Tax Court in Suffolk, Virginia

Find the right Tax Court attorney in Suffolk, VA

Tax Court Lawyers in Suffolk

Tax courts execute roughly the same function as any other court: they present a forum to resolve legal disputes in an orderly, fair, and efficient manner. The only difference with tax courts is that they specialize in solving disagreements 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, containing one in or near Suffolk, Virginia.

The United States Tax Court handles most legal disagreements 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 authorizing 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 Suffolk, Virginia

Tax law claims can arise out of any conflict having to do with one's legal requirement to pay their taxes in Suffolk, Virginia. Most often, they occur when the IRS alleges that a taxpayer has not paid all of the taxes that they owe, and the taxpayer disagrees. The court has to resolve this dispute.

In the U.S., tax court judges are assigned by the President of the United States. Unlike judges on most other federal courts, who typically serve for life (or until they retire), tax court judges serve terms of 15 years. But, there is no limit to the number of terms that they are permitted to serve. If a tax court judge has been doing his or her job competently, the President will typically re-appoint them whenever their term expires, effectively giving them life tenure.

U.S. Tax Courts have one feature that's almost completely distinct in the U.S.: people who are not licensed attorneys in Virginia, or anywhere else, are permitted 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 frequently, when the IRS sends a Suffolk, 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 Suffolk, Virginia Tax Attorney?

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

If you have to go to tax court for whatever reason, you should almost certainly speak with a reliable tax attorney in Suffolk, Virginia. Even though some non-lawyers are technically permitted to represent you in tax court, there are distinct advantages to hiring a lawyer, even if a non-attorney can provide you with competent representation. The main advantage is the fact that all attorneys are tightly regulated by their state bar associations, and if they botch your case, you may have more legal recourse against an attorney than you would against a non-attorney.

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Life in Suffolk

Suffolk is considered the largest city in Virginia. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 84,585 people. Neighboring waters include the Nansemond River and James River.

Top employers include Kraft Foods, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Unilever, Lipton Tea, Target, QVC, Wal-Mart, and the U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). Although not considered a top employer, the legal industry also has a strong presence in Suffolk because many residents are attorneys who practice in various areas and provide personalized legal services to their clients.

Some famous people who have lived in, or currently call Suffolk home, include Mills E. Goodwin Jr., Antwan Lewis, Lex Luger, Joe Maphis, and Charlie Byrd.

All in all, Suffolk is a beautiful city that is rich in history and offers its residents and visitors a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

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