May
12
The Different Types of Lawyers
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If you are a resident in Albuquerque, or anywhere near Albuquerque and you find yourself in need assistance for any legal matters, an Albuquerque lawyer is always available to provide legal counsel and help to you. In New Mexico, there are a lot of lawyers who offer their services, but the best among these lawyers are the Albuquerque attorneys.
There are different kinds of Albuquerque lawyers; meaning, there are lawyers who specialize in different fields of law. The first I will discuss is the Albuquerque tax lawyer. This is an Albuquerque lawyer who specializes in taxes. An Albuquerque tax lawyer will help you get a head start on your taxes by assisting you. This is to make sure that all of your pertinent forms and records are organized, by keeping them up to date and in working order.
Another type of an lawyer in Albuquerque is the immigration lawyer. An Albuquerque immigration lawyer can help speed up the process of your immigration. With the help of this immigration lawyer, you’ll find yourself in the country you want to be in in no time.
There is also what we call an Albuquerque personal injury lawyer. When you are injured, it can be a very frightening experience, particularly if the injury was not your fault, but was due to the negligence of another party. If this is indeed the case, you have the right to be compensated for your medical bills and, to some degree, also for pain and suffering.
Your recovery in a personal injury case may also include any lost wages that were a direct result of the injury, and this type of Albuquerque lawyer could be really beneficial to any client with a solid and valid claim against someone who caused them personal injury.
One of the most popular of Albuquerque lawyers is the Albuquerque divorce lawyer, or more commonly known as the New Mexico divorce lawyer. A New Mexico divorce lawyer often provides full-service family-law, estate planning, tort and domestic relations to clients all over New Mexico.
An experienced New Mexico divorce lawyer can assist you in dealing with your cases regarding divorce, child custody, litigation that involves complex marital property estates, and claims of alimony or spousal support. A New Mexico divorce lawyer will work with total professionalism, and will see to it that you obtain the most favorable results faster, while still saving money.
For all legal needs, an Albuquerque lawyer is available to help. All you need to do is find the Albuquerque lawyer to meet your needs.
By: Roger Loveless
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May
11
How Tax Debt Settlement Works After a Tax Debt Relief is Granted
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A tax settlement or tax negotiation is one of the relief options that IRS may grant to a delinquent taxpayer. If this has been granted to a taxpayer, he/she is probably the luckiest in the country. This form of tax debt relief with IRS isn’t allowed by them very often. Perhaps because it might come as it’s actually okay to forgo paying tax debts or tax balances.
However, if a lucky taxpayer is ever granted with settlement, how exactly does it works for both IRS and taxpayer? First let me define the term tax settlement. This is to reduce tax debt by way of agreement between taxpayer and IRS, eventually regarded as the full payment. Imagine how lucky a taxpayer is if granted with settlement.
How does with work in favor of IRS? Simple, there will be a thorough assessment of taxpayers’ capacity to pay; this is not a simple process. Eventually, if it’s found that undoubtedly the taxpayer can’t pay in full, a settlement is granted. IRS rather receives smaller tax obligation payment, that’s minus penalties and interest, then nothing at all.
Of course, it is already obvious how it works in favor on the taxpayer. However, word of caution, the process of getting a settlement is not easy. It’s actually messy, because you need to present evidence, which shows taxpayer’s incapacity to pay tax debts. And if IRS will be relentless, the process may take long and costly.
Remember that the process for availing a settlement under tax debt relief requires legal proceedings with IRS. It simply implies that taxpayer needs to hire tax lawyer, and CPA, who prepare tax returns of years in question. So if the process takes long, the cost of professional fees will also sky rocket.
So far, seeking settlement for tax debts is much more of a headache than paying your taxes dutifully. Of course this tax debt program will not just be indiscriminately granted by IRS. Taxpayer cannot simply get away from tax dues; they have to pay the price for being ignorant with tax laws.
That’s why IRS is one of the government agencies most hated by people in the country. Because when they collected taxes, they can be sinister and relentless at times. However, if they will not do this, how will the government govern the country without tax money? So even if there are provisioned for tax due relief like a settlement, this isn’t given away easily to taxpayers.
By: Khmer Lee P. Lugod
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May
11
Over the last few months and in the wake of the OECD crackdown on tax havens, when talking to clients with offshore bank accounts, I’ve been asked numerous questions about participating in offshore tax amnesty programs. Examples of these programs are the IRS’s ‘Offshore Voluntary Compliance Program’ (OVCP), the UK Revenue’s ‘New Disclosure Opportunity’ (NDO) and equivalent programs in many other countries.
Some surprising countries like the Netherlands - including Netherlands Antilles - and Argentina are also becoming very agressive with their non-compliant taxpayers and are busy signing Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) with offshore havens, in the ongoing attempt to increase compliance.
First of all, the usual disclaimers. There is no easy to answer to this question as it depends very much on personal circumstances. International tax lawyers I have talked to are divided in their opinions too. I am a writer. Nothing here should be construed as tax advice.
The USA Offshore Voluntary Compliance Program has attracted the severe criticism for being highly ambiguous - even those participating in the amnesty and filing their FBAR (foreign bank account reporting) forms have received no guarantee that they will not be subject to criminal prosecution later. So, one might ask, what is the benefit of participating in the amnesty? The IRS are effectively saying to taxpayers “you just have to trust us.” Hmm. Any good lawyer will tell you not to trust the opposition. And on that basis many good lawyers have advised clients that it is not in their interests to participate in the amnesty.
Although it has now technically finished, we hear that the IRS is still very much offering informal ‘deals’. And the main point of such deals is to collect intelligence on offshore bankers, lawyers, accountants and others who have assisted US taxpayers in tax evasion in the past.
In this regard, I have specifically warned a few clients about undeclared accounts they have in banks that I won’t name and shame in public, but which are likely to be high on the IRS radar. Certain European banks, mainly banks in Switzerland, Austria and Denmark, that I could probably count on the fingers of my two hands, have been very active in the past in terms of marketing their services to Americans. UBS was one of them, but there are others, including some small boutique private offshore banks with mainly American clients.
If the IRS didn’t know about these offshore banks before, they certainly do now with information acquired from the amnesty. So which banks do you think will be top of the list for auditing with a fine tooth comb?
You already know if you are a client of one of these banks or not. In the past, they had representatives travelling worldwide - even to the USA - meeting American clients, often at gatherings frequented by libertarians, banking privacy enthusiasts and the like.
If your hidden account is in a bank with few US clients that has not popped up on the radar, you are undoubtedly in a much more advantageous position. But it’s still not too late to close out your accounts with the affected banks and move assets into a more robust, legally watertight asset protection structure - hopefully including assets that do not trigger reporting requirements (physical gold comes to mind.) By closing such vulnerable accounts as soon as possible, you can minimize (but not eliminate) the risk of detection, since audits should hopefully cover only active accounts.
A second, unstated, purpose of the amnesty programs and the IRS spin machine (press releases etc) is simply to scare people with bluff. A lot of the most productive Americans, who have been the stimulus that brought prosperity, jobs and wealth to their country over past decades, won’t be enjoying a relaxing holiday season this year. We don’t think this is fair, of course.
Although bank secrecy is under attack, it’s certainly not dead yet. On the other hand I’ve been saying for years that it is a big mistake to hold unreported bank accounts in your personal name. There are much better ways to legally hide money and protect what is yours. I believe in practical, positive advice - not scare tactics. And if in doubt, don’t panic, just talk to a good tax lawyer.
The IRS have declared the US amnesty a huge success. The UK tax authorities, however, have openly admitted that they are disappointed with the number of people coming through under the NDO. In an effort to attract more, they have extended the deadline to this month (January 2010.)
A separate UK tax amnesty is one negotiated exclusively with Liechtenstein, which it is generally agreed by experts offers very favorable terms to taxpayers. However, only 27 people have come forward so far under this amnesty. From this month, the ‘Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility’ is being extended to allow UK taxpayers who hold undeclared accounts in other jurisdictions to move those accounts to Liechtenstein and then take advantage of this special amnesty.
By: Peter Macfarlane
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May
10
Online Tax Attorney Websites - Shortcut Route To Tax Exemption And Reduction
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If the thought of tax payments and sights of envelopes with Inland Revenue address frighten or push you back, you may address your problem through the help of an online tax attorney or company. As the laws pertaining to tax in most of the countries are turning more and more complex, taxpayers are resorting to lawyers to take care of their liabilities. Whether it is to perform reduction in levy returns legally to the minimum or understanding or interpreting complicated tax laws, professional guidance and support from lawyer is tremendously required.
How Does A Tax Attorney Intercede Between A Taxpayer And IRS?
The IRS or the government department working for tax raising hires highly efficient lawyer to persuade duty payers. Those attorneys are extremely persuasive and get paid substantially for being persuasiveness in their jobs. More they prove themselves to be persuasive in collecting taxes from levy payers’ pockets, higher they can charge their fees. Just like the IRS lawyer who are constantly persuading levy payers, as a tax payer, you may also hire an equally efficient and persuasive tax attorney for yourself to counter the persuasive actions of IRS attorneys.
As per different categories of tax are from income, business etc, there are different types of attorneys to take care of individual laws. If you need to settle disputes of business levy, you may hire a business tax attorney. Their task includes all types includes mediating between the IRS department and you. On your behalf, they will deal with the IRS department and adopt legal procedures in negotiating the settlement. As the disputed amount tends to get larger, the job of a tax attorney is to reach a minimum payable amount through negotiation. They can minimize originally claimed levy amount to a much smaller amount. When you want relief from pressures from the IRS department, just get online. The best and the shortcut route to find a really efficient legal representative is through online websites and directories.
Tips On Finding The Right Attorney
Thousands of websites and directories enlist online attorney professionals and you can search to select the right one. Most of the websites cite examples of the cases they have successfully handled. Therefore, you may shortlist your options as per the profiles of the companies. There are also online forums, blog sites where people share their experiences of using the services of various specialized lawyers. You may use those sites as your referrals and gain useful suggestions to keep away from those inefficient professionals.
By: Saurabh K Jain
About the Author:
May
10
If any of the following circumstances apply to you personally, you might regard them as a signal that you should consider hiring a tax attorney.
If you can’t remember the last time you filed an income tax return with the Internal revenue Service, you might want to employ an attorney to review your IRS account. Even if you do not owe the Internal Revenue Service any money, a tax attorney may be able to find refunds to which you are entitled, but have not collected.
If you receive an assessment letter in the mail from the Internal Revenue Service, it might be a good time to retain a tax lawyer. An assessment letter from the Internal Revenue Service means that the IRS has determined that you owe them money. The assessment letter is the first step in the collection process and it informs you what you owe and why. The assessment letter also indicates what penalties, fees, and interest have been incurred regarding the claimed debt. If you do not respond to the assessment letter, your Internal Revenue Service debt will continue to grow. If you have an attorney respond on your behalf, you should be able to work out a satisfactory settlement.
If the Internal Revenue Service files a Federal Tax Lien against you, you should immediately hire a tax attorney. A Federal Tax Lien will attach itself to all of your property. Everything you own becomes vulnerable under such a collections process. If the Internal Revenue Service has taken this step it is most likely because you failed to respond to several notices regarding a balance due and a Notice and Demand for Payment. At this juncture, you need to make payment arrangements in order to get the lien released. A tax attorney best undertakes this matter.
Once the Internal Revenue Service has filed a Federal Tax Lien against you, they will probably take even more action like attempting to levy your bank accounts. If you receive a Notice of Intent to Levy from the IRS, you need to hire a tax attorney, because you have only thirty days to stop the Internal Revenue Service from levying your bank accounts.
The IRS may, likewise, seek to garnish your wages. Under garnishment, your employer will remove the garnished amount directly from your pay and send it to the IRS.
If you own a business and the IRS levels a Trust Fund Recovery Act penalty against you, seek the counsel of a tax attorney. The Trust Fund Recovery Act Penalty is in response to non-payment of employee withholding and it can be rigidly severe.
By: Chintamani Abhyankar
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May
8
Top Skills of Tax Attorneys
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IRS problems are absolutely sensitive. To help you cope with IRS problems, get tax attorneys who have experience before it’s too late. Among the most indispensable characteristics that any person must search for in an IRS tax lawyer is knowledge, skills and experience. Until you are able to competently apply knowledge, it isn’t always helpful. Knowledge is utilized to its maximum with experience. Such attorneys with experience know the pros and cons of the business and have worked in it for a significant amount of time. When needing help coping with IRS problems, this is the type of experience you must look for. The following are the basic work functions of a tax attorney.
The job of attorneys is to detect the way-outs for their clients, taxpayers, so that they are not over-burdened with the extra amounts of taxes, that they are made incorrectly predisposed by the law. To free the taxpayers from the pointless legal formalities involved in paying tax and paying extra fees on demand by the government, an attorney stands for their clients in front of the law.
A tax attorney takes care of solving the problems of their clients with the IRS and state revenue department. Their job on the whole revolves around tax related issues. All the problems on the subject of the payment of tax are resolve by these attorneys. They help by decreasing the fines, eliminating these charges and also looking over different tax issues.
The position of these attorneys is similar to that of an accountant since, they are measured to be as important as the other. These attorneys can evade the tax problems from the stage where the problem hasn’t even been raised. Since a tax attorney knows what all activities on the part of the entrepreneur can set off tax related issues, he or she in fact advises the entrepreneur from doing such things and consequently helps in preventing all the tax problems.
Lastly, although it might seem like common sense, don’t just settle for the first attorney you can find. It is worth the time and the effort to talk to some other tax attorneys prior to making your decision. To employ the right person who can help you, don’t be hesitant to take the time to look around. You have to also search for better rates. Although, in matters like these, it is frequently suggested that you do not select a cheaply-priced attorney since that is the quality of service you will receive.
By: Annieson Turner
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May
7
P.L.1991, c.431 with final retroactive amendments effective August 5, 1992 consolidated, into one more flexible law, the various long term tax exemption laws under which municipalities may agree with private entities to undertake redevelopment projects in return for tax exemptions.
P.L.1991, c.441, effective for the first full tax year commencing after its January 18, 1992 enactment, consolidated the various five-year tax abatement and exemption laws into one, more standardized law to govern all tax abatements and exemption regardless of the type of structure.
Long Term Tax Exemption Law
Prior to 1993, which was the first full year of operation governed by the new Long Term Tax Exemption Law, under the provisions of N.J.S.A.40:55C-40, the “Urban Renewal Corporation and Association Law of 1961,” commonly known as the Fox-Lance Act, a qualified municipality (a municipality with “areas in need of rehabilitation”) could abate from 15 to 20 years the taxes on newly constructed industrial, commercial, cultural, or residential projects of a corporation, with profits in excess of the limited profits returned to the municipality, or from 30 to 35 years for condominium projects. Condominium projects were given 30 to 35 years in order to provide a realistic period for permanent financing. Also, prior to 1993 under the provisions of N.J.S.A.55:16-1 et seq., the “Limited-Dividend Nonprofit Housing Corporation or Association Law,” a qualified municipality could abate for up to 50 years the taxes on newly constructed housing. Further, under N.J.S.A.55:14I-1 et seq., a qualified municipality could abate for up to 50 years the taxes on newly constructed senior housing. Lastly, prior to 1993, under the provisions of N.J.S.A.40:55C-77, the “Urban Renewal Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1965,” basically the same types of properties and projects as the Fox-Lance Act could be abated for 20 to 25 years with all profits being returned to the municipality. In all cases under these property tax exemption laws in-lieu of tax payments were required.
Commencing in 1993 the provisions of N.J.S.A.40A:20-1 et seq. permitted a qualified municipality to abate the taxes on properties and projects in the same way the pre 1993 law did with the following notable exceptions:
A new, flexible in-lieu of tax formula was established with a phasing-in of payments in-lieu of taxes to occur under both the percent of gross rental formula and the percent of total project cost formula.
The formulas for computing payment in-lieu of taxes for both office projects and housing projects were changed. The minimum annual service charge for office buildings was reduced from 15 to 10 percent of the annual gross revenues of the project or units of the project. Municipalities retained the option of computing the payment in-lieu of taxes at no less than 2 percent of the total project cost or total project units cost. For housing projects the annual service charge was changed from a minimum of 15 percent to a maximum of 15 percent of annual gross revenue of the project or from a minimum 2 percent to a maximum 2 percent of the total project cost or total project unit cost.
The payment in-lieu of tax formulas remains basically unchanged for all other types of industrial, commercial or cultural projects.
Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law
Prior to 1993, which was the first full year of operation under the new Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law, there were three types of property to which a qualified municipality (a municipality with “areas in need of rehabilitation”) could grant a partial exemption and abatement for a five-year period.
These property types included:
Homeowner improvements (including additions and enlargements) made to one-unit or two-unit residential dwellings that were more than 20 years old. As determined by ordinance the first $4,000, $10,000 or $15,000 of increased value due to improvement on each unit could be exempted from taxation (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.72 to 3.79).
Commercial and industrial improvements and construction projects (with less than a 30% increase in building volume) could have the full assessed value of the improvement exempted with payments in-lieu of taxes made at 2%of project cost or 15% of annual gross revenues or an in-lieu of tax payment phased-in. (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.94to 3.112).
Multiple dwelling improvements or conversion of other types of structures to multiple dwellings could have up to 30% of the full value of the improvement or conversion alteration exempted. No in-lieu of tax payment was required (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.121 to 3.129).
Commencing in 1993 the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq., the “Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law,” which consolidated all provisions of the previous five-year abatement statutes, permitted a qualified municipality to grant partial exemptions and abatements on residential dwellings, non-residential structures and multiple dwellings in the same way the pre 1993 law did, with the following notable exceptions made to the new law:
A new, single definition of “areas in need of rehabilitation” was established to govern all exemptions and abatements which, if chosen, could enable an entire municipality to be designated as an area in need of rehabilitation (thus permitting new structures to facilitate infill construction).
The new five-year law also permitted, for the first time, tax abatements and exemptions for new construction of single family and multi-family dwelling units and non-residential structures rather than just improvements or enlargements to such properties.
The new law also increased the allowable maximum tax exemptions for the value added by an improvement from $4,000, $10,000, and $15,000 to $5,000, $15,000 and $25,000, respectively, as the municipal ordinance may specify.
By: Gerald Dowgin
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May
6
Tax Representation and Enrolled Agents
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With the flood of ads for tax help, knowing who to trust or what’s involved can be as difficult as the tax debt itself. Tax attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs) are often the first thought of. Both of these are viable and have their strengths, but there is a third option for tax resolution. The enrolled agent is also licensed to represent others before the IRS, and in many cases can be the ideal choice.
To better see why, let’s first look at the basic functions of each.
The Tax Attorney
A tax attorney, sometimes called a tax debt lawyer, is skilled in legal matters that deal with taxes. If you’re going through the courts to handle a tax matter, this is your primary option. Tax lawyers are top draw for handling large estates, arbitration, legal investigations, and other such matters. Some forms of appeals or criminal investigations can only be handled by tax debt attorneys.
Many tax matters can be handled outside of court, though. While a tax attorney’s legal advice is always helpful, they rarely prepare tax returns or specialize in financial documents. These skills are often needed to fully resolve the issue. Since tax attorneys typically bill by the hour and for all internal administrative expenses, tax resolution cases that run into IRS delays can become expensive.
The CPA
Certified public accountants are masters of financial records and tax returns. CPAs are often used in finance or as advisers in financial planning. They are skilled in dealing with audits, and in many ways are a great alternative to a tax attorney for matters outside the court. CPAs must also earn continuing professional education (CPE) each year to maintain their certification. In this sense, a CPA can remain current with changing rules.
Despite their knowledge of finances and ability to prepare tax returns, CPAs are often less savvy with IRS procedure when it comes to collections. They are legally able to represent tax payers, but most CPAs do not base their careers around negotiation with the IRS. Further, many CPAs do not want to handle the day to day client service involved in having a situation rectified with the IRS. They typically bill by the hour.
The Enrolled Agent
Enrolled agents are enrolled to practice before the IRS in order to represent people and businesses. To become an enrolled agent, one must have worked at an enforcement position within the IRS for at least five years or have passed a series of IRS formed exams. As an IRS employee, one must have held a position interpreting and enforcing the U.S. tax code as per Circular 230. In either case, the result is someone skilled at tax returns and tax resolution in a direct sense.
No one understands IRS collection better than the one whose job it was to enforce it. While forms and laws are fairly common to all tax professionals, gaging how the IRS will perceive requests and knowing the time spans involved is a plus in negotiation. Eknrolled agents must also complete continuing education requirements like CPAs, allowing them to stay current on changing IRS rules. Since Enrolled Agents work with tax resolution day-to-day, they often provide services with up front quotes or even fixed fees.
A Deeper Look at Enrolled Agents
In an interview with Effectur enrolled agent Cecil Ryman, some clearer distinctions were seen. Only enrolled agents are granted the right to practice by the U.S. government; attorneys and CPAs are licensed by states. While all tax representatives fall under the same Circular 230 IRS code of ethics, rules for CPAs vary by the state from which the license comes.
Designation of “certified” public accountant is often disallowed in states the person is not licensed within. “This can make nationwide representation difficult,” says Ryman. Because an enrolled agent’s license is issued by the federal government, the enrolled agent can help people in any state.
“CPAs and attorneys are qualified by the IRS by their designations,” Ryman continues, “…they don’t have to take an exam.” Beyond the exam CPAs take for their license or the bar exam any attorney takes, there is nothing further they are tested on that relates directly to IRS representation. The enrolled agent exam deals quite a bit with this.
When asked why enrolled agents are lesser known than CPAs or attorneys, Ryman explained that “the IRS never gave it much relative importance until recently”. Greater focus on tax return errors made by un-enrolled preparers has sparked a new interest in licensed preparers.
Ryman points out that there are roughly 35,000 IRS enrolled agents nationwide, and the national association is growing.
More Information on Enrolled Agents:
What Is An Enrolled Agent? Enrolled Agent Info - Straight From the IRS Audit Representation [http://www.effectur.com/individuals/irs-audit-representation.aspx]
By: B. Watkins
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May
4
IRS Lawyers
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IRS lawyers are an integral part of tax proceedings and tax planning. Whether you want to contest a tax liability, get sound advice or begin using a payment plan, you will be able to feel at ease when you use a tax professional.
IRS lawyers have real-world experience and are familiar with the various tax codes, regulations, procedures and laws. They have received the necessary education and training to argue on your behalf so that you can get the justice that you deserve. Using a tax lawyer comes with numerous benefits that includes:
· Paperwork preparation
· Motion requests
· Correspondences with the IRS
· Litigation skills
· Negotiation skills
· Tax planning and debt reduction advice
· Investigation and case research
As you can see, IRS lawyers bring plenty of support to your particular tax case which allows you to have peace of mind knowing that you are in good hands.
An attorney can help you with a wide variety of tax matters. For instance, they can help you reduce an existing tax liability so that it can become more affordable for you. This can be accomplished through a settlement, a payment plan or a discharge. The option that is used for your case will depend upon your financial circumstances. In either event, you will be able to reduce the stress and frustration that you may have over your tax debt.
IRS lawyers can also help you contest unwarranted fees or unfair assessments. Many taxpayers willingly pay for penalties and interests that should not have been applied to their accounts. Most people do not want to fight the government and will pay these items off even if it costs them a lot of money. By using a lawyer, you will be able to save on these expenses and improve your financial situation. It is important to know that you do not have to endure unfair treatment.
Using a qualified tax expert significantly improves your chances of success. If you were to attempt to represent yourself in a tax case, you could make costly mistakes. You are also more likely to pay the government more than you have to. This is why you should rely on experienced IRS lawyers that want to help you. They will be ready to listen to your needs and will assess the facts of your case in order to come up with the right solution.
Knowing that you can acquire professional assistance helps to reduce the stress that is commonly involved with IRS matters. By contacting a tax professional to handle your tax file, you can apply the right solutions to your file for a reduction in tax liabilities. If you are facing any tax issues, you should contact a tax expert.
By: Patrick Charlington
About the Author:
May
3
It may not be high on the list of wedding planning activities, but there are a few simple steps that can help keep tax issues from interrupting your newly wedded bliss. If you recently married, check out your new tax situation. You might save money or even prevent the problem of a missing refund check.
The first things to handle are changes of name and address. Later, as tax season approaches, consider whether or not you’ll itemize deductions, which tax return form is right for you and what filing status you’ll use.
No one should delay the cake cutting or honeymoon because of taxes. But here are some helpful hints for later:
Use Your Correct Name
You must provide correct names and identification numbers to claim personal exemptions on your tax return. If you changed your name upon marrying, let the Social Security Administration know and update your Social Security card so the number matches your new name. Use Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card.
Change of Address
If you or your spouse has a new address, notify the U.S. Postal Service so that it will be able to forward any tax refunds or IRS correspondence. The Postal Service will also pass your new address on to IRS for updating. You may also notify to notify the IRS directly by filing Form 8822.
Refund Checks
Each year, the Postal Service returns thousands of tax refund checks as undeliverable, usually because the addressee has moved. Notifying both the Postal Service and the IRS of an address change in a timely manner can help ensure the proper delivery of any refund checks. To check the status of a tax refund, go to the IRS web site and use the “Where’s My Refund?” service.
Changing Filing Status
Your marital status on December 31 determines whether you are considered married for that year. Married persons may file their federal income tax return either jointly or separately in any given year. Choosing the right filing status may save you money.
A joint return (Married Filing Jointly) allows spouses to combine their income and to deduct combined deductions and expenses on a single tax return. Both spouses must sign the return and both are held responsible for the contents.
With separate returns (Married Filing Separately), each spouse signs, files and is responsible for his or her own tax return. Each is taxed on his or her own income, and can take only his or her individual deductions and credits. If one spouse itemizes deductions, the other must also.
Which filing status should you select? It depends entirely on your specific situation. You should consider sitting down with a tax professional to make a determination.
By: Richard Chapo
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