As a tax law firm we deal with IRS and Franchise Tax Board audits on a daily basis. As we review tax returns and prepare our clients for the audit process, one question comes to mind during many of these interviews: “What was their tax attorney thinking?” Deduct With Care: These Write-Offs Could Lead to
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Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights
Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights Have you heard about the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights? For years the IRS has published different procedures, processes and taxpayer expectations throughout different publications its offered to the public. But just like the Bill of Rights in our constitution, the agency has boiled it all down to ten overarching taxpayer right’s and
Understanding the Alternative Minimum Tax
It’s one of the most dreaded phrases a taxpayer can hear, “you’re subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax.†If you’re hearing it from your tax attorney,  get ready to break out your checkbook because chances are very high that you’ll be paying a lot more to the federal government. What is the Alternative Minimum Tax? The
Understanding Your CP102 Notice From the IRS
If you have received a CP102 notice from the IRS in the mail, they are notifying you of changes they made to your return because they believe there was a miscalculation. As a result of this, you owe money on your taxes. Here is what you need to do if you have received a CP102
IRS CP 74 – Notification of Recertification for the EITC
If you received this notice, the IRS is notifying you that you have been re-certified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a benefit for taxpayers who work and have low to moderate income. This credit reduces the amount of taxes you owe and may also result in you receiving a refund.
How IRS Interest is Calculated
The IRS has many different penalties they can place against taxpayers if they believe you have a balance due after tax day. If you find yourself with a large balance due to the IRS, FTB, EDD, or SBOE, these agencies will impose high percentage penalties on the balance due, and they may begin garnishing your
Tips to Avoid Audits
Tips to Avoid Audits Principal Attorney Ronson J. Shamoun gives a few tips on how to avoid an audit. Overall, we generally recommend that you retain counsel to guide you through the audit process. Although there are costs associated with hiring representation, they are normally worth the investment as it helps to minimize your overall
Important Things You Need to Know About the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDI/OVDP)
The OVDI program allows taxpayers to receive tax amnesty with the IRS. If you happen to have money in a foreign bank account, you must disclose the account and its balance to the IRS on your tax return each year. If you do not, you face certain penalties and possibly even criminal prosecution. The IRS
Most Common IRS Notices
Common IRS Notices The IRS has hundreds of notices they send to taxpayers, so we compiled a list of the most common IRS notices written in plain English to save you from the headache of deciphering what your notice means! CP10: The IRS has made changes to your return because there was a miscalculation, and
Pros and Cons of Filing for Bankruptcy
Pros and Cons of Filing for Bankruptcy When you are researching whether or not you should file for bankruptcy, you are inundated with confusing information and jargon you are likely unfamiliar with. To help you with this process, we have compiled and condensed some information you should know about the differences between Chapter 7 and