The recent natural disasters in Texas and Florida are unfortunate reminders of why we should take National Preparedness Month Seriously. Indeed, Southern California is not likely to be affected by a hurricane, but earthquakes and wildfires remain real dangers. As part...
Finding Real Life Solutions To Your Tax Problem
Attorney Robert T. Leonard
Los Angeles Tax Law Blog
When you get the non-filing letter from the IRS
The IRS expects everyone to file an annual tax return, on Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. If they have no record of receiving one of these forms from you, they will let you know with a Verification of Non-Filing Letter. This letter explains that they never received a...
Can captive insurance get you in trouble with the IRS?
With all the advertising produced by major insurers such as Allstate, Progressive and State Farm, you probably will never hear such commercials about captive insurance policies. Captive insurance, as its name suggests, refers to insurance policies that are created and...
Can Mayweather-McGregor tickets be tax deductible?
Those who believe that boxing has simply become a circus-like spectacle may be proven right this weekend when UFC champion Conor McGregor steps into the ring to face former champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. The exhibition is expected to be a pay-per-view bonanza...
The basics of accelerated accounting methods
Depreciation is one of the most common methods used by businesses to reduce their taxable income. However many do not understand the concept of accelerated depreciation. Additionally, they do not know how much money could be saved by using this method. This post will...
How much in taxes will you owe from your next flip?
If you’re a fan of HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” series, you probably have considered flipping houses as an investment strategy or business. After all, the shows make it seem like renovating houses is a quick and lucrative process to make a great deal...
How to avoid reporting problems on your next return
With the 2018 tax season far away, it is easy to forget about what is necessary to process a proper return. It is akin to kids being on summer vacation and forgetting most of what they learned the previous year. But like children preparing for another school year, it...
Did the IRS allow improper tax credits last year?
In a number of our posts we highlighted how private debt collectors would be dispatched to collect on dormant taxes as a result of the PATH legislation. It was created to generate and divert tax revenue for infrastructure projects. In addition to new collection...
IRS using private companies for debt collection
The IRS frequently provides notice about potential scams that may be directed at taxpayers. They want people to know exactly what sorts of tricks are being used to obtain sensitive information from individuals.In many cases, the scammers pretend to work with the IRS...
When is ‘obstruction’ really actionable?
As tax attorneys, we know how difficult dealing with the IRS can be. After all, most business owners do not have the same intimate knowledge of the U.S. Tax Code that IRS agents and Justice Department lawyers may have. But prosecutors have a great deal of discretion...