Tax Court in Ellicott City, Maryland

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Ellicott City, MD

Tax Court Lawyers in Ellicott City

Tax courts are legal forums meant to decide legal disputes that have to do with federal or state tax law.

Almost all legal contentions having to do with federal taxes are resolved in the U.S. Tax Court, which has at least one courthouse in every state, and many courthouses in each of the larger states. This means that there is almost certainly a tax court in, or within a reasonable distance of, Ellicott City, Maryland.

The United States Tax Court handles most legal disputes that have to deal with federal, as opposed to state, taxes. These are not courts of "general jurisdiction" (courts that hear the vast majority of civil and criminal cases). Tax courts are able to hear cases where the tax bill in dispute has not yet been paid (effectively permitting a court to rule on the validity of a tax bill before the taxpayer pays it). The courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. (called the U.S. District Courts) can only hear tax cases if the tax bill has already been paid.

Tax Court Procedure in Ellicott City, Maryland

Tax court claims in Ellicott City, Maryland can arise from any tax disagreement, such as when a taxpayer believes that the conclusions of a tax audit were in error, or that they do not owe as much money as the IRS claims that they do.

Tax courts in the United States are presided over by judges who are appointed by the President. Unlike most other federal judges, who serve for life, judges on the U.S. Tax Court serve 15 year terms. However, they can serve an unlimited number of these terms, and if they do their jobs competently, they are almost always re-appointed when their terms are up, meaning that the vast majority of them effectively serve for life.

In the U.S., tax courts have some unique features. Most interestingly, individuals who are not licensed attorneys in Maryland, or anywhere else, are, in some cases, authorized to represent clients before tax courts. Non-attorneys who practice before tax court are almost always accountants, and any non-lawyer who wants to practice before the U.S. tax court must pass a difficult written exam that tests their understanding of American tax law. Licensed attorneys, however, may practice before the tax court without taking this exam.

Usually, when the IRS sends a taxpayer in Ellicott City, Maryland a notice of deficiency, indicating that they owe back taxes, the taxpayer has 90 days to file a claim in federal tax court to dispute this notice. If a claim is not filed in a timely manner, the taxpayer could lose his or her right to contest the tax bill at issue.

Do I Need a Ellicott City, Maryland Tax Attorney?

As mentioned earlier, federal law lets some non-attorneys practice before U.S. Tax Courts. But tax law can be extremely complex, and the practice of this area of law is highly specialized - so much so that most lawyers who practice tax law do not practice in any other field.

If you find yourself in a situation where you think you'll have to go to tax court, you should consult with a reliable tax lawyer in Ellicott City, Maryland as soon as possible. Non-lawyers are allowed to represent you in tax court, and most of them are perfectly competent. However, there are significant advantages to having a lawyer represent you, as opposed to an accountant or other non-attorney. Primarily, lawyers are regulated by the bar association of whatever state they're licensed to practice in, and if a lawyer handles your case incompetently, you will have considerable legal recourse against them, through both the courts and the state bar

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Life in Ellicott City

Ellicott City, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Howard County. It has a population of approximately 57,000 people as of the 2000 Census Ellicott City, Maryland was founded in 1772, by a small group of Quaker missionaries. Chosen for its picturesque natural scenery and abundant natural resources (particularly lumber), the settlement quickly grew into a bustling community. Tourists are generally drawn to the area because of its beautiful natural scenery. However, Ellicott, Maryland is also home to a niche tourist industry: ghost hunting. It is considered by enthusiasts to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S. If you believe in that sort of thing, Ellicott City could be a delightful place to visit. Ellicott City is home to quite a few tourist attractions. In addition to hiking trails, it is home to The Enchanted Forest, an amusement park with a fantasy theme. It is also has a locale Shakespeare company, that regularly puts on productions of the bard's plays. Residents of Ellicott City, and the surrounding area, have access to a wide variety of competent attorneys. Ellicott City, Maryland lawyers are ready to handle just about any case that you are likely to face. Whatever legal issues you're dealing with, an Ellicott City, Maryland lawyer can help.

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