STEPHEN B. TACKNEY is a principal in the Compensation and Benefits practice group of the Washington National Tax office, KPMG. Stephen works on all aspects of compensation tax issues, including executive compensation, fringe benefit, health and welfare plan and qualified retirement plan matters. Prior to joining KPMG in 2021, Stephen served as Deputy Associate Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits, Exempt Organizations, and Employment Taxes), Office of Chief Counsel - IRS. In that capacity, Mr. Tackney supervised attorneys addressing tax issues across the employment benefits practice areas, including supervising the formulation of the guidance implementing employee benefits provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the SECURE Act, and the Affordable Care Act. Prior to coming to the Office of Chief Counsel in 2000, Mr. Tackney spent several years in private practice, focusing on employee benefits issues. Mr. Tackney graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1996.