunteered through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program — including a memorable trip to rural Alaska to prepare tax returns for free — and today I volunteer with Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Turns out there are plenty of ways to be Taxgirl without writing about taxes.
And to clarify, there are a number of folks flitting about the internet who seem to think it’s okay to use my trademarks (Taxgirl®, Ask The Taxgirl®, and Taxes From A To Z®). It’s not. I’ve spent more than 20 years building and protecting the Taxgirl brand, including taking legal action when necessary. If you find yourself a bit confused about whether something you see online is actually me, here are a few tips:
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If it says Taxgirl® and doesn’t talk about tax, it’s probably not me. And if it’s giggly stuff about staying out too late and partying, also not me (I have three kids- who are you kidding?).
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And if it involves anything illicit, definitely not me — remember, my mother could be reading.
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I don’t answer questions on Yahoo or other sites like Quora, and I don’t sell tax (or other) software.
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Most importantly, if it’s a tax site not affiliated with Taxgirl.com, it’s not me.