Taxpayers may find it challenging to obtain a refund from the government, as the courts and Congress have imposed stringent requirements on the refund claims filed by taxpayers. Even minor procedural errors can be detrimental to the claim, resulting in the government gaining an unwarranted windfall. The recent case of Vensure HR, Inc. v. United……
Category: Tax Law
The Fine Print in the IRS Refund Payment Rules
Our tax laws have a number of arbitrary deadlines which often result in problems for taxpayers, rather than the IRS. Late submissions usually mean that the taxpayer ends up paying more tax than they actually owe. However, there are a few timing rules that apply to the IRS, one of which involves the time frame……
IRS Guidance on Structuring Attorneys Fees
It should not be a surprise to learn that attorneys often hire tax attorneys to help them minimize their taxes. One popular tax savings strategy for attorneys is to structure their contingent fees. A contingent fee is a payment arrangement in which a lawyer provides services on the condition that payment will only be made……
Loss on the Decline in Value of Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies, a type of digital asset, can be a valuable source of tax losses. In fact, harvesting tax losses at or near the end of the year is a well-recognized tax planning strategy. This entails selling crypto positions that have sustained losses and immediately buying them back. This is not available for other assets, such……
Tax Court Review of IRS SS-8 Employment Determination
The IRS has the power to make a number of important determinations, including determining the employment status of workers for purposes of employment taxes. This type of determination can have a significant impact on a worker’s ability to receive unemployment benefits, participate in retirement plans, and more. The IRS often determines that workers are employees,……
The IRS’s Bank Deposit Analysis
When conducting an audit involving income tax returns, the IRS will almost always check for unreported income. The IRS has specific procedures for conducting this type of income verification. This often involves a bank deposit analysis by the IRS agent. This type of analysis can be used to identify unreported income, but it can also……
IRS Records in the Digital Age
Small business taxpayers often pay more to the IRS because of one thing. Paper. The IRS still relies on paper records. It wants you to e-file your tax return, but what is the first thing the IRS agent will ask you for at the start of the audit? You guessed it. A paper copy of……
Court Limits IRS Passport Certification Under Sec. 7345
In recent years, the U.S. government has taken steps to increase enforcement measures to allow the IRS to collect delinquent taxes. This includes adding Sec. 7345 to allow the IRS and U.S. State Department to revoke or deny passports of individuals with seriously delinquent tax debts. In order to revoke or deny a passport, the……
Avoiding Penalties: Choosing a Reliable Tax Return Preparer
With the tax season around the corner, a significant number of taxpayers are seeking the services of tax return preparers. This often involves choosing a preparer who has been recommended by friends and family members. Tax return preparers may be referred based not on their qualifications, but on their reputation for generating large refunds for……