A Word On Tax Collections

In November and December of 2010, I wrote a series of tax articles for the State Bar of Wisconsin's Inside Track electronic news letter.  The first concerned tax audits and can be read here.  The second article discussed appeals and can be read here. The third addressed the United States Tax Court and can be read here.

The fourth article discussed (with great generality) what happens and what options may be available once the tax liability has become a fact that must be dealt with.  A brief discussion on what options a taxpayer has for paying or negotiating a tax liability can be found here.  

Friday's Tax Quote - January 28, 2011

“Earth gets its price for what Earth gives us; The beggar is taxed for a corner to die in …”

- James Russell Lowell

A Word On The Tax Court

In November and December of 2010, I wrote a series of tax articles for the State Bar of Wisconsin's Inside Track electronic news letter.  The first concerned tax audits and can be read here.  The second article discussed appeals and can be read here.


The third article discussed challenging a tax audit beyond the Appeals Division and into the United States Tax Court and can be read here.

Friday's Tax Quote - January 21, 2011

“If a client asks in any but an extreme case whether, in your opinion, his sale will result in capital gain, your answer should probably be, ‘I don’t know, and no one else in town can tell you.’”

- James L. Wood

A Word On Tax Appeals

Nearing the end of 2010, I began writing a series of tax articles for the State Bar of Wisconsin's Inside Track electronic news letter.  The first concerned tax audits and can be read here.  The second article discusses the practical and procedural aspects of an IRS tax appeal.

The discussion on appeals considers the different routes to the IRS Appeals Division and differences in how a case is viewed by appeals officers and the appeals division.  The appeals article can be read here.

Friday's Tax Quote, January 14, 2011

“The reward of energy, enterprise and thrift –is taxes.”

-          William Feather

Choosing a Tax Return Preparer

January heralds the arrival of tax season as Americans begin to receive their Forms W-2, 1099, K-1, etc.  The fact that major tax reform promises to be a part of the Obama Administration's agenda reminds us that the tax laws and tax return preparation is as complicated as ever.

As a result, more and more people are turning to hired professionals to assist in the filing of their tax returns.  But buyer beware, not all accountants and return preparers are created equal.  Here are a few words of advice that the IRS has to offer:

• Be cautious of tax preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers.
• Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of the refund.Use a reputable tax professional who signs the tax return and provides a copy.
• Consider whether the individual or firm will be around to answer questions about the preparation of the tax return months, or even years, after the return has been filed.
• Check the person’s credentials. Only attorneys, certified public accountants (CPAs) and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collection and appeals. Other return preparers may only represent taxpayers for audits of returns they actually prepared.
• Find out if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization that provides its members with continuing education and resources and holds them to a code of ethics.

For more information on choosing a return preparer click here and watch the IRS video below.

Tax Law Forum's 3rd Birthday

It has now been slightly more than three years that I have been writing about taxes on the Tax Law Forum blog.  To grow with the times I have redesigned the web page (hope you like it), added an IRS Twitter feed and will give additional focus on current events.

I hope you stay tuned and enjoy what is to come in 2011.

Photo courtesy of Ed Sanders (”Ed g2s” på Wikimedia Commons), Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5, Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 and Attribution ShareAlike 1.0 license

How Social Security Could Have Promoted Job Growth

This month I am the "Alumni Guest Blogger" for the Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog.  Its a pretty good blog even without my participation and I encourage you to check it out.

In my first guest post, I write about how the new tax legislation has chosen an indirect route to job growth through the Social Security Tax cut for employees.  Giving the tax break to employers rather than employees could have done a lot more.  Don't get me wrong, anyone who pays Social Security Tax will be happy to see the impact that the one year reduction in the tax will provide in their paychecks.  However, if the new tax law is really supposed to be about job growth (as suggested by its title: Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010), it could have done more with the Social Security Tax cut.

To read about how the Social Security Tax cut really could have directly promoted job growth, read my post entitled: The Social Security Tax Cut And A More Direct Route To Job Growth.

While you are there, stick around to read more about what the school is up to (i.e. bringing on Russ Feingold as a visiting professor) and to consider interesting legal analysis.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!