Tax Court in Sunnyvale, California

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Sunnyvale, CA

Tax Court Lawyers in Sunnyvale

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 Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale, California

Any legal issue that concerns federal taxes in Sunnyvale, 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.

The judges who preside over U.S. Tax Courts are assigned by the President. They serve terms of 15 years. When their terms expire, the vast majority of these judges are just 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 distinct in that individuals who are not licensed attorneys in California (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.

Usually, a Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale, California Tax Attorney?

Although the law lets certain non-lawyers represent parties before tax court, tax law is very complex 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.

If you find yourself in a situation where you think you'll have to go to tax court, you should consult with a qualified tax lawyer in Sunnyvale, California 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 significant legal recourse against them, through both the courts and the state bar

Talk to a Tax Law Attorney now!

Life in Sunnyvale

Sunnyvale, California is a major city in the Silicon Valley of the San Francisco Bay Area. It has a population of 140,000 and is an important contributor to the field of high-tech electronic and digital technology. Sunnyvale is home to several major high-tech companies, and consistently ranks as one of the safest cities in the entire country.

As early as the 1960's, major corporations have been moving to Sunnyvale, California to participate in the digital and electronic boom centered in the Silicon Valley. Companies such as Yahoo!, Advanced Micro Devices, and Palm, Inc. are headquartered in the city. Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, grew up in Sunnyvale, where he was exposed to the innovation and technology in Silicon Valley.

Sunnyvale is an unique city in that it maintains a Department of Public Safety. This department is a single, unified body that trains all personnel to operate as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical response teams. This arrangement helps contribute to the city's low crime and overall city. Sunnyvale also holds a number of community social events that provide residents with ample opportunities for recreation.

Lawyers in Sunnyvale, California practice law in a number of fields in order to serve the unique needs of the city's businesses and residents. Sunnyvale lawyers process many legal claims at the Sunnyvale branch of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara.

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