Tax Court in West Springfield, Massachusetts

Find the right Tax Court attorney in West Springfield, MA

Tax Court Lawyers in West Springfield

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

Almost all legal concerns having to do with federal taxes are resolved in the U.S. Tax Court, which has at least one courthouse in every state, and various courthouses in each of the larger states. This means that there is almost certainly a tax court in, or within a reasonable distance of, West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Federal tax court is the place to litigate all disputes arising out of tax law, if the relevant tax obligations has not already been paid. While other federal courts, such as the U.S. District Court or the Court of Federal Claims, can hear tax matters, they can only hear tax cases after the tax has been paid.

Tax Court Procedure in West Springfield, Massachusetts

Any legal issue that concerns federal taxes in West Springfield, Massachusetts, 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 typically 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.

U.S. Tax Court judges are appointed by the President. Their terms of office are legally set at 15 years. However, the vast majority of tax court judges are simply appointed again when their terms run out, and there is no limit on the number of 15-year terms they can serve. As a practical matter, therefore, Tax Court judges effectively serve life terms.

Tax courts in the U.S. have a few unique features. Perhaps most notably, people who are not admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, or in any other jurisdiction, are permitted 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.

Most frequently, when the IRS sends a West Springfield, Massachusetts resident a "notice of deficiency," which alleges that they owe back taxes, the taxpayer has 90 days to go to tax court, and file a claim in tax court to fight this allegation. If you don't file this claim within the allotted time, you can lose your right to dispute the tax bill in question, in any forum, permanently.

Do I Need a West Springfield, Massachusetts Tax Attorney?

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

So, if you need to go to tax court, for whatever reason, you should pursue the counsel of a good tax attorney in West Springfield, Massachusetts. While a non-lawyer who's licensed to practice before the tax courts may well give you perfectly competent representation, there are still advantages to hiring a lawyer. The main advantage is that lawyers are far more regulated in their profession than most non-lawyers. So, if a tax attorney severely damages your case due to negligence or incompetence, you will have substantial legal recourse against them.

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Life in West Springfield

West Springfield is part of Hampden County in Massachusetts. It has a population of about 28,000 people and is a popular tourist destination. The city is locally known as "The West Side", which is a reference to its location on the western side of the Connecticut River.

West Springfield is also part of the Massachusetts area known as the Springfield-Hartford "Knowledge Corridor". The Knowledge Corridor is part of a state program designed to promote cultural and economic exchange between several Massachusetts cities. The name Knowledge Corridor derives from the fact that there are over 30 colleges and universities in the sector. The area is also the focus of extensive urban renewal projects.

The city of West Springfield attracts many visitors due to its retail and commercial activities. For example, the Riverdale Road corridor is one of the major retail centers in the area. Tourists also come to the city every September for the Eastern States Exposition or "The Big E", which is the largest fair in the entire northeast region. The fair is home to the Big E Cream Puff and the Craz-E Burger. The Big E lasts for 17 days and features a number of acts, parades, and exhibits.

Lawyers in West Springfield, Massachusetts usually represent their clients at the Springfield District Court Division courthouse. Many West Springfield are members of multiple bar associations including the local Hampden County Bar Association.

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