Tax Court in Tempe, Arizona

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Tempe, AZ

Tax Court Lawyers in Tempe

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

At the national level, we have the United States Tax Court, which has locations all over the country. This means that there is an U.S. tax court in or near Tempe, Arizona.

Tax courts in America handle the vast majority of legal issues that concern federal tax obligations of a person or other legal entity, such as a corporation. There are several procedural rules that are meant to funnel tax issues into tax courts, without strictly requiring them to be heard there. For example, only tax courts can hear tax cases where the tax in question has not yet been paid. The courts of general jurisdiction - known as the U.S. District Court - can also hear tax cases, but they can only hear tax cases if the disputed tax bill has already been paid.

Tax Court Procedure in Tempe, Arizona

Any claim dealing with federal tax law in Tempe, Arizona can end up in tax court. Most often, 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 decide those issues.

The judges who preside over U.S. Tax Courts are appointed by the President. They serve terms of 15 years. When their terms expire, the vast majority of these judges are simply re-appointed by whichever president is in office at the time, so most tax court judges effectively serve for life, or until they retire.

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

Typically, residents of Tempe, Arizona will end up in tax court because the IRS, or another tax agency, has alleged that they have failed to pay all the taxes that they owe. In the interest of due process, the IRS will send the taxpayer a letter informing them that they owe back taxes. At this point, the taxpayer will have something like 90 days to go to Tax Court to fight these allegations, if they so desire. If you do not file a response within the allotted time, the tax bill will become final, and you will have no legal means to contest it.

Do I Need a Tempe, Arizona Tax Attorney?

As mentioned earlier, federal law lets some non-attorneys practice before U.S. Tax Courts. But tax law can be extremely complicated, 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 are going to tax court, it should be apparent by now that you should seek the advice and assistance of a good Tempe, Arizona tax lawyer. This is not a knock against the non-lawyers who are licensed to practice before tax court; the vast majority of them are perfectly competent. However, if a licensed attorney seriously mishandles your case, you will have a great deal of legal recourse against them, more so than with a non-attorney.

Talk to a Tax Law Attorney now!

Life in Tempe

Tempe is located in Maricopa County in Arizona. It has a population of about 175,000 and was incorporated in the year 1894. Its name comes from the "Vale of Tempe" located in Greece. Tempe is known for being the headquarters for several prominent corporations.

The economy of Tempe is comprised mainly of large corporations which have their headquarters in the city. For example, companies such as U.S. Airways and Insight Enterprises have their executive headquarters in Tempe. Cold Stone Creamery, a popular ice cream franchise, was originally located in the city. In addition, Tempe is home to Arizona State University at Tempe, where the Insight Bowl is held every year.

Residents of Tempe enjoy great performance in the arts at the Gammage Auditorium and the Tempe Center for the Arts. Also, visitors frequently enjoy shopping in Tempe's retail district, located at Mills Avenue and at Arizona Mills, one of the largest shopping malls in the state. The Tempe Marketplace is where you can go for excellent outdoor festivals and concerts.

Lawyers in Tempe, Arizona typically file legal claims at the Tempe Municipal Court. The municipal court handles a wide range of legal issues and ordinance violations. Tempe lawyers also participate in a variety of exciting civic and community service events.

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