Christopher H. Gaynor, CPA, MS
CONSULTING PRINCIPAL
Christopher Gaynor is a Consulting Principal of KROST. His level of expertise ranges from retirement planning to tax controversy. Chris has successfully performed hundreds of tax audits during his career.
Chris earned his undergraduate degree in political science at UCLA, and then finished his formal education with a Master of Science in Accounting at California State University, Northridge.
Chris resides in Pacific Palisades with his wife, Rose. They have two children, Nicole and Scott.
Professional Experience
- KROST, Consulting Principal (2022 — Present)
- KROST, Principal (2019 — 2021)
- Gaynor & Umanoff, Partner (2005 — 2018)
- Gaynor, Handelman & Gaynor, Partner (1978 — 2004)
- Price Waterhouse (1975 — 1977)
Education
- Master of Science with Emphasis in Business Administration and Accounting, California State University, Northridge
- Bachelor of Arts with Emphasis in Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles
Professional Affiliations
- Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Member of California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
- The conference planning committee for UCLA's annual Tax Controversy Conference
Extracurricular Activities
- Member of The Westwood Village Rotary
- President of The Westwood Village Rotary Club (1993 — 1994)
- Extensive Foreign Travel
- Tennis
Tax Thought Leadership

Update: IRS Extends Filing Deadline for California Storm Victims: Tax Relief Available
January 18, 2023The Governor’s office announced on January 13, 2023, that California will conform to the filing extensions granted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for California storm victims. This means that filing and payment deadlines for affected individuals and businesses in California are extended to May 15, 2023. On January 10, the IRS announced tax relief Read the full article…

IRS Extends Filing Deadline for California Storm Victims: Tax Relief Available
January 13, 2023On January 10, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced tax relief for California storm victims in most counties (see list of counties below). This tax relief applies to individuals and businesses located in disaster areas. The announcement postpones tax filings and payment deadlines that are due from January 8, 2023, through April 30, 2023, including Read the full article…

2022 Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Businesses
December 12, 2022In the last few months of the year, it is important to consider year-end tax planning opportunities as many may provide both immediate and long-lasting financial benefits. This year has brought incredibly unique challenges and significant change. Businesses that have not yet explored year-end tax planning should take an immediate inventory of their situation to Read the full article…

2022 Year-End Tax Planning for Individuals
December 12, 2022As calendar year 2022 comes to a close, it is a good time for taxpayers and their advisors to start thinking of planning moves that will help lower their tax bill for this year and possibly the next. This year, we have seen significant financial uncertainty and an inflation rate not seen since the 1980s, Read the full article…

Holding a Large Position in One Stock? Know Your Options: Exchange Funds
November 22, 2022Do you have a large position in a publicly held company? Are you concerned about having a concentration risk in your portfolio? If the answer is yes, then you should consider using an Exchange Fund, also known as a swap fund. An Exchange Fund provides the opportunity to diversify your stock holdings without triggering capital Read the full article…

Benefits of Disclaimers in Post-Mortem Estate Planning
October 27, 2022When considering the creation of a will or a trust, one usually thinks about pre-death planning. However, the beneficiaries have an opportunity where post-mortem planning comes into play. Let’s look at an important post-mortem planning tool – the disclaimer. A disclaimer is a refusal to accept an interest in or a power over property – Read the full article…

Build Back Better is Back
October 12, 2022The Build Back Better framework looks to improve American’s livelihoods through improved climate change efforts. It is the largest effort in American history, with a $555 billion investment in clean energy for the country. The United States has goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030. What it means for our clients Among Read the full article…

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555)
September 27, 2022The US tax system requires all its citizens and permanent residents to file tax returns based on worldwide income, regardless of where they live. As such, if a person lives overseas and files taxes in a foreign country, the person also needs to report the foreign income to the IRS by filing US taxes. In Read the full article…

What is a SLAT?
August 31, 2022A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT) is a trust established between spouses. Essentially, one spouse gives the other spouse assets in an amount that uses up the unused Federal Estate Tax Exemption. The trust of one spouse must be materially different from the trust of the other spouse. The reciprocal trust doctrine allows the IRS Read the full article…

New Schedules K-2 and K-3 Reporting for Form 1065, Form 1120-S, and Form 8865 – What You Need to Know
August 11, 2022For the tax year beginning in 2021, the IRS has implemented a new reporting requirement for partnerships, S corporations, and filers of Form 8865 to include Schedules K-2 (Partner’s Distributive Share Items – International) and Schedules K-3 (Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. – International) with their returns. What are Schedules K-2 and K-3 Read the full article…