Posted on May 20, 2016 in Property Taxes

Sometimes people balk at paying lawyers to do what they think they can do for themselves. What could be simpler than a will, if you are just leaving everything to your family? All you have to do is name an executor. Two or three sentences, one page, and you are done . Right? Maybe not.

Ethel Hinz died in 1992 with an estate of over $10 million. She left a handwritten will. Her estate still has not been settled after 24 years.

The will was only a few sentences. Ethel named her son executor, describing him as her "sole heir," and saying she trusted he would "subscribe to my wishes, along lines that were discussed previously and privately in the past." Ethel wrote the will just a few days after her daughter had died, survived by two granddaughters, who would of course also be "heirs" if Ethel had not written a will.

Possibly the "subscribe to my wishes" language was meant to create a trust for the granddaughters, with their uncle, the decedent's son , as trustee. If so, the terms of that trust are unknown, and would not be enforceable by a court.

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 Posted on May 12, 2016 in Small Business Taxes

If you have a business-whether it's a single-member outfit you run out of your garage or a large organization with dozens or even hundreds of employees-you will eventually come to the question of whether you should form a business entity such as a corporation or LLC.

Doing business as a corporation or LLC makes sense for many reasons, not the least of which is the liability limitation that protects you as an individual from having to pay for any issues that arise out of the operation of the business. Still, when it's time to create a business entity, you will need to consider the various tax implications of each.

You should speak with an experienced attorney who knows tax law in order to fully understand the different types of tax exposure each entity can bring with it. For example, although operating as a corporation will protect you from being sued personally for the negligent acts of the corporation, doing so can expose you to double taxation: the profits of the corporation are taxed at the corporate rate, and then whatever pay you take out of the business is taxed at your personal income tax rate. On the other hand, if you operate the business as an LLC , the income of the business passes through to you and is only taxed once-at your personal income tax rate, which is typically far lower than the corporate income tax rate.

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 Posted on May 05, 2016 in Tax Appeals

If the IRS has surprised you with a significant tax bill, and if either your true liability for the tax or your ability to pay it are in question, you may be able to make an offer in compromise.

An offer in compromise is essentially what it sounds like: you make the IRS an offer to pay an amount (presumably, less than the full amount) in compromise. You agree that you will pay the agreed-upon amount instead of continuing to fight the matter, and the IRS in turn agrees to accept the amount rather than pushing for you to pay the debt in full.

When you inform the IRS of your intent to utilize the offer in compromise process, the IRS will typically halt collection activity on your account in order to provide you with the time to gather supporting documents and assemble your offer. After you turn in your offer, the IRS will evaluate it, and will either accept it, reject it outright, or make a counter-offer.

An offer in compromise can be a very fact-driven proceeding, with the IRS either accepting or rejecting it depending on what information you have provided, so be sure to consult an attorney who specializes in tax law. Doing so will often be the difference between an offer that is rejected and one that is accepted .

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 Posted on April 29, 2016 in Tax Audits

Four words that strike fear into the hearts of individuals and businesses alike are: "You are being audited." The thought of an audit raises images of being grilled by the auditor like a witness being cross-examined.

However, an audit doesn't have to be like that, and if you are prepared for it, you can help ensure that the process is completed with a minimum amount of time and trouble. Here are some tips to assist you in the event that the IRS or a state revenue agency selects you for an audit.

1. Keep good records.

Many people-and even many small businesses-tend to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that they neglect to maintain solid records showing legitimate business expenses. The idea of managing and filing mountains of receipts, invoices, and other similar documents can be daunting, but if you start today and keep on top of this regularly you can avoid the hassle of going through shoeboxes of receipts trying to show the auditor what is-and is not-relevant to your bottom line .

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 Posted on April 22, 2016 in Taxation Law

As part of a trillion-dollar spending package enacted in the eleventh hour last December, averting yet another threatened government shutdown, the Congress made permanent dozens of expired or expiring tax incentives.

Among these was the so-called charitable IRA "rollover."

First enacted in 2006 as a temporary measure, this incentive had been repeatedly allowed to expire and then extended retroactively, impairing its effectiveness as a fundraising tool for charities. It is now a permanent feature of the tax Code.

The charitable IRA "rollover" allows a taxpayer aged 70-1/2 or older to direct up to $100k per year from individual retirement accounts to public charities, without taking these distributions into income.

These distributions do not count against the limitation on the deductibility of charitable contributions, 50 percent limitation of adjusted gross income, but they do count toward your minimum required IRA distribution.

The strategy is especially attractive where the minimum required distribution would otherwise push you over the threshold at which the "Pease" limitation on itemized deductions takes hold - $259,400 for a single taxpayer in 2016, or $311,300 for a married couple filing jointly - or the 3.8 percent surtax on net investment income - $200,000 single, $250,000 joint.

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 Posted on April 15, 2016 in IRS Scams

Prepaid debit cards already have enough controversy surrounding them, and this latest bit of news about tax refunds being frozen for prepaid debit card users isn't going to do any favors for the industry.

Several news outlets, including ABC News, are reporting that the reason for this "funds freeze" is because the IRS is teaming up with the financial industry to crack down on tax fraud.

The problem is, of course, is that this is affecting the nation's poorest Americans...and they are finding that they have very little recourse.

But according to the IRS, though this is an inconvenience for these Americans, it's an absolute necessity in order to stave off the growing tax fraud scam that people are doing, using prepaid cards to collect the tax refunds of unsuspecting victims.

In 2012, according to the IRS, there was a Miami man who was sentenced to five years in prison, and an additional three years of probation, for filing over 500 fraudulent tax returns. This man also used prepaid debit cards to collect the money, and this includes using such companies as GreenDot and WalMart Money Cards. Finally, this man also used gift cards to receive the refunds, which totaled over $30,000.

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 Posted on April 08, 2016 in Taxation Law

Do you have a pet? Is your pet considered a member of your family?

If so, you should be sure to make arrangements for Fido in your Estate Planning/ Wills & Trusts documents. This is extremely important for both you and your pet. Doing so can make all the difference between your pet living out the rest of his or her life in comfort with a family or person who will devote care and attention to your beloved pet or landing in a kill shelter where disease often abounds and a walk down a one-way corridor may happen at any time. Which would you prefer for the special friend in your life?

With estate planning documents you can provide for your pet by making special provision for who will be awarded Kitty upon your death. Through your estate planning documents, you can leave appropriate funding for Kitty's care and welfare in the event of health issues. Funding can also be used for necessities such as food and medications, as well as toys and treats.

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 Posted on April 01, 2016 in Property Taxes

When you're getting ready to buy a home, you may hear terms thrown at you such as "title" and "property deed", and wonder what the difference between the two are. In real estate law, the title is a legal term that means ownership, while the property deed is the document that transfers the title from one party to another.

In regards to the title, it may be partial or full, meaning that other parties could have rights to the property, including the right to access the property, use it and transfer it either in whole or in part to another party. People can take title to a piece of property in many different forms, including joint ownership and tenants by the entirety.

The property deed is the legal document that transfers the title between parties. Under the Statute of Fraud, the deed must be in written form in order to be enforceable. The deed is filed with the official registrar of deeds in the municipality the property is located in . Deeds are also issued in other circumstances when the property is transferred , such as an executor's deed, which is issued by the executor of an estate selling property owned by the estate, or a tax deed, where the property is sold for the payment of unpaid taxes.

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 Posted on March 25, 2016 in Property Taxes

Real estate law is complex, and a home sale is often intimidating. Some states require the use of an attorney, while others leave it up to the buyer and seller to decide. Your typical agent will tell you most transactions are straightforward and, if not required by law, there is no need. Is this true?

The simple fact is a real estate licensee, while they can help walk you through the sale process and fill-in the blanks of a pre-written sales agreement, is not a law expert. They have neither the ability nor right to give their clients legal advice. Unless they are also an attorney, the typical real estate agent cannot answer any legal questions, from contract law to zoning issues.

One of the greatest benefits of using an attorney, specializing in real estate law, is protecting you from financial loss. The sale agreements used by real estate agents are fill-in the blank, covering only the most common, generic issues. All real estate transactions are unique, and there is no guarantee that a generic contract will protect you. Don't you agree?

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 Posted on March 18, 2016 in Small Business Taxes

Contracts and other types of business agreements, when drafted thoughtfully and properly, are wonderful tools. In addition to stating in writing what services or products will be provided and at what cost, well-drafted contracts and agreements also describe additional terms including time frame for delivery, how the contract can be extended or terminated, and provide an outline of how, and under what laws, disputes will be handled .

If handled correctly, contracts and agreements are negotiated fairly and ultimately serve to protect the interests of both parties. Unfortunately, problems with contracts can arise for any number of reasons, including the following:

• The contract might be "off the shelf" and not tailored for the transaction or type of business;
• One party drafted the contract and the other party wasn't given an opportunity to review it before signing;
• The agreement might not cover all of the products or services agreed upon by the parties;

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