Pietro Canestrelli knows the IRS from the inside out. For six years, he worked within its system — learning exactly how audits, collections, and enforcement decisions unfold.
Today, he’s on the other side of the table — as the co-founder of America’s Tax Defender, Inc., a tax defense and consulting company he built with his wife Kristen, the firm’s founder. Their mission? Protect businesses and individuals from being overwhelmed by a complex, often intimidating system.
“When I left the IRS, I wanted to help people navigate what I knew from the inside,” Pietro says. “Now, we’re doing that at scale.”
From Solo Consultant to Nationwide Defender
Pietro didn’t launch a big team from the start. For five years, he operated as a one-man force — taking clients through audits, negotiating settlements, and crafting long-term tax strategies.
Four years ago, he and Kristen expanded their vision, forming America’s Tax Defender. Their goal: empower taxpayers with expert defense and forward-thinking planning.
“We’re not a law firm. We’re a strategic defense company,” Pietro explains. “We help people fix problems and avoid new ones.”
A Personal Story That Fuels the Mission
In 2008, Pietro lost his brother to suicide after watching him struggle under tax pressure.
“It broke me,” Pietro shares. “Now, I show up for every client like I would have shown up for him.”
This emotional motivation continues to shape the culture at America’s Tax Defender — where numbers matter, but people matter more.
Tax Work Is Not a Job — It’s His Identity
When asked how he avoids burnout, Pietro gives a surprising answer.
“Helping taxpayers is not a job. It is me,” he says.
That deep sense of identity fuels his work — especially on the toughest cases that others walk away from.
What’s Next: Bigger Impact, Smarter Strategies
Pietro’s next goal? Help save tens of millions of dollars in taxes over the next two years through both IRS defense and high-impact planning.
He’s also expanding his educational reach, starting with his personal book on Amazon, which dives into tax pitfalls, strategies, and his family-rooted mission.
