My client called in a panic. He was being audited, and the IRS wanted to know why he claimed $2,500 in mileage expense on his Schedule C. My client doesn’t own a Schedule C business. Read more >>
January 18, 2016
It’s satisfying when tax law actually does the right thing morally – such as providing a strong financial incentive to pay spousal support on time. Here’s an example. Read more >>
October 20, 2015
A client called me with a strange problem. He and his brother had inherited real property in Nevada. Because the brother was less than fully-functional, the client held his brother’s share as trustee in a spendthrift trust. Read more >>
August 29, 2015
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
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 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
Most people know that they can’t claim losses incurred by a hobby – say, for instance, their side hobby of breeding and raising Great Pyrenees dogs. No profit motive, no deduction Read more >>
July 10, 2014
My mother-in-law, Margret, is in a nursing home. She knows who she is, but not much more than that. My wife does her taxes every year. Read more >>
June 6, 2014
I heard a radio ad about solving IRS problems. “It’s a fact that when you owe $10,000 or more, the IRS can take your car, your house . . . even your freedom.” Read more >>
June 6, 2014
