Tax Relief

Unfiled Tax Returns – Get It Done

November 23, 2016 | Mike Habib, EA

Did you know that every year many taxpayers’ individuals and businesses face the gavel just because they haven’t filed their taxes? Though you may plead not guilty, the IRS doesn’t think so. In its eyes every person who hasn’t filed their taxes is an offender even though the perspective is different from the person’s view. It isn’t uncommon that every year millions of individuals and businesses taxpayers fail to file their tax returns. Sometimes it’s due to ignorance, sometimes not enough information, sometimes to escape it. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, individuals and businesses are being heavily penalized just because of their unfiled tax returns.

Get a free evaluation of your case at 877-788-2937.

Los Angeles, California CPA Certified Public Accountant, EA Enrolled Agent, Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside, Whittier, CA

January 3, 2014 | Mike Habib, EA

I want to discuss the difference between a CPA and an EA. Most people refer to any accountant, tax preparer, bookkeeper, etc as a CPA. However there are differences between a CPA, an EA and a tax attorney. All 3 are regulated by the IRS’ circular 230.

The distinction between the two designations is very important, since my specialty is federal taxation and tax accounting. I have chosen to earn the Enrolled Agent license from the US Department of the Treasury because it does not limit the geographic area in which I may practice. In other words, I can work with clients in any of the 50 United States (or its territories), unlike a CPA (certified public accountant), or a tax attorney, who has a license that is state specific.

Did you receive an IRS or state tax lien notice, letter, postcard or phone call?

Get professional tax help today, call us at 877-788-2937.

If a responsible person willfully fails to pay trust fund taxes (income tax withheld, FICA, RRTA, Medicare) to the IRS, is he personally liable for the trust fund recovery penalty?

December 20, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

The trust fund recovery penalty (TFRP) can be applied to any responsible person who willfully fails to collect or pay trust fund taxes. The penalty amount is equal to the total amount of the tax that was not paid, up to the full amount. This is why it is sometimes known as the 100% penalty. The penalty is separate from the tax and the employer’s liability for such taxes.

Get professional IRS representation. Our firm represents taxpayers before all administrative levels of the IRS.

Please call us at 877-788-2937 or email us to schedule an appointment.

Focus on the Affordable Care Act

December 6, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

In March 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act”) into law. While some provisions of the ACA have already gone into effect, a number of new provisions are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2014.

Although we do not intend this newsletter to be the answer-all to the ACA, we thought this would be a good time to look at some of the provisions that might affect you.

When will IRS collection action be initiated? Back taxes help?

October 21, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

Two events must occur before the IRS may begin collections activity:

• First, the tax must be assessed and due. The tax may be shown on a tax return showing a balance due, an audit closing agreement, an audit deficiency that was not contested, an SFR substitute for return filed by IRS or a Tax Court judgment.

• Second, the IRS must give the taxpayer a Notice of Tax Due and Demand for Payment, which will request payment within 10 days. The notice is usually mailed to the taxpayer. Generally, if the taxpayer does not respond and the liability is for individual income taxes and the liability is small, the IRS will send a series of notices and attempt to make telephone contact with the taxpayer.

Can the IRS take a lien out on property for payroll taxes?

September 23, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

Do you owe 941 employment and payroll back taxes?

The answer is:

Yes the IRS take a lien out on property for payroll taxes.

Under IRC §6321, the federal government can encumber property with a general tax lien. Generally, this lien can be used to encumber any property that the taxpayer owns (this is generally determined under state law). A tax lien will be imposed on a taxpayer when he neglects or fails to pay taxes after demand by the government.

What assets may be seized by the IRS to pay back taxes?

August 1, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

The IRS may seize all property and rights to property (except for exempt property), whether the property is real or personal, tangible or intangible, belonging to any taxpayer who neglects or refuses to pay back taxes, or any property on which there is a tax lien for payment of any tax.

Get professional IRS representation. Our firm represents taxpayers before all administrative levels of the IRS.

Please call us at 877-788-2937 or email us to schedule an appointment.

What can the taxpayer do if the time to respond to an IRS collection notice has passed?

June 20, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

Do you owe the IRS unpaid back taxes? Have they sent you many letters but you did not respond?

There are still options.

CDP – Collection due process.

If the time to respond to an IRS collection notice has passed, you, the taxpayer, or your power of attorney / representative, may file a request for an equivalent hearing if you failed to make a timely request for a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing (after receiving a Notice and Opportunity for Hearing upon Filing of Notice of a Federal Tax Lien or a Notice and Opportunity for Hearing Prior to Levy). The equivalent hearing will be held by the Appeals Office and will follow the procedures that are used for CDP hearings.

Get professional IRS representation. Our firm represents taxpayers before all administrative levels of the IRS.

Please call us at 562-204-6700 or email us to schedule an appointment.

Identity Theft and Taxes – Be on the Lookout.

March 25, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

Identity thieves are very clever. They not only steal credit cards and drain bank accounts; in 2011, the Internal Revenue Service reported the number of fraudulent tax returns associated with identity theft at 940,000 returns, resulting in $6.5 billion in associated fraudulent refunds – according to J. Russell George, head of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). It is big business for the thieves and it’s a huge headache for the taxpayers whose identities have been stolen.

Identity theft refers to someone obtaining another person’s personal details, to commit fraud or other crimes. This includes the use of a name and Social Security number not belonging to the fraudster.

Tax attorney fees and cost: what tax lawyers charge as fees

February 1, 2013 | Mike Habib, EA

What do tax lawyers charge as far as cost and fees?

When taxpayers are faced with tax problems such as unpaid back taxes or IRS audits, they usually seek the help of a tax attorney. Taxpayers have the right to be represented by a licensed and IRS approved representative, known as POA or power of attorney. Representation fees vary widely by various firms.

Our firm mostly offers flat fee engagements.

Call us today at 877-788-2937.