Washington D.C. Tax Law Blog
Can A Divorce Disrupt an Offer In Compromise with the IRS?
The last thing anyone needs after a divorce is trouble with the Internal Revenue Service. However, there are several tax considerations that an individual should heed in order to avoid a post-divorce tax controversy. In particular, an individual should understand how the IRS regards his or her property ownership and liabilities after a divorce. In […]
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What Kind of Preparation goes into IRS Tax Litigation?
A recent article serves as an important reminder of the preparation needed to mount a strong position in a tax controversy. For starters, even a simple dispute over an entry on a Form 1040 income tax return can brew into a federal case. That, in turn, requires experience and skill in handling evidentiary and procedural […]
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What must be proven in a Tax Evasion Charge?
In a recent post, we discussed whether accounting errors might lead to criminal tax charges. Today, we take a closer look at the specific crime of tax evasion. The Internal Revenue Code at Section 7201 defines tax evasion as a willful act and elevates the criminal consequences to a felony. Yet how can willfulness be […]
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Does E-filing Reduce the Risk of an Audit?
Some tax preparation and e-filing providers may market their product as a potential safeguard against IRS audits. For example, TurboTax includes a page on its website devoted to the top five ways to avoid a tax audit, one of which is ensuring accurate figures with the help of a program like TurboTax. Such promotional materials […]
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Can Major Accounting Errors Result in Criminal Tax Charges?
An accounting error might lead not only to a tax dispute, but charges of fraud. In a recent example, a corporation offered $1.5 million to settle charges of accounting fraud brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC became involved because of the effect the accounting error had on the corporation’s shareholders. According […]
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Are Educational Deductions Contributing to Tax Controversies?
With another academic year in full swing, readers may have questions about the tax implications of college expenses. The Internal Revenue Service offers some guidance in IRS Publication 970. However, taxpayers who itemize their deductions rather than claiming the standard deduction may appreciate the clarity that a tax attorney can bring to the table. For […]
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Does the IRS Accept a Majority of Offers in Compromise?
The Internal Revenue Service has an official program for accepting settlement offers, called an Offer in Compromise (OIC). However, a recent article reminds us that there is no guarantee that an IRS agent will accept an OIC. In fact, less than one-third of all OIC’s are accepted. As an attorney and certified public accountant that […]
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What is the Difference Between Tax Negligence and Fraud?
Readers may have questions about when a tax mistake rises to the level of tax evasion or fraud. As a preliminary matter, it should be noted that even the Internal Revenue Service acknowledges the complexity of the tax code. By the agency’s own estimate, about 17 percent of taxpayers fail to comply with applicable tax […]
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What Issues will be on the IRS’ Audit Radar for 2016?
Is there a benefit to combining a public account certification with expertise in tax law? When it comes to defending against IRS audits, you bet your bottom dollar. Specifically, a recent article’s prediction of the top tax issues for 2016 describes the new reporting requirements of the Affordable Care Act on Forms 1095-B and 1095-C. […]
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Can Tax Litigation Help When an Offer In Compromise Fails?
If a taxpayer receives a letter from the Internal Revenue Service regarding an alleged tax debt, is there any hope for settlement? As an attorney that focuses on tax law, I know that tax litigation is sometimes the best forum for challenging a tax controversy, especially when a settlement is unlikely. The official criteria by […]
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