It’s not often you meet a tax attorney who speaks in terms of identity, courage, and redemption. But Pietro Canestrelli is far from typical.
As the co-founder of America’s Tax Defender, Inc. — alongside his wife Kristen, the firm’s founder — Pietro is part financial expert, part legal strategist, and all heart. Their firm is quietly becoming a go-to resource for businesses navigating complex audits and tax challenges, not because of marketing muscle, but because of lived experience and unshakable values.
A Career Forged Inside the System
Before building the business, Pietro spent 6 years working on the inside — at the IRS and top-tier law offices. But with time, he grew disillusioned with the way taxpayers were treated.
“They were seen as files, not as people,” he says. “That had to change.”
So, he took the entrepreneurial leap — first as a solo practitioner for five years. Then, with Kristen, they evolved their shared vision into America’s Tax Defender, a national brand known for combining technical mastery with personal care.
The Tragedy That Sparked a Mission
Behind every great mission is a defining moment. For Pietro, that moment came in 2008 when he lost his brother to suicide.
“My brother had tax problems I tried to help with, but I failed him,” he recalls. “The IRS didn’t push him, but they didn’t pull him back either.”
That event continues to define how he approaches every case. Each client isn’t just a taxpayer — they’re someone’s brother, sister, parent, or partner.
“That’s why we fight like hell for every single one,” he says.
More Than a Job — It’s Who He Is
When asked how he manages work-life balance, his answer is striking.
“Helping taxpayers is not a job to me. It is me.”
Rather than separating identity from work, Pietro integrates the two — finding peace in purpose, and purpose in every success story he helps write.
Vision for the Future: Strategy Meets Scale
With a strong foundation and national credibility, the Canestrellis have ambitious goals ahead.
“We aim to save businesses tens of millions in taxes over the next two years — through audit defense and smart planning,” he says.
Pietro also hints at new collaborations, resources, and expanded outreach, all anchored in the firm’s core mission: to be the defender that others don’t see coming.
Final Word for Entrepreneurs: Be Bold, Be Precise
His advice for those at the beginning of their business journey?
“You need courage to leap, and math to land,” he says. “Let your numbers guide your faith — not the other way around.”
With America’s Tax Defender, Pietro and Kristen Canestrelli have built more than a business. They’ve built a movement — one that proves true advocacy lives at the intersection of skill, story, and soul.
📖 Discover Pietro’s philosophy in his book on Amazon.