Tax Court in Salt Lake City, Utah

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Salt Lake City, UT

Tax Court Lawyers in Salt Lake City

Tax Courts serve the same purpose as any other court: they're there to resolve legal disagreements in a fair and orderly fashion. Tax courts are simply specialized to oversee tax disputes.

Typically, legal issues concerning one's requirement to pay their federal income taxes will be resolved in tax court. Because of this, the U.S. tax courts have at least one courthouse in every single state and territory in the U.S., and there are various locations in each of the larger states. This means that there is almost certainly a tax court in or near Salt Lake City, Utah

The United States Tax Court handles most legal disagreements 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 authorizing 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 Salt Lake City, Utah

Any claim dealing with federal tax law in Salt Lake City, Utah can end up in tax court. Most frequently, a dispute ends up in tax court when the government claims that someone has not paid all of the taxes that they are legally obligated to pay. If the taxpayer disputes the factual basis of the allegation, or believes the IRS has misinterpreted the law, U.S. Tax Courts have to determine those concerns.

In the U.S., tax court judges are assigned by the President of the United States. Unlike judges on most other federal courts, who typically serve for life (or until they retire), tax court judges serve terms of 15 years. But, there is no limit to the number of terms that they are permitted to serve. If a tax court judge has been doing his or her job competently, the President will typically re-appoint them whenever their term expires, effectively giving them life tenure.

Federal tax court is somewhat distinct in that individuals who are not licensed attorneys in Utah (or anywhere else) may represent taxpayers before the tax court, as long as they can pass an exam indicating that they have a good familiarity of tax law. Licensed lawyers do not need to take this exam to practice before tax court.

Typically, a Salt Lake City, Utah 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 Salt Lake City, Utah Tax Attorney?

Federal law permits some non-lawyers to represent parties in tax court. However, tax law is a fairly intricate 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 find yourself in a situation where you think you'll have to go to tax court, you should consult with a knowledgeable tax lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah 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 substantial legal recourse against them, through both the courts and the state bar

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Life in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, Utah is the capital of, and largest city in, the state of Utah. It is also the county seat of Salt Lake County. It has a population of about 180,000 people in the city proper, and its greater urban area has a population of over 2 million people. Salt Lake City was established as the center of Mormon settlement in the Utah Territory, with the first permanent settlement being established in 1847. Disputes quickly sprung up between the settlers and the federal government, largely over the former Mormon practice of polygamy (marrying multiple wives to a single man), which the religion was believed to encourage or mandate at the time. As part of an agreement to end these disputes, Utah (and the Mormon Church) banned polygamy, as a condition of Utah's admission to the Union. Modernly, Salt Lake City is a thriving medium-sized city, and it is one of the main population and economic centers in the Mountain West. Its economy is largely service-based. Utah is known for having some of the best skiing conditions in North America, so winter tourism is a major sector in the local economy. If you live in Salt Lake City, Utah, and need an attorney, it's very likely that you'll be able to find one who's right for you. Salt Lake City, Utah lawyers are used to handling a wide variety of cases, with great variation in sophistication.

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