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There are some circumstances where information has to be reported to the IRS, even though the information does not trigger a tax. But the potential problem can be that the information reporting triggers an IRS audit or other consequences. The… Read More The post Reporting Debt Discharged in a Court Settlement to the IRS appeared first…
Tax Articles
Can the IRS Take My 401(k) Plan Account?
Can the IRS take my 401(k) plan account for unpaid taxes? Does it have to wait until I take distributions from the 401(k) plan account? The IRS recently asked its tax attorneys this question in CCA 201927019. About 401(k) Plan Accounts The 401(k) plan account is the most popular method for saving for retirement. They……
Voluntary Sale In Advance of Forced Auction an Involuntary Conversion?
A taxpayer can generally avoid paying income tax on gain from the sale of property if the sale is an involuntary conversion. This typically involves a government act that takes or destroys the taxpayer’s property. There are a number of different types of property and takings that can qualify? But what about a local TV…
Deducting Travel Expenses for Travel Away from Home
Contractors and business owners are able to deduct travel costs for travel away from home. This typically includes mileage and lodging costs. The amount of these expenses can be substantial. The IRS frequently audits and adjusts these expenses. Even with perfect records, the expenses may not be allowable depending on where the taxpayer’s “tax home”……
Recouping Tax on Marital Wages Repaid to Employer After Divorce
If a couple files a joint return and pays tax on the income they earn, but after they divorce it turns out that one of the spouses has to repay monies received in error, can the other spouse recoup their portion of the prior tax paid on the income? The claim of right doctrine may…
Raising a Tax Issue for the First Time in Court
With tax litigation, it is often best to raise every argument possible. But what if the law seems clear on an issue and then, during the course of the tax dispute, another court issues an opinion making the law less clear? If this isn’t discovered or realized soon enough, should the taxpayer be precluded from…
Does an Author Pay Self-Employment Tax on Royalties?
Taxpayers are free to structure payments for services rather than for something other than services. This can save self-employment taxes. But can a taxpayer carve out part of their service income by asserting that some part of the income is not from a business? The Slaughter v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2019-65, case addresses this in…
Is an IRS Audit Report an Informal Claim for Refund?
Amended returns generally have to be filed to recoup overpayments of tax. What counts as a refund claim is open to interpretation, as the courts have allowed a myriad of written documents to qualify. But what about the IRS report itself? If it includes a taxpayer favorable adjustment, is the report itself an informal refund…
What if the IRS Violates the Law?
What happens if the IRS violates the law? Specifically, what if the IRS assesses a penalty and attempts to collect it without first issuing the proper notice to the taxpayer? The court addresses this in Romano-Murphy v. Commissioner, 152 T.C. 62, in the context of a trust fund recovery penalty. Facts & Procedural History The…
IRS Summons and the Attorney-Client Privilege
The attorney-client privilege protects communications with a tax attorney from disclosure to third parties, such as the IRS. If the IRS discovers that a tax attorney advised a client on a transaction that wasn’t structured properly, should the IRS be able to use its power to issue an administrative summons to require the attorney produce…
