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Top-Ranked Tax Lawyers in Sarasota, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.26 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked tax lawyers in Sarasota, Florida are Matthew Brett Mayper (LexRank 84.00), Taso Michael Milonas (84.00) and E John Wagner II (84.00).

This ranking lists 6 tax lawyers in Sarasota, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 6 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Tax Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 22 to 41 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
6
Fully verified
6 of 6

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Matthew Brett Mayper

    Fergeson Skipper, P.A. · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Tax
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    Taso Michael Milonas

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Tax
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  3. No change

    E John Wagner II

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Tax
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  4. No change

    John W West III

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Tax
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  5. No change

    Michael J. Wilson “Mike”

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Tax
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 81.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.40 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    2.40 points behind #4 (John W West III): Experience −2.4.

  6. No change

    Thomas James McLaughlin

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Tax
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #5 (Michael J. Wilson “Mike”): Experience −1.2.

Tax market in Sarasota

LexRanked tracks 6 lawyers and 2 law firms in tax law in Sarasota, Florida. 6 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 19, 2026.

Lawyers
6
Law firms
2
Verified professional data
6 of 6
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
30 years6 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Sarasota

What sets these Sarasota lawyers apart

All 6 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Tax Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 6 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Tax Law 6 of 6
Years in practice 22 to 41 (median 30)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (4 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Sarasota office address and tax as a practice area on record. It compares 6 tax lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Florida has no personal income tax; it taxes corporate income at 5.5% and most sales at 6% at the state level.

Rule What it means
Personal income tax None; the Florida Constitution prohibits it (art. VII, § 5)
Corporate income tax 5.5% of net income (Fla. Stat. § 220.11)
State sales tax 6%, plus any county surtax (§ 212.05)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Sarasota County is in Florida's Twelfth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Does Florida have a state income tax?

Not for individuals; the Florida Constitution bars a personal income tax. Corporations pay 5.5% on net income.

When do I need a tax lawyer?

For IRS or Florida Department of Revenue audits and disputes, tax debt, business structuring and estate tax planning.

What does Board Certified in Tax Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 6 of the 6 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Sarasota?

State court cases in Sarasota County are heard in Florida's Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

6 of the 6 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Matthew Brett Mayper, Taso Michael Milonas, E John Wagner II, John W West III and Michael J. Wilson “Mike” and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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