Kevin Blake has extensive expertise in both multi-state and local sales and use tax issues. His responsibilities include research and planning, compliance reviews, overpayment reviews, voluntary disclosures, client representation during audits and appeals, litigation support, and preparation/presentation of procedural manuals and training seminars. His experience involves a number of diverse industries including aerospace, construction, graphic arts, manufacturing, non-profit, real estate, retail/wholesale, service, and telecommunications.

Kevin began his career in tax consulting in 1989 with DuCharme, McMillen and Associates, Inc. He joined American Express Tax and Business Services, Inc. (F/K/A Altschuler, Melvoin & Glasser LLP) in 1990 where he served as Director of Sales and Use Tax Services. He later joined Smart and Associates, LLP (F/K/A Strategis) in 1999, which spun-off his practice area in 2006 to Brown Taxes, LLC.

In his 18 years on consulting, Kevin has represented clients with sales and tax issues in more than 25 taxing jurisdictions, including Alabama, California, Chicago, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Kevin has participated in speaking engagements on various topics of taxation, including “Illinois Service Occupation Taxes” on the Accountability Program on WFBT- Channel 23, “The Impact of Illinois Sales/Use Tax Laws on Service Occupations” at the Midwest Accounting & Business Show, and the “Mulitstate Tax Half Day Seminar” for the Illinois CPA Society. He has also authored numerous articles on sales and use tax issues in professional journals such as Manu-Facts, Distribution Focus, Lawyer’s Business Journal, and The Construction Industry Advisor.

Kevin has a BS in Accounting from Indiana University, a MST from DePaul University, and obtained his CPA certificate from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the AICPA, serves on the State and Local Tax Committee of the Illinois CPA Society, and maintains a CMI designation with the Institute for Professionals in Taxation (“IPT”).