About Adnan

Adnan Islam, Esq., is a tax partner with Marcum and has over 18 years of business advisory and international tax experience as a licensed tax attorney. Adnan has served an array of industries (e.g., technology, consumer products, apparel, manufacturing and distribution, affiliate marketing, e-commerce, services, beauty, etc.) and clients ranging from startups to publicly traded companies, various crypto clients (e.g., digital asset, blockchain, DeFi), private equity, and hedge funds.

Adnan specializes in cross-border strategies, comprehensive inbound tax services, global information reporting, and structuring for consumer products, crypto funds, blockchain (and tech), professional services, and trading companies.

As an industry thought leader, Adnan has lectured on tax topics at TEI events, CCH, AICPA seminars, served as an adjunct professor for Golden Gate University’s Master’s in Tax curriculum, and has been published in several tax and business articles and journals.

His skillset includes:

  • Advising clients at all stages of business and restructuring, including mitigating adverse CFC and ECI issues.
  • Advising companies, founders, traders, miners, stakers, funds, and LPs as they navigate the blockchain, digital asset, and cryptocurrency spaces to optimize their tax positions and structures.
  • Managing international tax analyses with various jurisdictions including but not limited to: UAE, Portugal, Canada, U.K., Switzerland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, and Mexico.
  • Researching and analyzing global finance and holding company jurisdictions to empower his clients’ decision-making and improve their supply chain and operational efficiency, including utilization of various provisions of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (FDII, GILTI, 245A DRD etc.).
  • Advising cross-border reorganizations including mergers, acquisitions, and liquidations.
  • Providing comprehensive guidance on inbound taxation, including debt-equity issues, withholding tax, foreign partner issues, sale of U.S. real estate by a foreign person, etc.
  • Reviewing IRS Forms 5471, 8858, and 8865 for clients across myriad industries.
  • Coordinating with foreign network partners and IRS Office of Chief Counsel.
  • Analyzing U.S. withholding taxes (Chapter 3 and FATCA) and treaty-based positions.

Adnan is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in New Jersey, DC, and California, and is a Certified Public Accountant in New York and California. He holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.), an MBA from Rutgers University, an LL.M. in Taxation from the New York University School of Law, and an LL.M. International Tax Certificate from Georgetown Law.

Professional & Civic Affiliations

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • Admitted in CA, NJ, DC (inactive), and the United States Tax Court
  • Enrolled Agent (EA), authorized to practice before the IRS
  • Tax Law Specialist, licensed by the California Bar through the Specialist Bar Exam
  • Blockchain Business Certificate, MIT
  • Economics of Blockchain Transactions Certificate, Wharton
  • DFK International Tax Committee
  • ProVisors EC of DTLA5 Group and former Group Leader/Founder of NYC1 Group (2020 to 2023)
Industry Focus

Digital Currency
Blockchain Technology

Education

Juris Doctor, Rutgers University

Master of Business Administration,
Rutgers University

Master of Laws,Taxation, New York
University School of Law

Master of Laws, International Tax
Certificate, Georgetown University Law Center