The tax resolution industry is largely unregulated. There is, however, a patchwork of laws that provides some oversight. This includes Circular 230, which sets forth ethical and professional standards that tax practitioners, including tax resolution companies, must follow when representing clients before the IRS. Additionally, tax resolution companies must comply with the Fair Debt Collection…
Category: Tax Procedure
Tax Procedure
From IRS audits and appeals to tax litigation and penalties, our tax attorneys can help you navigate the tax procedure landscape with confidence. Give us a call to see how we can help, (713) 909-4906.
Comparison: U.S. and France’s Approach to Small Business Taxes
In recent years, governments worldwide have been exploring new ways to address tax-related issues. For example, the French government, which reported a budget deficit of approximately 3% of its GDP, has proposed using the surplus tax revenues to exempt minimum wage employees working for small businesses from payroll taxes. This approach contrasts with the United…
Interest Abatement: What is a Ministerial Act?
Imagine that the IRS did not act quickly. Okay, that isn’t hard to imagine. The IRS never acts quickly. I’ll rephrase that. When the IRS goes slow in processing even the most basic request or inquiry, what happens? Does this stop the accrual of interest? The answer is, unfortunately, “no” it does not–in most cases.…
Tax Attorney Contests IRS Bypass Letter
A taxpayer is entitled to hire a licensed attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent to represent them before the IRS. The taxpayer has a fundamental right to choose their tax advisor. The IRS generally has to accept this choice and work with the tax advisor. The IRS cannot simply ignore the tax advisor. Even to communicate…
What to Do When the IRS Refuses to Recognize a Bankruptcy Discharge
What happens if the IRS fails to recognize a bankruptcy discharge for taxes? What can taxpayers do if the IRS violates the law in trying to collect a discharged tax debt? These are important questions that have a significant impact on taxpayers’ rights and financial well-being. Fortunately, there is a remedy. In the recent case…
Increased Fees for IRS Tax Installment Agreements
The IRS recently reviewed the government cost of processing IRS tax payment installment agreements, which has resulted in the IRS proposing to increase the costs for filing IRS installment agreements. The IRS tax payment installment agreement is one of the remedies of last resort for taxpayers who have outstanding tax liabilities. There are a number…
The IRS’s “Last Known Address” Rule
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) plays a crucial role in the collection and enforcement of tax laws in the United States. In order to keep taxpayers informed of important events and meet legal requirements, the IRS frequently communicates with them via mail. The IRS LOVES letters. However, many taxpayers are unaware that the IRS is…
IRS Private Tax Debt Collection Agencies
The IRS spends a considerable amount of time and money trying to collect unpaid tax debts. There has been some thought that private collectors would have better results. Congress recently enacted Section 6306 to allow the IRS to assign certain delinquent tax accounts to private collection agencies. The new law and how it is implemented…
Colorado Tax Penalty Only Applies to Compliance Employees
The state tax authorities can be more aggressive than their federal counterparts when assessing and collecting taxes, particularly in collections. It is often advised to pay state taxes while haggling with the IRS about federal taxes. This does not necessarily mean that the state will always prevail, as there are cases where they do not,…
IRS Recalculation Doesn’t Justify Abating Interest
Taxpayers may sometimes request the IRS to recalculate their tax liability, and the IRS may grant such a request, but this does not necessarily mean that the IRS accepts all the tax positions set out or omitted from the return. If the IRS subsequently recalculates the amount of tax due again and increases the amount…