Adequate Dislcosure to Avoid Six Year IRS Statute

The IRS has a limited period of time to conduct audits. It often fails to finish the audit within this period of time. There are even instances where the IRS does not even start the audit until after this time period has passed. This raises tough questions for taxpayers. Taxpayers expect some finality with their…

Getting the IRS to Pay for Your Tax Attorney

An IRS audit or notice comes with a cost for the taxpayer who receives it. The cost can include additional tax, interest, and even penalties. Even if the taxpayer did everything correctly, the IRS audit or notice still comes with a cost. The cost can include the time and effort the taxpayer has to expend…

IRS Collectors Influence on Settlemet Offer

The IRS makes decisions about tax returns, back taxes, etc. These decisions may be made by one or more persons within the IRS. These decisions may be made by IRS employees whose job functions and missions are not the same. This is most evident in the context of IRS audits. The IRS auditor’s mission is…

Getting the IRS to Act Timely

There are quite a few avenues available to resolve tax disputes with the IRS. We have previously considered these options for resolving tax cases in a prior article. The number of avenues available can make it difficult to navigate the IRS bureaucracy. This plus the slow pace at which the IRS works makes it very…

The IRS’s Ability to Recoup Refund Checks

If you receive a tax refund and the IRS later asks you to repay the refund, what do you do? Do you keep the refund or repay it? This can be a very difficult question to answer. This is particularly true if you believe that you have a legitimate basis for and entitlement to the…

Are Funds Advanced to Third Party Subject to Tax?

With a cash basis taxpayer, the general rule is that the taxpayer recognizes gross income when money is received. But what if the taxpayer holds money on account for others? This is a common practice. These transfers may include deposits, advances, etc. It can even include funds held in trust for the benefit of a…

Failure to Review Tax Return Voids Penalty Defense

The IRS is quick to impose penalties. Many penalties are automatically imposed by the IRS’s computers. Even on audit, the IRS’s lead sheets direct IRS auditors to consider penalties before closing the audits. Most penalties can be abated if the taxpayer can establish reasonable cause. This is a facts and circumstances analysis. The courts have…

Tax Debts & the Dreaded Dissipated Asset

It is very difficult to run a business and to do so in full compliance with all of our laws. Having worked with thousands of business owners, the message is the same. Something always seems to give. If the business focuses on the operational side of the business to comply with industry regulations or to…

Avoiding Tax Penalties for Bookkeeper’s Mistakes

Taxes are computed based on accounting records. Accounting records are often complied by bookkeepers who have no tax training or experience. The bookkeepers may not intend to provide tax advice. Their work product may be used to prepare tax returns, however. The tax return preparer may move the numbers from the bookkeeper’s profit and loss…