Tax Court in Normal, Illinois

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Tax Court Lawyers in Normal

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

At the federal level, there is the United States Tax Court, which has courthouses all over the country, including one in or near Normal, Illinois.

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 Normal, Illinois

Any legal issue that concerns federal taxes in Normal, Illinois, 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 required 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.

Federal tax courts are presided over by judges who are appointed by the President of the United States. These judges serve 15-year terms. Judges whose terms expire are routinely re-appointed by the sitting President, so most tax court judges effectively serve for life.

Tax courts in the U.S. have a few unique features. Perhaps most notably, people who are not admitted to practice law in Illinois, or in any other jurisdiction, are authorized to represent clients in tax court. However, non-lawyers must take, and pass, a fairly difficult exam to demonstrate that they have an in-depth understanding of U.S. tax law. If someone is already a lawyer, however, they can practice before a tax court without taking this exam.

Normally, a Normal, Illinois 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 Normal, Illinois Tax Attorney?

Although federal tax court authorizes, under some circumstances, non-lawyers to represent taxpayers, the practice of tax law is extremely complex and specialized. Many attorneys who practice tax law do not practice in any other area.

If you are going to tax court, it should be discernible by now that you should seek the advice and assistance of a good Normal, Illinois 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 Normal

Normal is located in McLean County, Illinois. It was named after the Illinois State Normal University. Normal is located near Bloomington, Illinois; both Bloomington and Normal together are known as the "Twin Cities."

Attractions include the Children's Discovery Museum, the Illinois State University Planetarium, the Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail, the Ecology Action Center, Braden Auditorium, and the Prairie Fire Theatre.

Some interesting facts about Normal are that the original Steak'n Shake restaurant opened in Normal. Also, Mitsubishi's only North American facility is located here!

Normal is also home to many attorneys who are competent in their respective practice fields. Thus, no legal need of any Normal resident will be left unattended.

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