How Threatening is the IRS Collections Notice I Just Received?

IRS, Tax Liens, Taxes
How Threatening is the IRS Collections Notice I Just Received?

Almost everyone calls me in a panic after receiving a collections notice from the IRS threatening to levy on their bank account, attach their wages, or put a lien on their house. They all think it will happen immediately: “Please call me back ASAP because the IRS gave me a deadline of tomorrow/next week/10 days!!” Um, no. Chances are, you’ve got many months, if not years, until the IRS pursues aggressive collections action. Read more »
March 14, 2025

DOGE Access to IRS Data Will Harm Confidentiality and Compliance

In the News, IRS
DOGE Access to IRS Data Will Harm Confidentiality and Compliance

I recently wrote about Elon Musk’s DOGE’s attempt to access the IRS’ main database of all taxpayer information. Since then many colleagues and clients have asked what I think about this, especially as a former IRS attorney and now a tax attorney who needs to access the IRS’ IDRS database almost daily. Herewith, more on what I REALLY think…. Read more>>
February 24, 2025

DOGE Wants Access to IRS Taxpayer Records

In the News, IRS
DOGE Wants Access to IRS Taxpayer Records

Musk’s DOGE team wants access to the IRS database of all taxpayer records. Why? The purported purpose of DOGE is to root out bureaucratic inefficiency in the federal government. But will DOGE access to extremely sensitive and personal financial information on every taxpayer in the country eliminate government waste? Or, perhaps, is granting DOGE access to taxpayer records a way for the current administration to gain information on political enemies? Read more>>
February 17, 2025

Car Lenders and Customers Who File Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy
Car Lenders and Customers Who File Bankruptcy

What happens to cars in bankruptcy? Or cars with notes? After all, almost everyone filing bankruptcy has a car. And cars are usually one of the larger assets a debtor owns. The answer depends on what a car is worth, whether it’s been paid off, and whether the car lender requires a Reaffirmation Agreement. Read more »
November 20, 2024

When Can Your Congressmember Help with the IRS?

Taxes
When Can Your Congressmember Help with the IRS?

It’s election season, so Congress is on my mind. Occasionally, I have called on my client’s Representative to get what I need from the IRS. And every time, the IRS has responded to the congressmember immediately, whereas I was often ignored for months. Why and when does this work? Read more »
November 7, 2024

Tax Collection Statute of Limitations

Tax Collection Issues
Tax Collection Statute of Limitations

Both the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the California’s Franchise Tax Board (FTB) have Statute of Limitations on tax collections. The Statute of Limitations refers to the period of time during which the IRS and FTB can legally collect taxes, penalties, and interest from a taxpayer. Once the Statute of Limitations clock runs out, then what remains owing on the tax debt is erased. For federal taxes, the IRS’ clock on legal ability to collect taxes is 10 years. For California state taxes, the FTB’s clock is 30 years. But, there are things that stop the clock, thus extending the time the tax agency has to collect the tax liability. Read more »
September 20, 2024

Tax Consequences of Pig Butchering Scams

In the News, Tax Collection Issues
Tax Consequences of Pig Butchering Scams

I am outraged by pig-butchering scams, the contact-intensive fraud executed via fake profiles on social media sites meant to fatten victims, like pigs before slaughter. Victims of this scam have come to me for help dealing with the taxes that are invariably triggered when victims’ cash out retirement and investment accounts. That’s right: victims of pig-butchering scams not only lose retirement savings, investments and real property to scammers, but they also end up owing the IRS and California’s FTB hefty taxes on investment income!  Read more »
August 16, 2024

A Brief History of Bankruptcy in America

Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Procedure, Did You Know?, Lawyering, Trustee
A Brief History of Bankruptcy in America

My clients often ask me in fits of frustration: how did bankruptcy get to be like this? And I then have the chance to tell them about the storied history of bankruptcy! Usually, they ask this question out of rage at the sheer number of documents they’re asked to produce, but I take it as an opportunity to share the joys of tax law (that is not sarcasm, I love what I do).
But I figured we can all benefit from learning something about the history of bankruptcy. So, I wanted to share with you all some of the greatest developments. What follows is a brief history laid out by the major laws that we’ve created surrounding bankruptcy.