IRS Tax Help

IRS Reminds Taxpayers that the Aug. 31 Deadline Is Fast Approaching

August 8, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS Reminds Taxpayers that the Aug. 31 Deadline Is Fast Approaching for the Second Special Voluntary Disclosure Initiative of Offshore Accounts

U.S. taxpayers hiding income in undisclosed offshore accounts are running out of time to take advantage of a soon-to-expire opportunity to come forward and get their taxes current with the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS today reminded taxpayers that the 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative (OVDI) will expire on Aug. 31, 2011. Taxpayers who come forward voluntarily get a better deal than those who wait for the IRS to find their undisclosed accounts and income. New foreign account reporting requirements are being phased in over the next few years, making it ever tougher to hide income offshore. As importantly, the IRS continues its focus on banks and bankers worldwide that assist U.S. taxpayers with hiding assets overseas.

Christian IRS Tax Help: Back Tax Settlements, Audits and tax relief

August 1, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

Christian tax relief, IRS back taxes help, IRS audit representation from Christian based firm Mike Habib, EA, Former Dave Ramsey ELP 2012-2019
Confidential tax help at 877-788-2937
“A+” Rated By BBB Better Business Bureau
CHRISTIAN IRS TAX SETTLEMENT- IRS TAX PROBLEMS – IRS AUDIT REPRESENTATION – PAYROLL TAX PROBLEMS – STATE TAX PROBLEMS – CHRISTIAN TAX RESOLUTION FIRM

Tax Relief second quarter 2011 developments

July 19, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

The following is a summary of the most important tax developments that have occurred in the past three months that may affect you, your family, your investments, and your livelihood. Please contact us for more information about any of these tax relief developments and what steps you should implement to take advantage of favorable developments and to minimize the impact of those that are unfavorable.

Standard mileage rates increase for last half of 2011. The IRS has announced that the optional mileage allowance for owned or leased autos (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) is increased 4.5¢ from 51¢ to 55.5¢ per mile for business travel from July 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011 to better reflect the real cost of operating an auto in this period of rapidly rising gas prices. This rate can also be used by employers to reimburse tax-free under an accountable plan employees who supply their own autos for business use, and to value personal use of certain low-cost employer-provided vehicles. The rate for using a car to get medical care or in connection with a move that qualifies for the moving expense also increases 4.5¢ for the last half of 2011 from 19¢ to 23.5¢ per mile.

Avoid Becoming Victims of Tax Scams

July 11, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

IR-2011-73, July 11, 2011
The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers to guard against being misled by unscrupulous individuals trying to persuade them to file false claims for tax credits or rebates.

The IRS has noted an increase in tax-return-related scams, frequently involving unsuspecting taxpayers who normally do not have a filing requirement in the first place. These taxpayers are led to believe they should file a return with the IRS for tax credits, refunds or rebates for which they are not really entitled. Many of these recent scams have been targeted in the South and Midwest.

OIC Offer in Compromise: Tax Court upholds IRS’s rejection

June 6, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS OIC Johnson, (2011) 136 TC No. 23
The Tax Court has upheld IRS’s determination to reject an individual’s proposed offer in compromise (OIC) and sustain collection action against him. IRS’s determination, which was in part based on the inclusion of certain dissipated assets in the taxpayer’s reasonable collection potential (RCP), wasn’t an abuse of discretion.

Under Code Sec. 7122, IRS will consider an OIC offer in compromise where: (1) the taxpayer is unable to pay the tax; (2) there is doubt as to the taxpayer’s liability for the tax; or (3) a compromise would promote effective tax administration because collection of the full amount of tax would cause economic hardship for the taxpayer, or compelling public policy or equity considerations provide a sufficient basis for compromising the liability.

Tax treatment of charitable giving

June 1, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

Charitable contribution has always been a hot IRS tax audit item.

Recently, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published a report entitled “Options for Changing the Tax Treatment of Charitable Giving.” While the deduction of charitable donations has historically been a feature of the U.S. individual income tax system, the cost, equity and efficiency of the deduction are now the focus of increased scrutiny.

Tax Controversy: Understanding IRS Guidance – Tax Help

May 20, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

For anyone not familiar with the inner workings of tax administration, the array of IRS guidance may seem, well, a little puzzling at first glance. To take a little of the mystery away, here’s a brief look at seven of the most common forms of guidance.

In its role in administering the tax laws enacted by the Congress, the IRS must take the specifics of these laws and translate them into detailed regulations, rules and procedures. The Office of Chief Counsel fills this crucial role by producing several different kinds of documents and publications that provide guidance to taxpayers, firms and charitable groups.

Seeking an independent tax opinion letter?

Tax controversy matter? Get expert tax help at 877-788-2937.

Whittier CA Tax Services: Need for individual/business taxpayers to use EA for professional tax services

May 1, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

When you need tax relief help you may have to hire a tax professional to get the job done right. Even though there are several types of tax professionals such as CPAs, tax attorneys, tax lawyers, Enrolled Agents can do a lot for you on many levels. Mike Habib, EA is an Enrolled Agent who provides tax relief services in Whittier, La Habra, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, La Mirada, City of Industry, La Habra Heights, Montebello, El Monte, Downey, Pico Rivera, Cerritos, Long Beach, Fullerton, Placentia, Brea, Buena Park, and other southern California cities.
For a free confidential tax consultation call 877-788-2937.

IRS Tax Relief Services: 2011 Q1 IRS tax developments

April 18, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

The following is a summary of the most important tax developments that have occurred in the past three months that may affect you, your family, your investments, and your livelihood. Please contact us for more information about any of these developments and what steps you should implement to take advantage of favorable developments and to minimize the impact of those that are unfavorable.

IRS has issued detailed guidance on the 2010 Tax Relief Act’s 100% bonus depreciation rules for qualifying new property generally acquired and placed in service after Sept. 8, 2010 and before Jan. 1, 2012. Overall, the rules are quite generous. For example, they permit 100% bonus depreciation for components where work on a larger self-constructed property began before Sept. 9, 2010, allow a taxpayer to elect to “step down” from 100% to 50% bonus depreciation for property placed in service in a tax year that includes Sept. 9, 2010, permit 100% bonus depreciation for qualified restaurant property or qualified retail improvement property that also meets the definition of qualified leasehold improvement property, and provide an escape hatch for some business car owners who would otherwise be subject to a draconian depreciation result.

Under the 2010 Tax Relief Act, a taxpayer that buys and places in service a new heavy SUV after Sept. 8, 2010 and before Jan. 1, 2012, and uses it 100% for business, may write off its entire cost in the placed-in-service year. A heavy SUV is one with a GVW rating of more than 6,000 pounds.

Back taxes help: tax levy relief for IRS tax problems

March 20, 2011 | Mike Habib, EA

Do you owe unpaid back taxes? There are tax relief solutions to your IRS tax problems.

The IRS could file a federal tax lien to protect the US government from the back taxes owed by the taxpayer. Although the federal IRS tax lien attaches to all the taxpayer’s property, some property is exempt from the IRS levy. The following items could be exempt from levy to some extent:

(1) wearing apparel and school books,