Tax benefits of marriage The recent Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, which operates to disenfranchise homosexual couples legally married under state law for estate tax purposes, sheds light on the many tax benefits of marriage. Among these benefits is of course beneficial treatment for estate tax purposes, but
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How the IRS Determines Who Responsible People are – Trust Fund Penalty
How the IRS determines who responsible people are (Trust fund penalty) Federal taxes may seem burdensome to many employers, but prompt payment of those taxes is often preferable given the penalties associated with a failure to pay. One such penalty is the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP), which is assessed against any responsible person who
Currently Not Collectible Status
Among the remedies available to taxpayers in financial distress that are unable to meet their tax obligations is the ability to obtain Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS has authority to designate an account as CNC under Policy Statement 5-71, and may do so for a variety of
Tax Legal Problems
A taxpayer may be subject to tax liability before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or the state agencies such as the Employment Development Department (EDD), State Board of Equalization (SBOE), and Franchise Tax Board (FTB). The IRS is the federal government agency responsible for tax collections and tax law enforcements. The EDD is part of
Taxpayer Advocate Service
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an organization that operates independently within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and exists in order to assist taxpayers experiencing “economic harm.” The IRS defines “economic harm” as a situation where someone is incapable of providing basic necessities for themselves, including housing, food, or transportation. Internal Revenue Service, The Taxpayer
Abatements and Reconsiderations
Abatements and Reconsiderations When a tax debtor fails to meet his or her federal tax obligations, he or she may too often assume that the taxes originally assessed were done so in the appropriate manner. However, this is often not the case, and in recognition of this fact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been
Federal Tax Lien
A federal tax lien is the mechanism by which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforces the tax obligations of taxpayers that have fulfilled those obligations. Typically, such a lien will be filed once a taxpayer’s liability has been assessed, a Notice and Demand for Payment has been sent to the taxpayer, and the taxpayer has
IRS Audit Reconsideration
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the power to audit a taxpayer, and typically does so in a limited number of circumstances. The IRS will often audit high net worth individuals, taxpayers that claim huge charitable contributions, underreporting of income on the relevant tax form, taxpayers that claim huge business losses year after year, or
How Future Income is Calculated
In order for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to determine whether a taxpayer is entitled to a reduction in their federal tax burden by way of an Offer in Compromise based on doubt as to collectability, the taxpayer’s future income must be determined. How future income is calculated is essentially an estimate made by the
Taxpayer Advocate Service
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an organization that operates independently within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and exists in order to assist taxpayers experiencing “economic harm.” The IRS defines “economic harm” as a situation where someone is incapable of providing basic necessities for themselves, including housing, food, or transportation. Internal Revenue Service, The Taxpayer