When the IRS and the California state tax agencies do particularly bone-headed things, it’s time for another tale from the tax troll trenches. Here’s one that reminded me of why the IRS and state tax agencies are so disliked by many taxpayers. Read more >>
July 13, 2015
I don’t do magic (despite owning four bunnies that I could pull out of a hat). I say this because I occasionally have a client who has heard of a legal maneuver to solve her problem, yet is too good to be true. Read more >>
June 4, 2015
If the government can prove that you “willfully attempted in any manner” to “evade or defeat” a tax, then you cannot discharge that tax debt in bankruptcy. 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(1)(c). Read more >>
September 26, 2014
I took a client through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and got her a discharge. She and I were done, and she had no more personal debt. Then she sought a loan modification Read more >>
September 24, 2014
If you have more than $5,000 in your Wells Fargo checking account when you file a bankruptcy petition, be prepared. Wells Fargo will freeze your account until the bankruptcy trustee tells them it’s okay Read more >>
September 23, 2014
I don’t like Wells Fargo Bank. Its abusive policies make it impossible to think well of it. I try not to do loan modifications for clients because all banks are reluctant to negotiate them. Banks are forced to do so by well-meaning statutes. Read more >>
September 22, 2014
I received a call recently from someone already represented by a tax attorney, but who wanted my opinion on whether there was anything his attorney could have done to avoid the following, very unfortunate situation. Read more >>
September 18, 2014
My clients owed the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) $8,000 for the 2011 tax year; they filed their return late, and couldn’t pay it all at once. The FTB sent a notice that it was about to levy Read more >>
September 15, 2014
I deal a lot with bill collectors. Here is an eye-opening description of how their business works. Settling a debt can be . . . unsettling. Read more >>
September 9, 2014
A client sent me a letter he got from a car dealership touting the financing he can get even though he is currently in bankruptcy. You can find a copy of the letter here. How does a car dealer think Read more >>
September 4, 2014
