Tax attorney advice: Misunderstanding Will Double Your Tax (I)

by Thomas Alston

If you have been overwhelmed by articles, advertising and friendly advice about the various schemes to legally avoid California Sales and Use Tax, let me set you straight about how to protect yourself. Aero Marine Tax Professionals (http://www.aeromarinetaxpros.com) handles this type of situation routinely.

First, you must know that your purchase of an aircraft or vessel is not exempt from tax until the California State Board of Equalization (Board) sends you a letter which affirms in writing your transaction is exempt. This may seem a little simplistic, but every month I encounter another taxpayer (the Board's term for you) who has never filed a tax return, yet firmly believes he/she does not owe tax.

In this case NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS.

The key to this warning is the fact that the burden of proof in supporting a claim for an exemption rests squarely on your shoulders. The Board does not have to prove anything. The taxpayer has to support the claim for an exemption and must file a tax return. Just because you know that your property was used in an exempt manner does not mean that it is exempt. You must have in your possession a document from the Board which affirms they agree you have supported your claim.

In California, when you purchase an aircraft or vessel from someone other than a retailer who collects sales tax from you at the time of the transaction, it is the legal obligation of the purchaser (you) to timely file (self report) a tax return. In general the return is due within twelve months from the date of the transaction.

If you received an inquiry letter from the Board, the due date is located in the top right hand section of the cover letter. The due date on the letter becomes the date the return must be filed and many times is less than twelve months from the date of the transaction.

If you took possession outside the state using an offshore delivery for a vessel, or an out-of-state delivery for an aircraft, it is your legal obligation to timely file a tax return. If you believe your aircraft is exempt because it has been used in a manner that you were told made it non-taxable, your purchase is NOT EXEMPT FROM TAX until you have filed a tax return and received written notification from the Board that you have supported a claim for exemption.

About the AuthorThomas A. Alston is the president of Aero & Marine Tax Professionals (http://www.aeromarinetaxpros.com). He has successfully filed hundreds of tax returns with the California State Board of Equalization. Mr. Alston is California's premier specialist in legitimate tax avoidance on aircraft, vessels and vehicles, having published many articles on sales and use tax.

to be continued

Tax Attorney

By: Ken Charnly

There are various problems that a taxpayer faces while reckoning the exact amount that he is liable to pay as tax. Many a times, his estimates of tax vary from what he is being asked by the law to pay as tax.

The taxpayer, generally, sorts out all the minor problems he faces with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or the state department of revenue. But when the taxpayer is trapped in the loop-holes by the complicated U.S. tax law, he needs to hire a skilled tax attorney to pull him out of all the legal complications. It’s not possible on the part of the individual to sort out things on his own, when he is entangled in the legalities of the U.S. law. The job of the tax attorney is to find out the way-outs for their clients, taxpayers, so that they are not over-burdened with the extra amounts of tax, that they are made wrongly liable by the law. To extricate the taxpayers from the unnecessary legal formalities involved in paying tax and paying extra taxes on demand by the government, the tax attorneys represent their clients in front of the law.

The tax attorneys deal with solving the problems of their clients with the IRS and state revenue department. Their job basically revolves around tax related issues. All the problems regarding the payment of tax are solved by the tax attorney, they help by reducing the fines, removing the liens and also looking over various tax issues.

The position of the tax attorney is equal to that of an accountant since, he is considered to be as important as the other. The tax attorney can avoid the tax problems from the stage where the problem hasn’t even raised. Since the attorney knows what all activities on part of the entrepreneur can trigger off tax related problems, he actually advises the entrepreneur from doing any such things and thus helps in avoiding all the tax problems.

The tax law of U.S. is not purely fixed; it changes almost every year to match all the newly arising problems. And the job of an attorney needs him to keep his client updated with all the latest changes in the tax laws and rates. He also helps in making the stock portfolios, trust funds and other things like that, which helps the client to a great deal. To find a tax attorney one shouldn’t be very reckless, and should look very carefully by asking friends, asking from his personal attorney or even looking for one on the sites.

The important feature that one should look for in an attorney is that whether he has sufficient experience in the particular field or not, and how has his past record been.

Ken Charnley is a personal finance enthusiast with www.online-loans-pro.com/ dedicated to quality information on online loans. For all your online loan needs visit and apply for loans online

Divorce, Taxes Attorney and the IRS

Author: Howard Iken
Copyright 2006 The Divorce Center P.A.

In Divorce, potential tax liability can frequently become the tool for one spouse to use against the other spouse. If improperly used, this tool can destroy all of the marital assets. In the worst case, tax liability can seriously impact the future financial security of either spouse and subject them to criminal sanctions.

Situation 1 - Your Spouse Owns a Business The most common situation where taxes become an issue in a divorce is they there is a family business. The owner - spouse may have hidden cash receipts or engage in a practice of recording inflated expenses. This common practice by many business owners is a fraudulent attempt to minimize taxes. The other spouse is often aware of and approves of this practice. During the marriage, minimization of taxes results in higher household income and a better lifestyle for the couple.

This practice is illegal or borders on illegal. During the marriage it is a secret between the married couple. But during a divorce each spouse may try to use past tax behavior to gain an advantage. The owner - spouse wants to minimize past income in an effort to lower child support, alimony, or division of marital property. Of course the other spouse wants to prove the opposite. The result is a game of chicken - with one spouse threatening to turn the other spouse in to the IRS. This is a dangerous game for all involved. Do it yourselfers will find the situation blowing up in their face. People with attorneys may find the attorney reluctant to deal with the situation.

The Potential Problems: ? Your Attorney cannot assist the owner/spouse commit the crime of tax evasion.? The non-owner spouse may end up liable for half of the back taxes, penalties, and fines.? The divorce court Judge may decide to turn everyone in.? In an extreme situation, everyone can go to jail.

Situation 2 - You Make a Surprise Discovery: Your Spouse is a Tax Cheat Another common situation in divorce: the sudden realization that a spouse is a tax cheat ? and you were completely unaware until the divorce. The Potential Problems: ? You may end up owing the IRS half the overdue taxes.? You may end up owing the IRS the ENTIRE tax bill.? The overdue tax bill may be double the actual unpaid taxes, due to penalties, fines, and interest.

The Potential Solution:
The IRS has a provision called Innocent Spouse Relief. This provision gives complete or partial tax forgiveness to an innocent spouse. But be aware - the definition of "innocent" is technical, elusive, and difficult to understand. Two available forms of tax relief: ? Innocent Spouse Relief - Discharge of Liability? Separate Tax Liability for Each Spouse The first form of relief wipes out your tax debt in part or full. You must have not had any knowledge of the incorrect or fraudulently prepared tax returns. That means you cannot look like you were aware of any part of the return. Also, you must not have benefited from the hidden income. That means you cannot be driving a Mercedes and at the same time signing a tax return that show $200/week in income.

The second form of relief is slightly easier to get. If you qualify, the IRS will separate out the tax liability of your income from your spouse's hidden income. This type of relief may have the effect of wiping out extreme tax bills and penalties. The Bottom Line: Always be aware of these types of tax situations. The financial effect can be far worse than the divorce. If you believe this type of problem is in your future, start preparing immediately. Do not sign a joint tax return for your upcoming tax filing. File married-filing-separately. The moment you suspect a potential tax liability, begin to separate your financial life from your spouse's financial life and then promptly file for divorce.

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Divorce Attorney Howard Iken has a rapidly growing divorce practice in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. He can be reached at 727-844-7676. More information on divorce can be found at http://www.18884mydivorce.com/

Tax Demand? A Tax Attorney Could Reduce It

By: Pearl Deloria

Do you dread seeing those brown envelopes with the IRS or Inland Renenue address on them? Do you put them on one side until you have summoned the courage to read their latest demand for money? Does the thought of filing your tax return stress you out unbearably?

Tax laws in most countries are exceedingly complex and open to interpretation by the courts. Every taxpayer wants to legally reduce the taxes he or she pays to the minimum. Even in these days of more easily understood forms there is still lots of scope for interpretation of tax laws.
Government tax raising departments like the IRS employ highly paid attorneys to persuade the courts in favor of the government's interpretation of tax laws. The more persuasive an attorney has proved to be the more they can charge. The IRS attorneys are paid from the bottomless pocket of the taxpayer, so they only employ the best and most persuasive people.

The individual or company taxpayer has only one option – to employ a tax attorney themselves.
Your attorney will mediate between you and the IRS and help you to reach a negotiated settlement. Where disputed amounts are large, it is usual for the taxpayer to reach a negotiated settlement for a much smaller amount than the original claim. This is why people employ tax attorneys. If the case goes to court then you will be represented and have the best advice available, a much better position to be in than facing the might of government alone.

There are so many complexities to every tax system because of the cumulative effect of thousands of pressure groups over the past 200 years. Each group manages to persuade the government of the day that they will get more votes if they accede to the group's demands. The government acquiesces and another complexity is added to the tax regime.

Many of these pressure groups' demands could be reversed, but that would require immense political courage, which is not present in most democratically elected politicians.

Pearl Deloria has an SME management background. Find more articles here. Visit these sites for more info tax attorney and taxes.

Tax attorney: Employment Taxes ? Depositing With The IRS

Author: Richard Chapo

If your business has employees, you must pay employment taxes. The payment system can be a bit confusing, so this article discusses how to go about depositing employment taxes with the IRS. Depositing Employment Taxes To pay employment taxes, you must deposit the money with the IRS. As is typical with tax situations, the payments are not actually made to the IRS. Instead, you must deposit the employment taxes with a federal depository.

Moving the burden to the private sector, the IRS requires most banks to act as depositories. If your business has just started hiring employees, ask you bank if they act as a depository. If they do not, you may want to change banks. To deposit the taxes, you forward money per the bank specifications. You will also need to file a Federal Tax Deposit Coupon, Form 8109, with the deposit. The IRS typically sends these forms to you at the beginning of each calendar year. If you don't receive any, you can download the form from the IRS site or ask your tax professional.

When To Deposit
You must deposit employment taxes either once or twice a month. The IRS will send you a schedule at the end of each year for the subsequent year. As a general rule, you want to file within a few days of each pay period.

Failure To Deposit
Collecting employment taxes is a high priority of the IRS. Since the taxes include money deducted from an employee's paycheck, the IRS views an employer's non-payment as a form of theft. If you fail to pay, you can expect the IRS to come down hard on your business and, potentially, shut it down. In short, make absolutely sure you deposit the employment taxes. In Closing There is no other way to put it ? paying employment taxes is a pain. Just make sure you pay them to avoid the wrath of the IRS.

Richard A. Chapo is with BusinessTaxRecovery.com - Stop overpaying small business taxes. Read more business tax articles on tax relief and tax help.

Prerequisites Needed To Become A Successful Tax Attorney

by Brooke Hayles

Looking for a new career and comfortable working with figures? Then you might consider becoming a tax attorney. It is well worth investigating what the training might involve - people faced with an impending battle with the IRS or confusion over the tax laws, highlight the fact that tax attorneys are in demand. The rules and regulations that surround things like filing your tax returns and making appropriate documentation often need further clarification. Some people just don't fully understand what they are doing and as a result could end up with stiff penalties for their ignorance.

A tax attorney can help with these problems and make life easier for many people. In order to be successful as a tax attorney then you need to learn the tax code and laws, inside out. Then, if a person needs assistance with Internal Revenue Service issues you will be able to help. A good tax attorney can help organize and analyze the information that is needed to appease the IRS - if you can do this then your services will be in demand.

The complex forms that need filling in can be overwhelming for people without that specialist knowledge. There are a number of things that could prove a problem with the IRS. If you can't account for any mistakes you have made then you could be liable for heavy penalties. This could result in your hard earned dollars going to fines and additional penalties. If the IRS takes action against you over your past tax filings, you may need to employ a tax attorney if you want to avoid any prosecution for fraud. Tax attorneys are called upon to help in a number of different areas. Someone may request help with their Payroll Taxes - or they may be called to speak on behalf of someone facing penalties from the IRS.

Tax specialists represent those who have filed late returns for one or more years and can argue for a lenient payment plan for their clients. Tax attorneys choose whether they want to be paid by the hour or whether they will charge on the basis of a given assignment.

What An Attorney Should Be Acquainted With
A tax attorney should be familiar with state and federal codes and how these operate. It is also advisable to develop a working knowledge of various incomes, properties and other personal wealth as these are all liable to taxes. A tax lawyer should be an expert in the ways of state and federal laws.

This means all the possible taxes that exist. This may include sales, gift, as well as inheritance taxes. It is also advisable for a tax attorney to be familiar with the laws regarding the estates of the recently deceased. A regular tax-related attorney should be able to deal with all of this information. A tax fraud attorney on the other hand is employed by those who have made a few mistakes in their tax filings. Some attorneys develop a specialist area and their services therefore are specific to the needs of particular individuals and businesses. The attorney may also specialize in one of two main tax issues: the IRS or another taxing authority. Either way, a tax lawyer is often in demand for protecting parts of people's incomes and solving complex business issues.

Prerequisites Needed
To become a tax attorney you need training which results in the qualification of Juris Doctor or equivalent degree. Once you have the right educational credentials, then you need to be licensed by a State Board of Law Examiners if you want to practice as an attorney or counselor. If you really are interested in becoming a tax specialist then you may consider applying to a good law school. They will have various entry qualifications that you may need to fulfill first. Do some research on the different institutions and their requirements first.

Summary: If you want to become a tax attorney you need to find out what they do first. A tax attorney helps people to deal with their taxes in the proper manner. An individual or a business may need the help of a tax attorney for a variety of reasons - including mistakes in their returns or late tax returns. You need quite a high educational level to become a tax lawyer.

About the Author Brooke Hayles Check Out More Helpful Information About Tax Attorney For FREE! Visit {a href= http://www.attorneytaxonline.com/resources/tax-attorney-shelter-your-income.html}Tax Attorney Online Now!

Tax attorney: How to minimize your taxes on wealth

Author: Jakob Jelling

Taxes on wealth or simply wealth tax is the tax levied on the value of wealth owned by a person. As the term 'wealth' carries with it a broader meaning, generally capital transfer taxes (which include inheritance tax and gift tax), property tax, and capital gains taxes are some times invariably referred to as wealth taxes.

Taxes on wealth were first introduced in Europe, aimed at reducing the growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor. It was meant to raise revenue for addressing pressing social requirements and also to discourage the attitude towards amassing wealth.

Still, in countries across the world, majority of wealth is concentrated at the hands of fairly small number of people. Ideally taxes on wealth cuts down the disparities in wealth rather than the income, which actually is the determinant factor on how the scales are weighed for the next generations. Also, taxes on wealth can bring about vertical as well as horizontal equity, which income tax fails to achieve. For example, neither a wealthy person nor a poor one with no income will pay income tax. But the wealthy ones need to cough up wealth tax while the poor need not.

But, as critics puts down, taxes on wealth can actually cause inefficiency by discouraging wealth producing economic initiatives. Also, the revenue generated by imposing taxes on wealth may not be that productive as the theory suggests. The wealthiest form only a small percentage of the population and by nature they are adept at avoiding taxes while remaining themselves within the contours of law.

Taxes on wealth comes in two forms ? the capital transfer taxes that are levied when wealth change hands and the annual wealth taxes. Capital transfer taxes can occur either at death ? also called inheritance tax ? or via donation (gift tax). Some people tend to believe that Capital Gains tax to be a form of taxes on wealth. But in realty, capital gains tax is the taxation on the income obtained on capital and not a wealth tax on the capital.

Ideally, taxes on wealth should not be severe on the tax payers even if they have lots of wealth. Instead, after the minimum slab of no taxation, the taxes on wealth percentage should increase at increments, depending on the value of wealth in dollars. Such a fairer taxation not only increases the revenue but also goes a long way in bringing down the inequality aspect as well.
But with intelligent investing, one can save a lot that other wise goes as wealth tax. But that requires careful thought and advanced planning. May be a tax professional could help one in this regard.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com/. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

Author: Hector Milla
Organizing your taxes can get quite nerve-racking. This is the main reason why many people would find some assistance in preparing their taxes.
When you file your taxes, you can find someone who can do the job for you. Look for a person who is knowledgeable, an experienced expert with tax specialization. There are actually various available types of assistance from people such as:
1. Tax Preparer
They have good knowledge when it comes to filing taxes. Tax preparers are persons that are highly trained and educated in preparing your tax returns and preparations.
2. Enrolled Agents
Compared to tax preparers, an enrolled agent can show you your taxes with an assessment. They are the "advanced" tax preparers, however the superiority or work and skills differs from agent to agent.
3. Certified Public Accountants
You cannot only use your CPA to prepare taxes for you; they can also help you to keep yourself from paying too much taxes. Their services are very expensive. You have to pay them in an hourly basis ranging from 200 to 300 dollars. However, they are worth the charges because a lot of them are very good. CPA's can give you the ins and outs about taxes. They can provide you ways on how to save on your taxes legally.
In choosing among the three, consider first your finances. If you have reasonably small earnings every year, you do not have to hire someone whose service charge is bigger than your income. Hire someone who is within your budget.
Article written by Hector Milla, editor of http://www.bigmoneyteam.info/, a website pointing ways to make money online , you may read their make money articles at http://www.bigmoneyteam.info/legalty-ways-to/, thanks for publish this article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.

Tax Attorney: Finding Financial Assistance with Your Taxes

Author: Hector Milla

Organizing your taxes can get quite nerve-racking. This is the main reason why many people would find some assistance in preparing their taxes. When you file your taxes, you can find someone who can do the job for you. Look for a person who is knowledgeable, an experienced expert with tax specialization.

There are actually various available types of assistance from people such as:

1. Tax PreparerThey have good knowledge when it comes to filing taxes. Tax preparers are persons that are highly trained and educated in preparing your tax returns and preparations.

2. Enrolled AgentsCompared to tax preparers, an enrolled agent can show you your taxes with an assessment. They are the "advanced" tax preparers, however the superiority or work and skills differs from agent to agent.

3. Certified Public AccountantsYou cannot only use your CPA to prepare taxes for you; they can also help you to keep yourself from paying too much taxes.

Their services are very expensive. You have to pay them in an hourly basis ranging from 200 to 300 dollars. However, they are worth the charges because a lot of them are very good. CPA's can give you the ins and outs about taxes. They can provide you ways on how to save on your taxes legally. In choosing among the three, consider first your finances. If you have reasonably small earnings every year, you do not have to hire someone whose service charge is bigger than your income. Hire someone who is within your budget.

Article written by Hector Milla, editor of http://www.bigmoneyteam.info/, a website pointing ways to make money online , you may read their make money articles at http://www.bigmoneyteam.info/legalty-ways-to/ , thanks for publish this article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.

Home business reduction tax strategy (I)

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to be continued

How to select aproperty tax attorney

Author: Caterina Christakos

Ever wonder how to go about selecting the right property tax attorney? Here are a few tips.

1. Ask friends or business associates if they know a property tax attorney. As in other areas, a referral from someone who has had direct experience with a professional and whose judgment you trust can be a reliable guide.

2. Schedule an appointment to speak with the attorney by phone. Ask the attorney how he would approach your case. Property tax appeals are typically handled on a contingency fee basis. This means that most or all of the fee depends on the outcome of the tax appeal. One consequence of this industry standard is that many property tax attorneys will briefly discuss your property tax with you without initial fee.

3. Ask for the url of their website and blog. Then spend a few minutes reading the blog for items of interest and looking at the materials posted on the website.

4. Find out what legal and appraisal or assessment organizations the lawyer belongs to. At the very least, he should belong to the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). This is the national professional organization for government officials responsible for assessment of local property taxes.

5. Find out if he or she has earned a Martindale-Hubbell rating. "AV" is the highest ability/highest ethics rating based on the opinion of lawyers and judges who know him or her. Only 10% of American lawyers have achieved this rating. Only 50% of all lawyers have earned a rating, so A-B-C rated lawyers are in the top 50%. Moreover, you cannot have an ability rating unless you have earned the highest ethics rating (the "V" rating).

6. Don't be fooled by advertising slogans, such as "former local government attorney" or "aggressive property tax advocate." Meet the lawyer and decide if you have confidence in his or her skills and feel comfortable with their analysis of your property.

7. Inquire if the attorney you are interviewing has ever taught at a law school (or CLE program) or published a legal or tax assessment article. Teaching and publishing require research and dedication, as well as commitment to good practice policies. This is also is a good way to determine your lawyer's standing in the legal community.

8. Ask who will work on your case if you hire this attorney, and what their experience level is. What portion of work will these other people be doing, and what will be your attorney's participation in your property tax appeal? Does the attorney attend all the hearings? If not, does he sometimes assign this task to nonlawyers, as he is authorized to do in most jurisdictions?

9. Discuss the facts of your case. The attorney should be able to discuss in general terms how he or she will proceed and how your tax appeal will be handled.
10. Inquire about law office communications with clients and what the attorney's policy is regarding apprising you of the progress of your tax appeal.

About The Author:
Daniel A. Weiss is a former Attorney Special Master for the Miami-Dade County Value Adjustment Board and was recently named to the list of Florida Super Lawyers for 2006. For more information go to: http://www.tannebaumweiss.com/property_tax.php

Tax Attorney

Author: Bridget B

Tax Attorney
When should you hire a tax attorney?
If you are facing an audit of your tax return, a dispute with the IRS over taxes owed, a looming tax bill that you cannot pay, or have other important questions regarding corporate, payroll, estate, property, capital gains or personal income taxes or deductions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer who is knowledgeable in federal, state and local tax laws and who can provide you with the tax help you need.

A tax attorney can help you:

Assess your legal situation. You aren’t the first, and you won’t be the last, person to have trouble with a tax authority. While it may seem overwhelming at first, a legal expert can help you sort through the details of your problem and come up with a game plan to get you back on track with the IRS. By consulting with a tax lawyer first, you may even reduce or eliminate your tax problems before they are out of control.

A tax attorney can:
* Help you understand your tax liability and file an amended tax return.
* Deal with an IRS lien or levy.
* Handle corporate tax or bankruptcy issues.
* Assist with personal income tax, property tax or bankruptcy issues.
* Protect you from IRS error, abuse and intimidation.
* Manage complex business transactions (such as liquidations, mergers), international transactions.
* Help you plan for or identify potential tax risks and develop strategies to protect your interests.
* Deal with the tax authority, it’s regulations and paperwork, so you don’t have to.
Provide legal coaching. If your tax problem is relatively simple and you want to work on your own, you may still want to hire an attorney to act as a legal coach.

As your advisor, your attorney can help
(1) develop a strategy for your case;
(2) advise you on the soundness of your legal position:

1. spot any inconsistencies in the IRS calculations;
2. give you feedback on the law applicable to your case;
3. point out any problem areas;
4. draft legal papers;
5. suggest non-litigation strategies for solving your problem, such as arbitration or mediation; or (8) represent you if at some point you feel you can no longer handle it by yourself.

Negotiate.
If you want to minimize the bite of the taxing authority and neutralize the intimidation factor, hire an experienced tax attorney. Your tax attorney will not be intimidated or bullied and is in a better position to negotiate for you, knowing in advance the best arguments to make in your favor.

Represent you in court or administrative tribunal. If you cannot work out your legal issue informally and it looks like you are headed for court or an administrative tribunal, you would be much better off hiring an attorney to level the playing field and represent your interests.

What is tax law?

Tax law is found in many places - tax law is generated by the federal government, state government as well as counties, cities, and other municipalities. The variety of taxes that everyone faces is staggering - tax law affects almost every aspect of your life.

As for federal taxes, the law is primarily found in:

Title 26 of the United States Code - the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the "Code" as promulgated by the Congress of the United States),

Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations (the "Regulations" as promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service),

* proposed regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"),* temporary regulations issued by the IRS,
* revenue rulings issued by the IRS,
* private letter rulings issued by the IRS,
* revenue procedures, policy statements, and technical information releases issued by the IRS, and
* federal tax court decisions.

Tax law for states, counties, cities and other municipalities is likewise contained in codes sections, regulations, administrative codes, procedures and statements issued by the respective government authorities, as well as state court decisions. In many instances, state law is patterned after federal law but this is not necessarily always the case.

Tax law is pervasive throughout our daily lives. A lot of trees have been turned into pages of tax law. As you ease into your research of tax law, try to see the forest without getting lost in all the trees.

In a nutshell, tax law is a bewildering array of law that is scattered throughout many different sources and subject to many interpretations.

About The Author:
For more information please visit http://taxattorneyguide.net/

How to select a property tax attorney

Author: Caterina Christakos

Ever wonder how to go about selecting the right property tax attorney? Here are a few tips.

1. Ask friends or business associates if they know a property tax attorney. As in other areas, a referral from someone who has had direct experience with a professional and whose judgment you trust can be a reliable guide.

2. Schedule an appointment to speak with the attorney by phone. Ask the attorney how he would approach your case. Property tax appeals are typically handled on a contingency fee basis. This means that most or all of the fee depends on the outcome of the tax appeal. One consequence of this industry standard is that many property tax attorneys will briefly discuss your property tax with you without initial fee.

3. Ask for the url of their website and blog. Then spend a few minutes reading the blog for items of interest and looking at the materials posted on the website.

4. Find out what legal and appraisal or assessment organizations the lawyer belongs to. At the very least, he should belong to the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). This is the national professional organization for government officials responsible for assessment of local property taxes.

5. Find out if he or she has earned a Martindale-Hubbell rating. "AV" is the highest ability/highest ethics rating based on the opinion of lawyers and judges who know him or her. Only 10% of American lawyers have achieved this rating. Only 50% of all lawyers have earned a rating, so A-B-C rated lawyers are in the top 50%. Moreover, you cannot have an ability rating unless you have earned the highest ethics rating (the "V" rating).

6. Don't be fooled by advertising slogans, such as "former local government attorney" or "aggressive property tax advocate." Meet the lawyer and decide if you have confidence in his or her skills and feel comfortable with their analysis of your property.

7. Inquire if the attorney you are interviewing has ever taught at a law school (or CLE program) or published a legal or tax assessment article. Teaching and publishing require research and dedication, as well as commitment to good practice policies. This is also is a good way to determine your lawyer's standing in the legal community.

8. Ask who will work on your case if you hire this attorney, and what their experience level is. What portion of work will these other people be doing, and what will be your attorney's participation in your property tax appeal? Does the attorney attend all the hearings? If not, does he sometimes assign this task to nonlawyers, as he is authorized to do in most jurisdictions?

9. Discuss the facts of your case. The attorney should be able to discuss in general terms how he or she will proceed and how your tax appeal will be handled. 10. Inquire about law office communications with clients and what the attorney's policy is regarding apprising you of the progress of your tax appeal.

About The Author: Daniel A. Weiss is a former Attorney Special Master for the Miami-Dade County Value Adjustment Board and was recently named to the list of Florida Super Lawyers for 2006. For more information go to: http://www.tannebaumweiss.com/property_tax.php

Your IRS Tax Appeal Rights

By: Richard Chapo

Are you in the middle of a disagreement with the IRS? One of the guaranteed rights for all taxpayers is the right to appeal. If you disagree with the IRS about the amount of your tax liability or about proposed collection actions, you have the right to ask the IRS Appeals Office to review your case. During their contact with taxpayers, IRS employees are required to explain and protect these taxpayer rights, including the right to appeal.

The IRS appeals system is for people who do not agree with the results of an examination of their tax returns or other adjustments to their tax liability.

In addition to examinations, you can appeal many other things, including:

1. Collection actions such as liens, levies, seizures, installment agreement terminations and rejected offers-in-compromise
2. Penalties and interest
3. Employment tax adjustments and the trust fund recovery penalty Internal IRS Appeal conferences are informal meetings.

The local Appeals Office, which is independent of the IRS office, can sometimes resolve an appeal by telephone or through correspondence. The IRS also offers an option called Fast Track Mediation, during which an appeals or settlement officer attempts to help you and the IRS reach a mutually satisfactory solution. Most cases not docketed in court qualify for Fast Track Mediation.

You may request Fast Track Mediation at the conclusion of an audit or collection determination, but prior to your request for a normal appeals hearing. Fast Track Mediation is meant to promote the early resolution of a dispute. It doesn’t eliminate or replace existing dispute resolution options, including your opportunity to request a conference with a manager or a hearing before Appeals.

You may withdraw from the mediation process at any time. When attending an informal meeting or pursuing mediation, you may represent yourself or you can be represented by an attorney, certified public accountant or individual enrolled to practice before the IRS. If you and the IRS appeals officer cannot reach agreement, or if you prefer not to appeal within the IRS, in most cases you may take your disagreement to federal court.

Usually, it is worth having a go at mediation before committing to an expensive and time-consuming court process.

About the Author:
Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses for overpaid taxes. Discovery tax strategies and deductions in our tax articles section.

Three Reasons To Hire A Tax Attorney

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There are many people marketing themselves as tax pros, but few can offer the superior advantages of a tax attorney. MBAs, licensed and credentialed accountants, or your next door neighbor with a tax software program and some free time will all offer to help you out with your taxes, but only a licensed tax attorney can really help you out of your tax bind.

A Tax lawyer can offer three significant advantages over other tax professionals. A tax attorney can offer confidentiality, practical advice for the long term, and negotiating skills to remedy any tax controversies. Tax time can be a stressful time. Individuals during tax time, especially those with significant tax debt, can find themselves saying or thinking extremely as the time to pay approaches.

Sometimes clients encounter special situations in which they can make various choices regarding reporting money or claiming deductions. This confusing time can be much more stressful when a client feels he or she cannot truthfully ask their questions for fear of later having to answer for their words. Conversations with a tax professional other than a tax attorney are not confidential in most cases, and are never confidential when they involve possible criminal cases. Criminal or not, conversation with a tax attorney are always confidential. This means clients of a tax attorney can ask the most far reaching questions, and brainstorm the most far out scenarios, and the tax attorney cannot be induced to share these words.

A tax attorney will not advise a client to act criminally, but will also not turn a client in if a client appears suspicious. Tax attorneys offer practical advice for the long run. Tax attorneys take into consideration all of the aspects of a client’s life. A tax attorney can advise a client on their many options for tax payment. A tax attorney can advise a client on claiming procedure and on deductions, ensuring the client remains within the letter of the law.

The tax attorney specializes in tax law, providing clients’ piece of mind that their tax situation is being overseen by a profession who will maintain legitimacy and lawfulness throughout. Tax attorneys can walk clients through several procedures. Tax attorneys can help a client decide if bankruptcy, emergency relief collection, or an Offer in Compromise will be profitable solutions to their individual tax needs.

Tax attorneys can help clients even in a multi-state situation, and will be familiar with each state’s codes. Tax attorneys provide superior negotiating skills to clients who need advocacy as much as advice. Negotiating the IRS waters can be a difficult job, and one that meets many closed doors and crosses much red tape. A tax attorney has been trained to negotiate and maneuver on behalf of the client.

A tax attorney is familiar with the system and will be able expedite the process through efficient navigating of the IRS and state taxations systems. There are many professionals to choose from to meet tax season needs, but a tax attorney provides superior advocacy and negotiation to clients who mean business. Tax attorneys offer confidentiality and piece of mind.

About the Author: Robert Michael is a writer for Tax Attorneys which is an excellent place to find attorneys links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://attorneysmlb.com