Tax Justice Warriors

I give my thoughts on 2018's tax changes and hopes for 2019 for working with federal and state tax collections.

For the holidays, I start a tradition of telling LITC success stories by the fire.  I provide success stories from the Kansas Legal Services Low Income Taxpayer Clinic for 2016-2018.

Here is a followup from the 2019 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) Grantee Conference.  Information on the panel on designated orders I took part with, including audio with Keith Fogg’s introduction to the panel.  How did the National Day of Mourning affect the conference?  New IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olsen spoke to the conference and I discuss their presentations.  I finish with a pitch for getting involved in networking and conference call groups between LITC clinics.

At this year’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic conference, I met and interviewed Omeed Firouzi, a 2018-2020 Christine A. Brunswick Public Service Fellow.  He is working with Philadelphia Legal Assistance to educate and provide legal assistance for workers misclassified as independent contractors.  He also has advocacy and awareness efforts to decrease this practice among Philadelphia employers.

I would encourage you to learn about and help provide funding for fellowships and other causes like this through the American Bar Association Section of Taxation Tax Assistance Public Service (TAPS).  Find out more through this link:  http://www.abatapsendowment.org/about-taps

A discussion of the slate of panels available during the 2019 Annual Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) Grantee Conference.  During the week, there will be sessions for new clinics and clinic directors.  There will also be special speakers and breakout sessions.  Also, there are optional events like the American Bar Association Low Income Taxpayer Representation Workshop on December 3 at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.  If you are in the Washington, D.C. area that day I recommend you attend.

The American Bar Association has Effectively Representing Your Client Before the IRS on sale Cyber Monday, November 26.  The 2-volume set will be 40% off with free shipping.  It is a very handy 2-volume set (30 chapters, with sample correspondence and forms plus a DVD with video and audio recordings such as ABA Tax Section meetings).  I co-authored a chapter and highly recommend this reference tool.  For more information, go to: 

https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/334331965/

The final of four parts reviewing IRS forms and publications.  I hope you found useful tools in the IRS forms and publications available on their website.

Also, the American Bar Association has Effectively Representing Your Client Before the IRS on sale Cyber Monday, November 26.  The 2-volume set will be 40% off with free shipping.  It is a very handy 2-volume set (30 chapters, with sample correspondence and forms plus a DVD with video and audio recordings such as ABA Tax Section meetings).  I co-authored a chapter and highly recommend this reference tool.  For more information, go to: 

https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/334331965/

Some updates on my outreach in Kansas, the ABA Low Income Taxpayer Workshop, the Designated Orders panel at the LITC Conference, the Janet Spragens Pro Bono Award, and the 4th International Conference on Taxpayer Rights.  There are some December deadlines mentioned for the last 2. 

Note:  A couple sentences messed up in the audio.  I meant to say, "Tax Reform 2.0 – 3 bills have passed in the House, but not the Senate.  Among those is a bill that would make the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions that expire in 2025 permanent."

This episode focuses on IRS forms & publications useful to you in dealing with a tax controversy.  Some of these are often sent to taxpayers by the IRS to help them deal with the Collections, Examination, and Appeals processes.  I even attempt a brief explanation of the difference between innocent spouse and injured spouse relief requests.  Do I succeed?  Tune in and decide for yourself!  Part 3 (of 4) in the IRS forms & publications series.

Happy Halloween, everyone!  Today we are offering a trick (cancellation of debt income) and a treat (exclusion due to insolvency).  A discussion of Publication 4681 and Forms 982, 1099-C, 1099-A plus related topics such as bankruptcy and foreclosure.