Making Voluntary Payments to the IRS

For those who owe the IRS back taxes, the decision as to how to pay the IRS raises a number of concerns.  One such concern for those who owe taxes for several different tax years or several different types of taxes, is what year and tax account the payments are applied to.  Typically taxpayers get…

Sentence Enhancements in Criminal Tax Cases

The federal sentencing guidelines help the courts set criminal sentences. These guidelines have to be considered when deciding whether to accept a plea agreement and how to handle the trial. The recent United States v. Kushimo, No. 18-3222 (3d. Cir. 2019), case provides an opportunity to consider two of the sentencing enhancements that often apply…

Is IRS Bound by Social Security Disability Determination?

If the Social Security Administration determines that you are disabled, does the IRS have to accept that determination for tax purposes? It is one government is it not? The court considered this in Gentry v. United States, No. 3:18-cv-00581 (D. Nev. 2019) for the disability exception allowing for a longer period of time to file…

Whistleblower’s Claim Limited by IRS’s Discretion

If you turn in a tax cheat by filing a whistleblower claim with the IRS, what happens if the IRS does not realize the importance of the information received? Put another way, what if the IRS leaves money on the table by failing to assess the full amount for the taxpayer? Is the whistleblower entitled…

Using Multiple PTINs to File Fraudulent Tax Returns

It can be difficult to be a tax preparer. The rules change just about every year. The IRS has increased its focus on identifying and punishing tax return preparers. This includes criminal sanctions for the tax return preparers. The enforcement actions often do not factor in the realities of the tax preparation business. The recent…

Does Late Payment Tax Penalty Run from Extended Due Date?

If you file an extension for an estate tax return and pay the tax before the extended due date, can the IRS impose penalties for late payment? The court addresses this in Estate of Agnes R. Skeba v. United States, No. 3:17-cv-10231 (D.N.J. 2019). Facts & Procedural History The taxpayer is an estate. It’s estate…

IRS Foreclose on Inheritance that is Jointly Owned?

What happens when someone inherits money from their parents, but they also owe the IRS? Can the IRS collect on the inherited assets? What if the taxpayer only inherited a fractional interest in the property? Can the IRS foreclose on the property to pay the back taxes? The court considered this in United States v.…