Tax Returns and Divorce Taxes are one of life's inevitables. You cannot avoid it even while getting a divorce. In this blog post, I lay out three things to understand when dealing with tax returns in divorce. Why you need to get advice before filing a return with (or without) your spouse … [Read more...]
Introducing Taxing Times Newsletter
Taxing Times Newsletter I am proud to offer readers of my blog a digital copy of my newsletter, Taxing Times. I can't promise this will make you an IRS problem solving ninja, but I can promise it will have interesting features about the IRS. Read my inaugural issue and let me know if you want to be … [Read more...]
My Ex Filed Our Joint Return Without My Signature. Am I On the Hook Now?!
Can My Former Spouse File a Joint Return Without My Signature? The answer is maybe. Under some circumstances, you can be held jointly liable for your spouse's tax debts even if you didn't sign the return. Normally, you must sign the return unless your spouse has a power of attorney. Still in many … [Read more...]
IRS Serious About Taxing Virtual Currency
If you IRS on the Hunt This summer the IRS issued 10,000 letters to taxpayers who it believes should have reported virtual currency sales (also called cryptocurrency). Virtual currency, in a nutshell, is a digital unit of value. So like money this virtual currency can be used to buy and sell goods. … [Read more...]
My Son, Potty Training and the IRS
What The?! Your first question, logically, is what the heck do these three things have in common? Read on... Just Plain Stubborn I love my son but he is very very stubborn. He is 3 years old and we are in the process of potty training him. Unfortunately, he is not making it easy. We've tried … [Read more...]
New Video: What to Do If You Cannot Pay Your Taxes
What to Do If You Cannot Pay Your Taxes?! I prepared a video, something I intend to do more of, discussing the first thing you need to understand if you cannot pay your taxes: get current. Current compliance is very important when dealing with the IRS (and Maine Revenue too) and in this video I lay … [Read more...]
U.S. Tax Court Win!
A win in U.S. Tax Court saves an elderly client from an erroneous IRS assessment. Let me set the stage. I was hired by the taxpayer's son to represent her regarding an IRS notice assessing her with $3,000 in self-employment taxes. Introduction People get assessments all the time but in … [Read more...]
IRS Payroll Tax Audits – How Does the IRS Select Employers for Audit?
Mention IRS audit and most people think of being summoned to an IRS office, toting a box of receipts, to justify their deductions on their 1040. IRS audits cover a wide range of tax returns to include payroll tax returns. Form 940 for federal unemployment taxes. Form 941/944 for federal income tax … [Read more...]
Make Me an Offer! The IRS Offer-in-Compromise Program.
What is an Offer-in-Compromise? Offers-in-compromise are one of the most powerful tools in my arsenal to completely resolve a client’s back taxes. If you listen to the radio or watch television you must have heard ads talking about settling your tax debts for "pennies on the dollar". What these … [Read more...]
Your Passport May Be Revoked or Denied for IRS Back Taxes.
If You Love to Travel but Owe Back Taxes Your Passport May Be at Risk. You may be aware of it but the IRS the right to suspend your passport. All it takes is a tax debt of $51,000, to included interest and penalties. Your vacation cruise or trip to Paris may come to a screeching halt unless you … [Read more...]
