Christopher Stevenson

Practice Areas

Chris Stevenson is a tax attorney and Co-Leader of the Business Services practice group, who advises clients on a wide range of federal and state tax compliance issues and tax controversies before taxing authorities. Also a Certified Public Accountant, Chris delivers exceptional value to his clients, who are looking for practical, comprehensible and efficient solutions to complex legal problems.

In his transactional tax practice, Chris frequently advises businesses on the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions. He also works with nonprofits on organizational and operational compliance with federal tax rules, as well as establishing joint ventures with for-profit entities. Chris regularly represents individuals and businesses before the IRS, as well as state taxing authorities. He’s had repeat success in securing waivers of large civil penalties from the IRS, in some cases for assessments in excess of $1,000,000.

Chris regularly advises Tribal Nations on wide-ranging federal, state, and tribal tax matters, including the establishment of tax-qualified general welfare programs, compliance with the ACA, and the implementation of tribal tax ordinances and associated preemption of state tax laws. He has assisted Tribal Nations in issuing tax-exempt tribal economic development bonds to finance expansive economic development projects and implementing IHS purchased referred care programs under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

Chris also has extensive experience counseling businesses, nonprofits, Tribal Nations, and public employers on qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, health plans, and other employee benefit arrangements. Chris assists employers in drafting retirement plan and health plan documents and navigating IRS and DOL retirement plan voluntary correction programs. He’s also a leading expert in Affordable Care Act compliance for large employers and is frequently invited to present at the local and national levels on tax and employee benefit topics.

Professional Memberships

-Maine Bar Association

-Maine Society of CPAs

Publications

-Maine’s Dynasty Trust Statute: the Product of an Informed Judgment?, Maine Bar Journal

-Application of §105(h) Nondiscrimination Rules to Fully Insured Health Plans, National School Board Association Inquiry and Analysis

Expert in these Jurisdictions

-Maine

-U.S. Tax Court

Education

Awards