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Injured Spouse Relief
“It feels like a sucker punch to the gut.” I was on the phone with a client who was a newlywed and filing with their new spouse for the first time. They kept their paycheck withholding as single. So, they were anticipating a larger than usual tax refund. Like a lot of taxpayers, they spent their refund before they even received it. Each day, they were checking “Where is My Refund ?” and even their IRS account. Then, it happened. Code 898: Refund applied to non-IRS debt . It looked as if they wouldn’t receive that refund they already spent. Now, my client did not know what to do. Before getting married, my client’s spouse told them, “I never get a tax refund.” But they failed to mention why they never got a refund. Honestly, they did not know what their refund was paying for. We later found out that each year the Treasury Department garnished the refund for back child support. My client knew their spouse had child support but did not know they were behind on it. If you have a client in this situation, all hope is not gone. I could help my client find out what offset the tax refund. We could also get a portion of the refund back. You can do the same thing for your client. That is assuming that one spouse is not liable for the debt that offset the tax refund. The IRS calls this injured spouse relief. I’ll walk you through how you can help your client with their refund garnishment sucker punch. Yes, you can help them get their part of the refund back. Let’s start with what injured spouse relief is. Then we’ll look at who qualifies as an injured spouse and how to request injured spouse relief.
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Striking a Balance: Pitching to the Umpires of Tax Law – Understanding US Tax Court Judges through the Art of Baseball Analogies
In this fascinatingly original article, we explore the striking parallels between America’s pastime and the high-stakes world of tax litigation. Prepare to be surprised as we reveal the hidden connections between the umpires of the diamond and the judges of the Tax Court. From the precise strike zones of regular judges to the veteran expertise of senior judges, and the specialized skills of special trial judges, you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for the officials who keep the game of tax law fair and balanced.
Dodging the IRS Penalty Flag: Avoiding the Accuracy-Related Penalty
A penalty specifically for taxpayers who have made a mistake on their return. That’s how I explain the accuracy related penalty to taxpayers. This penalty carries a punch as well, with 20% of the tax the IRS didn’t receive due to the taxpayer making a mistake. This seems harsh out of context. The reason for this harshness is because the IRS considers these “mistakes” to be intentional due to taxpayer negligence. This is one of the reasons at my firm that we encourage our clients to take their time when filling out the intake form and gathering their documents. Omitting an income document can be costly in the end to both you and your client. The IRS will hit your client with penalties that they could have avoided, and you may compromise the integrity of your firm.
Talking Taxes and Money With New Graduates
Clients who recently graduated college brim with enthusiasm for adult life. If they’re like most other adults, they’re less enthusiastic about tax strategies and probably don’t know much about grown ups’ taxes. Some might not even know filing deadlines and may never have filed a 1040. Withholding, deductions and dependency, saving for retirement and lowering taxable income: It’s always difficult to realize all that others don’t know about taxes, and here’s how to continue these young clients’ education.
SIMPLIFIED TAX STRATEGIES &
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Think Outside the Tax Box provides tax reduction strategies along with practical
implementation advice in order to reduce your clients’ federal tax bill with ease.
