White Plains Tax Lawyer

Locals in White Plains, New York, sometimes run up against legal tax problems with the IRS and local New York agencies. If you believe the IRS is auditing you or your small business, you may need the help of a White Plains tax attorney. Read on to learn more about what a skilled tax lawyer can do for you. If you need immediate assistance, contact our White Plains tax attorney at our Albany office at (518) 213-3445 or our New York office at (917) 382-5142.

How Complicated is Tax Law?

America has some of the most complicated tax laws in the world. Most Americans agree that the U.S. tax system is unnecessarily complicated, but it becomes more complex every year. Each year, Americans turn to tax professionals to help them with their personal and business taxes.

How Do Investments Affect Tax Law?

Personal taxes can become more complicated as you become more successful. Various investments you may acquire throughout your life can complicate your taxes. Ten examples of investments and property ownership that can further complicate an already painfully complex system include:

• Homeownership, particularly multiple homes
• Capital gains or losses
• Interest income on cash or bonds
• Individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k) accounts, and 403(b) accounts
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
• Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
• Money market accounts
• Foreign bank accounts
• Cryptocurrency and Nonfungible tokens (NFTs).

These are just a few investments that can further complicate your tax filing. Of course, the answer is not to avoid investment opportunities. Instead, many Americans utilize tax professionals like a tax attorney in White Plains, NY, to ensure that their personal and business taxes are in order and all possible deductions and credits have been utilized to the maximum.

New York State Tax Law

New York is known as one of the trickiest states for local taxes. White Plains, New York, residents may have cause to worry about tax issues on their state and federal taxes. The complicated state taxes are attributable to:

• A retail sales breakdown report is required.
• Some vendors have offset quarterly filing requirements.
• Different forms are required for different filing frequencies.
• PrompTax is required for large sales tax vendors.

Additionally, New York state has the highest tax burden. Tax burden measures the ratio of total personal income New Yorkers pay toward state and local taxes. In White Plains and the rest of New York, the total tax burden is 12.75%, as compared to 5.06% in Alaska, the U.S. state with the lowest total tax burden.

Ranking	State	Property Tax Burden	Total Sales and Excise Tax Burden	Individual Income Tax Burden	Total Tax Burden
1 of 50	New York	4.43% (6 of 50)	3.42% (25 of 50)	4.90% (1 of 50)	12.75% (1 of 50)
50 of 50	Alaska	3.54% (11 of 50)	1.52% (46 of 50)	0.00% (44 of 50)	5.06% (50 of 50)

A White Plains tax attorney can help ensure your taxes are filed efficiently, utilizing all tax credits and deductions available. If you ever have an issue with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or other agencies, a tax lawyer may be able to help.

What Does a Tax Attorney Do?

Tax lawyers assist people in a highly technical legal niche.

A tax attorney in White Plains, NY, specializes in federal and local tax preparation legalities. Like CPAs, tax lawyers can file taxes. However, many of their services revolve around the legal side of taxes. A tax lawyer is recommended for people and businesses contacted by the IRS or another agency about an issue with their taxes. Various issues arise in tax law, from unfiled taxes and back taxes to allegations of tax evasion and tax fraud.

If a government agency contacts a business or individual about a tax issue, it may be prudent to seek out the counsel of a local White Plains tax lawyer. The right lawyer for the case should be experienced in the type of tax problems the IRS or other agency is most concerned with.

Other services that tax attorneys provide include:

• Tax installment agreements
• Payroll taxes
• Reducing IRS penalties
• Release of tax liens and levies
• Working with clients being audited
• Negotiating tax disputes.

If in doubt as to whether a tax lawyer in White Plains can help with a tax problem, the best course of action is to schedule a consultation to discuss the issue directly.

Who Should Hire a Tax Attorney in White Plains, NY?

Tax concerns may materialize that you can avoid or minimize by hiring a tax lawyer.

Not everyone will need a tax relief lawyer in White Plains, NY, to handle a potential crisis, but when you do need one, you need a tax lawyer who is skilled and experienced in the issues facing you. Here are a few hypothetical situations in which it may be prudent to hire a tax lawyer or corporation tax attorney in White Plains, NY:

• The IRS assigned a Revenue Officer to your case.
• You have an unusual or particularly complicated financial situation.
• You would prefer to hire a professional to save yourself the time and stress of personally handling your taxes.
• You owe $10,000 or more to the IRS or NYS.
• You own a business or are self-employed.
• The IRS is contacting you, and you feel intimidated or uncomfortable handling the communication.

These are just a few situations where a White Plains tax relief lawyer can come to your aid and help advocate for your interests. However, there are certain situations where it is imperative you hire a tax attorney, including:

• You have undisclosed foreign bank accounts.
• You have valuable assets you wish to protect from the IRS.
• You have indications of tax fraud, such as unreported income.
• You owe the IRS $1,000,000 or more.

In these scenarios, it is especially crucial that you reach out to an experienced tax lawyer who can represent and defend your interests.

What Can White Plains Tax Lawyer Timothy S. Hart Help Me With?

Timothy S. Hart, CPA, is experienced in helping White Plains residents prevent tax problems. When issues arise, he swiftly confronts them in the following areas.

Tax Audits

The IRS may audit your personal or business taxes. Regardless of which taxes the authorities are auditing, they will begin with an initial investigation. They may request additional documents and information or ask to interview you. If you violated the law or mishandled the process, criminal charges could be placed against you. If you find yourself or your business at the center of a tax audit, it is critical that the event be handled with meticulous care. Exhaustive attention should be given even to seemingly minor details. A tax audit attorney can help ensure your accounts are in order.

Back Taxes and Debts

Having unfiled IRS or New York State tax returns can put you at risk of back taxes. Every year, some American fail to file their tax returns. When the IRS tracks you down, you will face penalties and fees called back tax returns.

• Failure-to-file (FTF) penalties are 5% of the tax debt owed per month.
• Failure-to-pay (FTP) penalties are 0.5% of the taxes owed.

However, it is possible to fix the situation before the IRS gets to your case. A back tax lawyer can review your case and help you file tax returns for the years you failed to report.

Offers in Compromise

Tackling years of back tax liability can feel impossible. However, if you owe more than you can afford to pay, a tax law attorney may be able to help you with an offer in compromise (OIC) agreement. In some cases, you may be able to reduce your tax liability considerably.

Tax Evasion Concerns

Tax evasion is a serious allegation. If found guilty, you may face exorbitant fines and imprisonment. You may be guilty of tax evasion if you owed a tax and you intentionally evaded paying it. A tax evasion attorney can review your case and advocate in your defense to help you achieve the best outcome possible.

Reducing IRS Penalties

If you are facing IRS penalties, a skilled tax lawyer may be able to help you reduce your IRS penalties. The IRS Penalty Abatement petition was created to address valid reasons why Americans may fail to pay or file their taxes. Under this petition, you may be eligible to have your penalties reduced or erased.

Handling tax issues like these by yourself can have unforeseen adverse effects on your situation. You may unknowingly make factual errors or provide documents to which the government is not entitled. Timothy S. Hart can address the problem for you and handle the government agencies while you focus on other aspects of your life.

Why Should I Choose Tax Lawyer in White Plains Timothy S. Hart to Represent My Interests?

Timothy S. Hart, the founding partner of Timothy S. Hart Law Group, P.C., is an experienced White Plains tax attorney and CPA. He is admitted to the American Bar Association, the U.S. Tax Court, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He delivers innovative solutions to tax issues involving the IRS and New York state. He is also skilled in tackling Foreign Bank Accounting (FBAR) cases.

Timothy S. Hart, CPA, offers personalized service to his clients. You will work directly with him on your tax issues until the case is closed. Read what past clients say about working with him.

Contact the White Plains Tax Attorney You Can Trust

White Plains tax lawyer Timothy S. Hart has helped clients in similar situations reach their goals. His knowledge and experience are invaluable in helping resolve tax challenges faced by White Plains residents. You can contact Timothy S. Hart at our New York office at (917) 382-5142 or our Albany office at (518) 213-3445 to schedule your consultation.