Overview
Different regulations dictate when the government can tax citizens for personal income, real estate, business profits, gifts, estates and a variety of other sources. Tax Law is very complicated and changes from year to year, and from state to state. There are a variety of issues in tax law that can effect one: from bankruptcy issues to estate planning.
Paying Back Income Taxes
Income tax is a common source of contention between the government and individuals or business owners. When a person owes back taxes, the worst thing he can do is ignore the notices from the IRS. The sooner you can review the situation with a tax lawyer, the better you can plan a back taxes defense. Tax attorneys can negotiate with the IRS on the behalf of a person or business, and litigate the issue in tax court when necessary.
When an individual ignores IRS collection notices, penalties and interest will start to build. Further, if the IRS places a lien on a piece of property or a business asset, you will likely lose the ability to file bankruptcy to discharge the tax lien.
Taxes and Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy can be an extremely useful tool for individuals with income tax debt. Certain income tax debt is dischargeable if it meets eligibility requirements.
Once an IRS debt becomes a tax lien on a piece of property, it changes from being an unsecured loan to a secured loan. This has the effect of making the lien non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. However, you may be able to stop foreclosure from the tax lien by filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Most bankruptcy attorneys offer free consultations to review your debt situation and offer you options.
Estate Planning Lawyers Minimize Taxes
The federal government exempts a certain amount of a person’s estate from taxation. In 2015, this amount was over $5 million. An attorney attempts to lower the total taxable value of an estate so that little of the estate is taxable. Lawyers who plan estates for clients can utilize several techniques in order to lessen or altogether eliminate the effect of taxes on a person’s estate.
- Irrevocable trusts. Trusts involve the owner of an estate setting aside funds to reserve for beneficiaries. Most importantly, money in a trust is not taxable. However, the owner of the trust usually is unable to access the funds. Certain trusts may allow benefits to be paid out to beneficiaries when the owner dies or they may allow a spouse to access the funds.
- Designate a beneficiary through an annuity, IRA or other fund. Certain types of funds allow owners to name a beneficiary who gains from the fund after the owner passes away. These funds are typically exempt from the estate tax.
- Lifetime gifts. Anyone may give gifts worth up to $14,000 annually before gift tax liability would apply. Those seeking to lighten their estates can avoid the gift tax altogether by paying for another person’s medical bills or college tuition directly.
Hiring an Attorney
In the United States, tax laws are difficult to comprehend without a professional at your side. A number of lawyers are also CPAs, and other types of attorneys focus on tax litigation. If you have a tax issue, it is in your best interest to hire a lawyer with experience in this field.
