Can the IRS reach an interest in real property held in a land trust? If so, what happens if the taxpayer sells the property? Can the IRS recoup the land from the new buyer or is the IRS limited to the proceeds received? The court addresses this in United States v. Harold, No. 2:18-cv-10223 (S.D.……
Category: Tax Law
Recover Money Paid to the IRS in Error
What if the IRS gets it wrong and then fails to respond to the taxpayer for several years. Can the IRS then agree with the taxpayer, but argue that the taxpayer responded late? The informal claim doctrine can help in these situations. The Chenette v. United States, No. 19-cv-02998-JCS (N.D. Cali. 2019) case provides an……
IRS Revises Passport Certification Process
Did you get a letter from the IRS about your passport? The IRS recently started sending these letters to taxpayers with unpaid tax debts. The letters have generated quite a bit of controversy, which caused the IRS to pause to reconsider how it handles this issue. Here is what you need to know about the……
The IRS Summons & When the IRS Fails to Follow the Law
What happens if the law requires the IRS to provide notice to the taxpayer and the taxpayer to provide notice to the IRS and both parties fail to provide the notice? Can the government ignore its failure and enforce consequences for the taxpayer’s failure? The answer is “yes” when it comes to the IRS summons,……
Qualifying for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
As tax attorneys in San Antonio, we see a lot of U.S. citizens whose oil-related jobs require they spend significant time overseas. The wages earned overseas can escape tax in the U.S. This is due to the foreign earned income exclusion. But this exclusion generates quite a few tax disputes with the IRS, which is……
Using Multiple PTINs to File Fraudulent Tax Returns
It can be difficult to be a tax preparer. The rules change just about every year. The IRS has increased its focus on identifying and punishing tax return preparers. This includes criminal sanctions for the tax return preparers. The enforcement actions often do not factor in the realities of the tax preparation business. The recent……
Does Late Payment Tax Penalty Run from Extended Due Date?
If you file an extension for an estate tax return and pay the tax before the extended due date, can the IRS impose penalties for late payment? The court addresses this in Estate of Agnes R. Skeba v. United States, No. 3:17-cv-10231 (D.N.J. 2019). Facts & Procedural History The taxpayer is an estate. It’s estate……
Discharging Unpaid Withholding Taxes in Bankruptcy
When a business owes unpaid taxes, bankruptcy can provide the business or its owner with a fresh start. The unpaid Federal taxes can be discharged if certain requirements are met. One of these requirements is that the tax returns for the unpaid taxes are filed within certain time periods. But what if there are more……
Liability for Prior Real Estate Owner’s Unpaid IRS Taxes
Liability for Prior Real Estate Owner’s Unpaid IRS Taxes You have to be diligent if you buy real estate from someone who owes unpaid taxes to the IRS. There are instances where the IRS can collect the prior owner’s taxes from you as the purchaser of the property. The recent Shirehampton Drive Trust v. JP……