Selvi Stanislaus is the first woman to lead the second largest tax department in the nation. She administers two of California’s largest tax programs namely Personal Income Tax and Corporation Tax, which collects over $60 billion for the state’s general fund. She overseas a department of over 6000 employees in 11 offices located in California, Illinois, New York and Texas. She advises the Franchise Tax Board Members and the California Legislature on statewide policy issues. In 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States presented her with the “IRS Commissioner’s Award”, which recognized the excellent work done under her leadership in federal/state initiatives. In 2008, she received the Government Technology Conference Award for “Innovation and Leadership” in state government and was also judged as one of the nations “Doers, Dreamers and Drivers for the year 2011”.

Prior to her present appointment, Ms. Stanislaus worked as the primary legal and technical tax advisor to the Board of Equalization’s (BOE) elected five-member Board with respect to complex franchise and income tax administrative appeal hearings. Additionally as the Acting Assistant Chief Counsel of the Tax and Fee Programs Division she served as the chief policymaker on legal issues related to 27 different tax and fee program administered by the BOE.

Ms. Stanislaus is a Board Member of “America at Work” a non-profit organization that places the economically displaced non-traditional workers with employers. Ms. Stanislaus is a Trustee of the California Society of Enrolled Agents, an Advisory Board Member of Leadership for the Government Executive Program of the California State University, Sacramento and a Board Member of the California Green Technology.

Ms. Stanislaus is an Attorney from Sri Lanka and a member of the California State Bar. She holds an LL.M. Degree from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific.