Tax Court in Norfolk, Virginia

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Norfolk, VA

Tax Court Lawyers in Norfolk

Tax courts perform roughly the same function as any other court: they provide a forum to resolve legal disputes in an orderly, fair, and efficient manner. The only difference with tax courts is that they specialize in resolving disputes that have to do with 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 Norfolk, Virginia.

The U.S. Tax Court is where disputes 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 ensure that as many tax issues as possible are actually decided in tax court, rather than the overworked District Courts.

Tax Court Procedure in Norfolk, Virginia

Any legal issue that concerns federal taxes in Norfolk, Virginia, 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 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.

Tax courts in the United States are presided over by judges who are appointed by the President. Unlike most other federal judges, who serve for life, judges on the U.S. Tax Court serve 15 year terms. However, they can serve an unlimited 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 have one feature that's almost completely unique in the U.S.: people who are not licensed attorneys in Virginia, or anywhere else, are allowed to represent clients in Tax Court. This doesn't mean, however, that anyone can walk in off the street and start practicing tax law. Before they can practice before a tax court, non-attorneys have to take and pass a written exam that tests their knowledge of U.S. tax law. People who are already licensed to practice law, on the other hand, can practice before a tax court without taking this test.

Most often, when the IRS sends a Norfolk, Virginia 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 Norfolk, Virginia Tax Attorney?

Federal law allows some non-lawyers to represent people before U.S. Tax Courts. However, the tax laws are very convoluted. In fact, most tax attorneys don't practice any other area of law.

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

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Life in Norfolk

Norfolk is Virginia's second-largest city. It is an independent city, and therefore not part of any county. It currently has a population of about 233,000 people.

Norfolk, Virginia was founded as an English colony in the 1620s, during the early days of English settlement in North America. By the time of American independence, Norfolk was considered one of the wealthiest cities in Virginia, owing its prosperity mostly to the burgeoning tobacco industry.

Modernly, Norfolk is coming out of some hard economic times. It is currently in the throes of a major urban renewal project, aimed at attracting businesses and residents back to its urban core. Norfolk's economy has been sustained by the presence of a naval shipyard, as well as a major commercial port, both of which provide thousands of jobs. Norfolk is also home to the headquarters of several Fortune 500 companies.

Because of its economic and demographic diversity, Norfolk, Virginia, there is a thriving and sophisticated legal community there. Norfolk, Virginia lawyers are capable of handling just about any legal problem a person might have. If you have any legal issues, you should contact a Norfolk, Virginia lawyer as soon as possible.

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