Tax Court in Stockton, California

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Stockton, CA

Tax Court Lawyers in Stockton

Tax Court is a legal forum designed particularly to resolve claims and disputes that arise under federal and (sometimes) state tax law.

Federal tax issues are overseen by the United States Tax Court, which has branches all over the U.S. So, the U.S. Tax Court almost certainly has a courthouse in or around Stockton, California.

U.S. Tax Courts deal with almost every legal issue that has to do with the federal tax commitments of an individual or corporation. The U.S. District Courts are the courts of "general jurisdiction" in the U.S., meaning that they can hear almost any type of civil or criminal case under their jurisdiction. This includes tax cases, but the law only allows them to hear such cases if the tax in question has already been paid. Tax courts can hear cases before the tax has been paid.

Tax Court Procedure in Stockton, California

Any legal issue that concerns federal taxes in Stockton, California, or anywhere else in the U.S., can go to tax court. It's most often the case that the IRS initiates legal action against a taxpayer, alleging that they have failed to pay all of their obligated taxes, or are delinquent in some other way. The taxpayer usually has 90 days to respond, which initiates adversarial tax court proceedings. Failing to respond may result in the taxpayer forfeiting their rights to contest the allegations against them.

Federal tax courts are presided over by judges who are assigned by the President of the United States. These judges serve 15-year terms. Judges whose terms expire are consistently re-appointed by the sitting President, so most tax court judges effectively serve for life.

Tax courts in the U.S. have a few distinct features. Perhaps most notably, people who are not admitted to practice law in California, or in any other jurisdiction, are allowed to represent clients in tax court. However, non-lawyers must take, and pass, a fairly challenging exam to demonstrate that they have an in-depth understanding of U.S. tax law. If someone is already a lawyer, however, they can practice before a tax court without taking this exam.

Usually, a Stockton, California resident will end up in tax court because the IRS has determined that they have not paid all of the taxes that they owe, and has sent them a notice indicating as much. When this happens, the taxpayer has 90 days to file a claim in Tax Court contesting the IRS's allegations. If you believe that the allegations against you are untrue, and wish to fight them, it's essential that you file a claim in tax court within the allotted time period. Otherwise, you could lose your right to challenge that tax bill permanently.

Do I Need a Stockton, California Tax Attorney?

Federal law allows some non-lawyers to represent parties in tax court. However, tax law is a fairly complicated and specialized legal field. Most lawyers who practice tax law do not practice any other area of law, giving you an idea of how specialized it is.

If you have to go to tax court for whatever reason, you should almost certainly speak with a reputable tax attorney in Stockton, California. Even though some non-lawyers are technically permitted to represent you in tax court, there are distinct advantages to hiring a lawyer, even if a non-attorney can provide you with competent representation. The main advantage is the fact that all attorneys are tightly regulated by their state bar associations, and if they botch your case, you may have more legal recourse against an attorney than you would against a non-attorney.

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Life in Stockton

Stockton is a major inland port city and the seat of San Joaquin County, California. It's position amid Central Valley farmland, Interstate 5 and California State Route 99 make it an ideal hub for transit. Stockton is much more than agriculture and shipping though. A number of telecommunication and manufacturing companies are located in Stockton. The city is also an ideal place for renewable energy companies whom the city has encouraged though economic incentive programs. Much of their focus focuses on developing alternative fuels for agricultural development.

The waterways, plains, and diverse landscape of Stockton makes it an ideal location for movie makers throughout the ages. "Cool Hand Luke," "Dead Man on Campus," "Flubber," "Fat City," as well as "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" are just a few classics filmed in Stockton. Stockton is a standout city nationally as well. It's received an "All-America City" and National Civic League award twice. The City of Stockton has emphasized safety through community programs and police presence in the past years. The city has also put emphasis on community partnerships like the Downtown Alliance that works to both decrease unemployment rates as well as keep the district busy and vibrant. Sunset Magazine even bestowed "Best Tree City" and "Best of the West Food Fest" awards upon Stockton. The University of the Pacific is located in Stockton with the second largest private university in the state, National University.

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