Tax Court in Los Angeles, California

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Los Angeles, CA

Tax Court Lawyers in Los Angeles

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 Los Angeles, California.

The U.S. Tax Court is where disagreements arising under federal tax law are resolved, if the tax debt in question has not already been paid. The U.S. District Court, which is the federal court of general jurisdiction, can only hear tax cases after the tax has been paid. This rule is meant to guarantee that as many tax issues as possible are really decided in tax court, rather than the overworked District Courts.

Tax Court Procedure in Los Angeles, California

Any legal issue that concerns federal taxes in Los Angeles, 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 normally 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.

Tax courts in the United States are presided over by judges who are assigned by the President. Unlike most other federal judges, who serve for life, judges on the U.S. Tax Court serve 15 year terms. Nonetheless, they can serve an endless 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.

U.S. tax courts are distinct in that individuals who are not licensed to practice law in California, or any other U.S. jurisdiction, are authorized to represent clients before tax court. Non-lawyers who want to practice before the Tax Court do have to take an exam demonstrating that they have a good understanding of tax law. Usually, non-lawyers who practice before the tax courts are experienced accountants. However, licensed attorneys can practice before tax courts without taking the special exam.

Normally, a Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, California Tax Attorney?

Although the law lets certain non-lawyers represent parties before tax court, tax law is very complicated and often challenging to understand - to the point that almost all attorneys who practice tax law practice it exclusively, simply because maintaining competence leaves little time to learn any other area.

So, if you plan on going to tax court, it should go without saying that you should hire a Los Angeles, California tax attorney. While a non-lawyer admitted to practice before tax court may well give you qualified representation, you will have much stronger recourse against a licensed attorney if they negligently botch your case.

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Life in Los Angeles

Most people think of Hollywood when they think of Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is home to many celebrities, movie studios such as Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment Studios, and the Walk of Fame. Los Angeles residents and visitors can often sight celebrities shopping on Rodeo Drive, in Malibu, Beverly Hills, or in various night clubs.

Besides celebrities, Los Angeles is near the happiest on Earth-Disneyland! Kicking back and enjoying rides, great shows and parades, and hanging out with your favorite Disney characters is not the only thing Disneyland is about. Rather, Disneyland is a place where families come together, have fun, and both children and adults feel like a kid again. This unique attraction is one of the reasons Los Angeles is so visited by people all over the world.Other attractions in Los Angeles include the J. Paul Getty Museum, Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood Museum, Griffith Park, Venice Beach, and the Hollywood Bowl Museum.

Los Angeles being such a large city with a population of 9,862,049 is home to many intelligent, ivy-league-educated, and promising lawyers. Therefore, many large, multinational as well as mid-sized and small firms are present in Los Angeles. No legal need is left unattended in Los Angeles, California.

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