About Carlos Francisco
Carlos Francisco Meza built a legal education that centers on tax law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy with a minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012. He then pursued graduate studies at the University of San Diego School of Law, completing a J.D. in 2017 and an LL.M. in Tax Law in 2018.
His early legal work began while he was still in law school. In 2016 he served as a law clerk at the Richard Carpenter Tax Law Office and spent time as a legal intern with the University of San Diego Federal Tax Clinic. That same year he gained experience in family court through an externship with the Family Law Facilitators Office at the San Diego Superior Court. Those roles gave him exposure to client intake, case preparation and courtroom procedure in different settings.
After finishing his degrees, Meza moved into private practice. In 2017 he took on the role of associate tax lawyer at Richard Carpenter Tax Law Office, where he had previously worked as a clerk. His transition from clerk to associate reflected a steady professional progression within the same office, where he continued to handle tax-related matters for individuals and small businesses.
Meza’s education and early clinic work shaped the practical side of his tax practice. The Federal Tax Clinic exposed him to controversy work and client representation before the IRS, while the firm work involved advising on compliance and planning. He has experience preparing filings, responding to administrative notices and assisting in resolution efforts. His background spans both advisory and contested matters, and he has worked on cases that require attention to both federal and state rules.
Colleagues describe him as methodical and attentive to procedural detail. He approaches matters by breaking problems into discrete tasks and prioritizing what will most affect a client’s exposure or relief. That style fits the technical nature of tax practice, where small factual or filing differences can change outcomes.
Meza is admitted to practice in California. He has remained at Richard Carpenter Tax Law Office since moving into his associate role and continues to handle tax matters for the firm’s clients. He currently practices tax law at Richard Carpenter Tax Law Office, handling federal and state tax matters.
