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Jason C. Melillo, CPA
CEO
Jason Melillo is the CEO of KROST and a Principal of KBKG, Tax Credits, Incentives, and Cost Recovery. Previously, Jason was the practice leader of the Accounting and Assurance & Advisory Services practices. His areas of expertise include food service, manufacturing, real estate, retail, technology, and professional services industries.
Jason has been a lecturer to large organizations, such as the California Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and organizations such as the California Restaurant Association. He has given many seminars on cost segregation and other matters to CPAs, attorneys, and industry professionals.
Jason has a degree in finance and business economics from the University of Southern California. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Professional Experience
- KROST, CEO (January 2022 — Present)
- KROST, Principal — Accounting, Assurance and Advisory Practice Leader (January 2005 — 2021)
- KBKG, Principal (January 2005 — Present)
- KROST CPAs, Manager (January 1997 — January 2005)
- Louis Foods, Inc. Controller (1988 — 1997)
Education
- Bachelor of Science with Emphasis in Finance and Economics, University of California, Southern California (1988)
- Accounting Core Program University of California at Los Angeles (1997)
Professional Affiliations
- Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Member of California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
- Lecturer — California Society of CPAs Education Foundation and discussion groups
- Lecturer — Lorman Education Services
- Lecturer — Pasadena Business and Technology Center
- Lecturer — California Restaurant Association
- AICPA Large Firm Group — Chairman (2019 — Present)
Extracurricular Activities
- Five Acres Board Member (2020 — Present)
- Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association Board Member (2014 — Present)
- Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association (1991 — Present)
- Oakmont Country Club (2011 — Present)
- Certified Grocers Federal Credit Union, Board of Directors (1995 — 2003)
- Pasadena Enterprise Center (Business Incubator), Board of Directors (1992 — 2005)
Jason's Thought Leadership

KROST Quarterly Magazine: The Hospitality Issue, Vol 4, Issue 4, is Now Available!
June 24, 2022We are happy to announce the release of our newest quarterly magazine! The Hospitality Issue highlights some of the hot topics in the hospitality industry including tax credit for new employees, double-dipping, lease provisions, and HR solutions. What You’ll Find Inside this Issue: Tax Credit for Hiring New Employees By Kimberly Hoang, CPA A Win Read the full article…

KROST is Attending the AICPA ENGAGE22 Conference
June 6, 2022Our CEO, Jason Melillo, Assurance & Advisory Principal, Keith Hamasaki, Assurance & Advisory Senior Manager, Steve Chhuor, and Assurance & Advisory Manager Rebecca Hickle, are attending the AICPA ENGAGE Conference. The conference takes place from June 6th through June 9th and will be held at the Aria Resort and Park MGM in Las Vegas. Our Read the full article…

Press Release – KROST Announces Greg Kniss as Chairman of the Board, Jason Melillo as CEO and Keith Hamasaki as Principal of Assurance and Advisory
February 4, 2022LOS ANGELES, CA [Feb 4, 2022] — Los Angeles-based CPA Firm, KROST CPAs and Consultants announced that Greg Kniss has been appointed to Chairman of the Board, Jason Melillo promoted as the new CEO, and Keith Hamasaki to Principal of Assurance & Advisory services. Greg Kniss has been actively involved with the firm’s business consulting Read the full article…

ERTC Terminated for Q4 2021
November 8, 2021The Infrastructure Bill (H.R. 3684) was passed by the House on November 5, 2021 and is expected to be signed into law by President Biden. As part of the Bill, the employee retention tax credit (with the exception of the recovery startup business credit) is no longer in effect for the fourth quarter of 2021. Read the full article…

California Main Street Small Business Tax Credit II
October 21, 2021In Late September 2021 Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 150 establishing the Main Street Small Business Tax Credit II. This bill provides financial relief to qualified small businesses for the economic disruptions in 2020 and 2021, resulting in unprecedented job losses. Taxpayers that qualified for Employee Retention Credit may also qualify for the Main Street Read the full article…

Are you missing out on the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)?
April 13, 2021If you have not looked into Employee Retention Tax Credits, then you need to reach out to your relationship manager or contact us right away to see if you qualify. It is worth a quick assessment. We can help you claim the credit and receive cash refunds up to $5,000 per employee in 2020 and Read the full article…
![[Webinar] Employee Retention Tax Credits: Qualifications, Benefits & Refunds [Webinar] Employee Retention Tax Credits: Qualifications, Benefits & Refunds](https://www.krostcpas.com/wp-content/uploads/ERTC-Webinar-1-1.jpg)
[Webinar] Employee Retention Tax Credits: Qualifications, Benefits & Refunds
March 3, 2021Join Jason Melillo, CPA (Principal – Accounting, ERTC) and Jeff Kamin, CPA (Manager, Accounting, ERTC) as they host a webinar on Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERTC) on Thursday, March 4th at 10:30AM PST. In this session, they will review the details of the recently passed Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, including: Read the full article…

The House Votes to Extend Employee Retention Tax Credit Through December 2021
February 27, 2021We got some great news this morning. The House has voted 219-212 to extend the Employee Retention Credit through December 31, 2021 as part of the $1.9 Trillion Covid relief bill. If it passes the Senate next week it will very likely be signed by the President shortly after. The Employee Retention Credit is a Read the full article…
![[Webinar] Employee Retention Credits: Qualifications, Benefits & Refunds [Webinar] Employee Retention Credits: Qualifications, Benefits & Refunds](https://www.krostcpas.com/wp-content/uploads/ERC-Webinar.jpg)
[Webinar] Employee Retention Credits: Qualifications, Benefits & Refunds
February 4, 2021Join Jason Melillo, CPA (Principal – Accounting, ERTC) and Jeff Kamin, CPA (Manager, Accounting, ERTC) as they host a webinar on Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERTC) on Wednesday, February 10th at 9:30AM PST. In this session, they will review the details of the recently passed Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, including: Read the full article…

2020 vs. 2021 Employee Retention Credit Comparison Chart
January 19, 2021Old Law New Law Eligible Employers 2020 2021 Eligible employers can receive a refundable payroll tax credit of 50% of wages paid to employees between March 13th, 2020 and December 31st, 2020. No Change Eligible employers can receive a refundable payroll tax credit up to 70% of qualifying wages paid between January 1, 2021 and Read the full article…