Tax Controversies

Is the process by which the Internal Revenue Service verifies its tax refunds in need of an overhaul? A recent story raises concerns. Specifically, a report authored by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration identified a programming error that resulted in the IRS issuing over $46 million in erroneous refunds. The error was identified […]

Readers likely know that capital gain must be reported to applicable authorities, such as to state revenue agents or on a federal income tax return filed with the Internal Revenue Service at the federal level. However, tax disputes can arise over the basis used in calculating such gains. In a recent celebrity example, actor Rob […]

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 […]

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 […]

One of the most discouraging aspects about a tax dispute is the late fees and penalties that may attach. Although a taxpayer may have a good-faith belief in his or her defense, the consequences, if proven wrong, can be costly. In other scenarios, a taxpayer may not have realized that he or she was delinquent, […]

Individuals hoping to avoid a tax controversy or dispute may affirmatively reach out to the Internal Revenue Service with questions. Yet a recent article questions the efficacy of this proactive approach. Specifically, the article alleges that the IRS hung up on taxpayers calling for help a shocking number of times: around 8.8 million times. In […]

In the law, most things can be negotiated. This applies to criminal law as well as civil lawsuits. It also applies to many tax controversies involving the IRS. Taxpayers dealing with an audit may have an option to settle the matter through a process called an offer in compromise. As the name implies, an offer […]

The IRS has recently been cracking down on corporate entities that try to dodge taxes by moving assets offshore. But a new IRS ruling opened the door to a different kind of tax savings vehicle that some corporations may find to be a better alternative. A real estate investment trust, known as an REIT for […]

Whether you know it or not (and you probably don’t), you have a variety of rights when it comes to paying your taxes and contesting any IRS assertion that you didn’t pay your taxes. But there are few things more unwieldy than the U.S. tax code, and rights afforded to you by law in the […]

When dealing with the Internal Revenue Service, it would probably be fair to say that the phrase, “It’s a pleasure doing business with you,” does not gets used much. The controversies the IRS raises tend to be focused on extracting money that individual taxpayers don’t believe they owe. They can involve disputed tax issues such […]