Blog
Articles and updates from our family of firms on tax, probate, business, and related topics.
-
Can a Missing Statement in a Donation Letter Cost You the Entire Deduction?
Donating land to a city seems like a straightforward charitable act. You find a piece of property, decide to give it away, get an appraisal, file the paperwork, and claim the deduction. For many taxpayers, the assumption is that as long as the donation actually happened and the value is reasonable, the deduction should stand.…
-
When Technical Requirements Derail Foreclosure: Federal Jurisdiction and Statutory Probate Liens
When someone dies with a mortgage, the lender usually has a clear path to foreclosure — the note, the deed of trust, proof of default. Simple enough. But when the borrower’s heirs inherit the property and the lender sues in federal court, procedural requirements can sink an otherwise airtight case. A bank can have the
-
Miss the 90-Day Deadline to Sue on a Rejected Estate Claim? Your Secured Claim May Be Gone for Good
When a loved one passes away with outstanding debts, someone has to sort through the claims against the estate. Creditors have to follow specific steps to get paid, and the deadlines are strict. Miss a filing window by even one day, and a claim that might otherwise be completely valid can be permanently barred. What
-
Can the IRS Deny Your Installment Agreement Because of Home Equity?
A taxpayer owes the IRS more than he can pay in a lump sum. He owns a home. He owns a business property. He has some equity in both. He asks the IRS for an installment agreement so he can pay the debt over time. The IRS says no. The reason? He has too much…
-
Can Your Business Deduct Credit Card Interest When the Card Is in Your Name?
Small businesses often struggle to get credit. Banks want collateral, financial history, and revenue figures that newer or smaller operations cannot always produce. When the business itself cannot qualify for a loan or a credit card, the owners step in. They open credit cards in their own names, charge business expenses to those cards, and…
-
Can the IRS Ignore Your Request for an Estate Tax Valuation Explanation?
When a family member dies and leaves behind interests in a closely held business, the estate has to figure out what those interests are worth. This is rarely straightforward. There is no ticker symbol, no public market, no closing price to look up. The estate hires an appraiser, applies valuation methodologies, and reports a number…
-
If You Never Received a Form 1099, Do You Still Have to Report the Income?
The U.S. tax system reports income through Form 1099s and similar information returns. The payer fills out the form, sends one copy to the IRS, and mails another to the recipient. The recipient has no economic stake in whether that second copy ever arrives. He needs nothing from it. He takes no deduction that depends…
-
Can the IRS’s Automated System Issue a Valid Notice of Deficiency?
Every year, millions of taxpayers receive letters from the IRS proposing adjustments to their tax returns. Most people assume those letters came from a human being who reviewed the file, weighed the facts, and made a considered decision to send the notice. That assumption is increasingly wrong. The IRS relies heavily on automated systems to…
-
Who Gets the Tax Credit When You Outsource Payroll to a PEO?
Many businesses outsource their payroll, human resources, and employment tax responsibilities to professional employer organizations. These arrangements make sense. The PEO handles the administrative burden of onboarding workers, processing wages, withholding taxes, and managing benefits. The business owner focuses on running the business and directing the workers. But when it comes time to claim employment-related…
-
Too Late to Appeal: When Guardianship Orders Expire Before Courts Can Act
Guardianship proceedings in Texas can become battlegrounds almost overnight. When a family is already divided over who should care for a vulnerable loved one, court orders restricting one parent’s participation can feel like attacks rather than protections. And when a parent believes the appointed guardian is failing the ward, the impulse to keep filing motions