Douglas L. Poms

Doug Poms focuses on a wide variety of international tax issues, including those involving subpart F income, the GILTI, FDII and BEAT regimes, cross-border transactions (including repatriations, reorganizations, and inversions), foreign tax credits, PFICs, foreign currency, cross-border financial products, and income tax treaties.

Prior to rejoining KPMG in 2020, Doug worked at the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Tax Policy from 2013-2020. He was the International Tax Counsel (ITC) from 2018-2020, and prior to that, he was Deputy International Tax Counsel from 2015-2017 and Senior Counsel to the ITC from 2013-2015. During his tenure as ITC, Doug oversaw the work of Office of International Tax Counsel, including implementation of the international provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), including more than 40 international tax regulation packages issued during his tenure in addition to other guidance; drafting, review, and issuance of several other international tax regulations; and development of U.S. international tax policy. In addition, Doug led ITC’s efforts during the legislative process for the TCJA. While at Treasury, Doug also served as lead delegate to Working Party 11 of the OECD, which developed the Pillar 2 global minimum tax proposals, and from 2014-2017 generated several reports addressing four of the BEPS action items (hybrid mismatch, interest expense, CFC, and mandatory disclosure rules). 

Prior to working at Treasury, Doug was a principal in the KPMG Washington National Tax practice's International Tax group (after roles as managing director and senior manager in that group). During that time, he advised U.S. and foreign multinational corporations on wide range of international tax issues. Earlier in his career, Doug worked as an associate at Dewey Ballantine LLP in their Washington, DC and London offices. There, he advised multinational clients with respect to domestic and cross-border acquisitions, financings, and restructurings. Doug also served as a judicial law clerk for The Honorable John P. Wiese, U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Doug has written a series of articles for Tax Notes on eligibility under various U.S. income tax treaties and various other articles on international tax topics. He has taught regularly internal and external tax courses on subpart F income, foreign tax credits, and U.S. inbound and other international tax topics, both in the United States and abroad.

Doug is a frequent speaker and commentator on international tax rules and policies. He has given presentations at many prestigious tax forums, including at the annual GWU/IRS Conference on International Taxation and the KPMG NYU Conference as well as American Bar Association, American Association of Certified Public Accountants, DC Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Tax Executives Institute, and International Fiscal Association events. Doug has received awards from the Treasury Department for Best Legal Writing and Best Legal Team. In law school, he graduated Order of the Coif and won the Edwin Cohen prize for top tax law student.

Doug holds a JD degree from the University of Virginia, School of Law; an MBA degree in international finance from George Washington University; and a BS degree, with distinction, in commerce (accounting) from the University of Virginia.