Tom Pyevich

Partner, Armanino Advisory LLC

Always be prepared to learn and keep growing.

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Bio

Meet Tom

Tom provides a variety of tax compliance and consulting services to clients in multiple industries. He specializes in research tax credit services such as opportunity identification, qualification analysis, quantification and implementation procedures, documentation recommendations and audit sustainment at both the field and appeals levels.

Serving both publicly traded and privately held companies, Tom’s clients include food and beverage processing, software development, high- and low-tech manufacturing, aerospace technology, medical device manufacturing, abrasive materials development, financial services, healthcare and automotive manufacturing businesses.

Prior to joining Armanino, Tom served as director of tax services at RSM and was an experienced manager and senior with Deloitte Tax and KPMG, providing various tax consulting and compliance services across the Midwest. He was designated as a national reviewer of research credits for technical proficiency. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and a master’s degree in tax and an MBA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Contact Tom Pyevich

Experience

Professional History

Community

  • PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving), Volunteer
  • Serb National Federation, Board Member

Education

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Experience

  • RSM
  • KPMG
  • Deloitte
  • American Express

Q&A

Q. What law or regulation in the accounting industry would you like to see changed?
I would like to see Section 174 solved, which I think would help businesses to come to the United States without hesitation. The U.S. is one of only two countries that don’t allow for immediate R&D deductions, which affects our economic outlook. By amortizing the deduction over five years, you’re asking companies to take greater risks at greater immediate cost.
Q. Without naming names, tell us about your favorite client and why you enjoyed working with them.
I worked with a SaaS startup that, in its infancy, was a two-person operation out of a garage in the Chicago area. As the company grew to about 50 people, we were able to claim the R&D tax credit and use the payroll tax credit to offset a quarter million dollars in payroll taxes. The startup’s founders were then able to use those savings to develop the business and hire even more people. We’ve continued to help this client at every stage with their expanding needs, and today they’re a $50 million company. Being a part of their journey has been incredibly rewarding.
Q. Who is (or was) the most influential person in your life?
My parents were my bedrock. My dad’s parents came from Yugoslavia with $15 to their name, and all four of their children grew up to earn master’s degrees. My dad and his family taught me the value of hard work and resiliency, and to never stop growing. My mom is a retired high school teacher who always instilled the values of intellectual curiosity and education. And of course, they taught me the platinum rule: treat others even better than they treat you.
Q. If you could pass on a nugget of wisdom to aspiring accountants or consultants, what would that be?
Always be prepared to learn and keep growing! Build relationships with as many experienced professionals as you can and be a sponge. Learn from others’ best attributes. Read as much as you can and volunteer for stretch assignments to fuel your professional growth.
Q. What do you love most about your work?
I love helping organizations build a stronger future. My greatest satisfaction is hearing clients tell me how they’ll use tax savings to invest in the company’s growth, whether it’s a new piece of equipment or a new hire.
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Industries Served
Tom's Thought Leadership
Updated August 16, 2023
Avoid a Surprise Tax Bill by Preparing for R&D Expensing Changes Under IRC 174
Article
Immediate R&D expensing is no longer an option — prepare for changes to your taxable income and potential cash taxes.

July 13, 2022