David Lifson Honored with Prestigious AICPA Kess Award

David Lifson, CPA, a partner with Crowe LLP in New York, is the recipient of this year’s American Institute of CPAs’ (AICPA) Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education. Presenting the award during AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE 2022 was Sidney Kess, CPA, J.D., LL.M., for whom the award is named after.

Lifson has been a leader in Crowes’s national Global Private Client Service tax and business consultancy practice. He is passionate about advising clients on managing various types of business change within tax, economic and other related constraints, and dealing with the tax compliance challenges that accompany change.

“David Lifson’s career truly embodies the spirit of the Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education,” said Sidney Kess. “David’s exceptional ability to identify pertinent topics based on legislation, his knowledge of the profession’s needs and his ability to guide the committee’s selection of outstanding speakers are vital to the success of AICPA’s annual National Tax Conference. His contributions to the AICPA and to the profession have been instrumental in advancing the education and careers of CPAs around the country.”

Lifson was the 2009 recipient of the AICPA’s Arthur J. Dixon Memorial Award, the accounting profession’s highest award in the area of taxation. He was awarded the Sustained Contribution Award in 2011, which recognizes members of the Institute who have contributed measurably to the AICPA and CPA profession through their volunteer services. He has chaired the Tax Executive Committee, served as a member of the AICPA Board of Directors and its Council, and has chaired or served on various AICPA Committees, Task Forces and Technical Resource Panels over the years. Lifson has also chaired the AICPA’s National Tax Conference.

He is a former president of the New York State Society of CPAs and has served in various capacities on its behalf. In addition, he chaired the Small Business and Self-Employed sub-group of the Internal Revenue Service’s Advisory Council (IRSAC). He is a frequently published author, teacher and spokesperson on various tax topics, nationally and internationally.

The Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education recognizes CPAs who have made significant and outstanding contributions in tax and financial planning and whose public service exemplifies the CPA profession’s values and ethics. The Kess Award recognizes commitment to strategic CPA education, valuable mentoring and unwavering integrity and public service – characteristics personified by its namesake, Sidney Kess. Nominations for the Kess Award are solicited by the Tax Strategies for the High-Income Individual Conference Steering Committee, which determines award recipients. Recipients of this award epitomize the standard set by Kess and are deserving of it recognition.