Be Careful Claiming Your Charitable Deduction for 2014


The IRS loves to audit people who claim charitable deductions.  The reason is that there are very strict record-keeping rules when it comes to charitable deductions and most people are not aware of them so the IRS usually finds a way to disallow the deduction, which of course triggers increased taxes, penalties and interest.  Do not let this happen to you.

 Generally, to claim a charitable contribution deduction for gifts of $250 or more in cash or property to charity, donors must get a written acknowledgment from the charity.  This is usually not a big deal.  For donations of property, the acknowledgment must include, among other things, a description of the items contributed.  Typically the place you donate the property gives you a blank receipt.  So you need to fill it out and make sure you list all the items donate.  You also need to determine the value of the property contributed if it is not cash, which sometimes can cause problems if the amount determined is incorrect.

 The law also requires that taxpayers have all acknowledgments in hand beforefiling their tax return.   The IRS does not like it when you go back to the charity to get an acknowledgment.  That said I have done this in the past and have been able to substantiate the deduction to the IRS' satisfaction.  However, I do not recommend doing this if you can avoid it. 

 Only taxpayers who itemize their deductions can claim gifts to charity.  You should also know there are special reporting requirements that apply to vehicle donations and taxpayers wishing to claim these donations must attach any required documents to their return. For example, Form 1098-C or a similar statement, must be provided to the donor by the organization and attached to the return. Furthermore, the deduction for a car, boat or airplane donated to charity is usually limited to the gross proceeds from its sale. This rule applies if the claimed value is more than $500.

 Additionally, there are a number of bogus groups masquerading as a charitable organization to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors.  This is one of the top 12 abuses listed by the IRS for 2015.  You should take a few extra minutes to ensure your hard-earned money or property goes to legitimate and currently eligible charity. 

 Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. Some phony charities use names or websites that sound or look like those of respected, legitimate organizations.  Also, don’t give out personal financial information, such as Social Security numbers or passwords to anyone who solicits a contribution from you. Scam artists may use this information to steal your identity and money. People use credit card numbers to make legitimate donations but please be very careful when you are speaking with someone who called you.

 Also, don’t give or send cash. For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or another way that provides documentation of the gift.

 If you have questions or concerns about a charitable deduction, or would like representation that includes advising you on the tax aspects of business transactions and how they should be reported on tax return to avoid tax problems or place you in the best position on the occasion you are contacted by the IRS or the state tax authorities, please contact the Wilson Tax Law Group

 To schedule an initial consultation, please contact our Orange County tax lawyers at (949) 397-2292 or use our online contact form.

Be Careful Claiming Your Charitable Deduction for 2014


The IRS loves to audit people who claim charitable deductions.  The reason is that there are very strict record-keeping rules when it comes to charitable deductions and most people are not aware of them so the IRS usually finds a way to disallow the deduction, which of course triggers increased taxes, penalties and interest.  Do not let this happen to you.

 Generally, to claim a charitable contribution deduction for gifts of $250 or more in cash or property to charity, donors must get a written acknowledgment from the charity.  This is usually not a big deal.  For donations of property, the acknowledgment must include, among other things, a description of the items contributed.  Typically the place you donate the property gives you a blank receipt.  So you need to fill it out and make sure you list all the items donate.  You also need to determine the value of the property contributed if it is not cash, which sometimes can cause problems if the amount determined is incorrect.

 The law also requires that taxpayers have all acknowledgments in hand before filing their tax return.   The IRS does not like it when you go back to the charity to get an acknowledgment.  That said I have done this in the past and have been able to substantiate the deduction to the IRS' satisfaction.  However, I do not recommend doing this if you can avoid it. 

 Only taxpayers who itemize their deductions can claim gifts to charity.  You should also know there are special reporting requirements that apply to vehicle donations and taxpayers wishing to claim these donations must attach any required documents to their return. For example, Form 1098-C or a similar statement, must be provided to the donor by the organization and attached to the return. Furthermore, the deduction for a car, boat or airplane donated to charity is usually limited to the gross proceeds from its sale. This rule applies if the claimed value is more than $500.

 Additionally, there are a number of bogus groups masquerading as a charitable organization to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors.  This is one of the top 12 abuses listed by the IRS for 2015.  You should take a few extra minutes to ensure your hard-earned money or property goes to legitimate and currently eligible charity. 

 Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. Some phony charities use names or websites that sound or look like those of respected, legitimate organizations.  Also, don’t give out personal financial information, such as Social Security numbers or passwords to anyone who solicits a contribution from you. Scam artists may use this information to steal your identity and money. People use credit card numbers to make legitimate donations but please be very careful when you are speaking with someone who called you.

 Also, don’t give or send cash. For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or another way that provides documentation of the gift.

 If you have questions or concerns about a charitable deduction, or would like representation that includes advising you on the tax aspects of business transactions and how they should be reported on tax return to avoid tax problems or place you in the best position on the occasion you are contacted by the IRS or the state tax authorities, please contact the Wilson Tax Law Group

 To schedule an initial consultation, please contact our Orange County tax lawyers at (949) 397-2292 or use our online contact form.

IRS Blasted for Seizing Assets of People who Deposit Cash Under $10,000

On February 11 Congress blasted the IRS Commissioner John Koskinen on the Service’s use of civil-asset forfeiture laws, demanding to know why innocent small business owners are being target when they have committed no crime. 

This issue is two fold: 1) whether IRS collection officers are under pressure to fill quotas on assets seizures, which is prohibited by law to reward these people based on the amount they have collected; and 2) the IRS practice of seizing the bank accounts of people suspected of "structuring," that is, of making cash deposits worth less than $10,000 to avoid reporting requirements, when in fact small business owners may make several deposits under $10,000 for a variety of reasons and none of them are illegal.
 
I can say with personal experience this is a real problem.  In fact, I was involved in case where the IRS/DOJ seized the funds of a small business owner from his bank account and prosecuted him for "structuring" when in fact that person paid all the taxes on the deposits associated with those funds.  He operated a cash business and the bank told him not to make deposits over $10,000 because that was "bad".   He made sure his deposits where under $10,000, but reports all the income from the deposits and paid all the taxes.  In this case, there was zero harm to the government because there was no tax loss.   Regardless, the IRS seized all his funds and prosecuted him for structuring in federal district court.
 
I am glad to know Congress is looking into these practices by the IRS/DOJ of seizing funds just because the person makes deposits under $10,000.  The person needs to intend to violate the Bank Secrecy Act.   I also believe their should be some harm to government, such as underreporting of taxes or other illegal activity, although this is not a requirement of "structuring."
 
You can contact Joe Wilson at the Wilson Tax Law Group if you have questions about structuring.   Our office phone number is 714-463-4430.
 
 

IRS Blasted for Seizing Assets of People who Deposit Cash Under $10,000

On February 11 Congress blasted the IRS Commissioner John Koskinen on the Service’s use of civil-asset forfeiture laws, demanding to know why innocent small business owners are being target when they have committed no crime. 

This issue is two fold: 1) whether IRS collection officers are under pressure to fill quotas on assets seizures, which is prohibited by law to reward these people based on the amount they have collected; and 2) the IRS practice of seizing the bank accounts of people suspected of "structuring," that is, of making cash deposits worth less than $10,000 to avoid reporting requirements, when in fact small business owners may make several deposits under $10,000 for a variety of reasons and none of them are illegal.
 
I can say with personal experience this is a real problem.  In fact, I was involved in case where the IRS/DOJ seized the funds of a small business owner from his bank account and prosecuted him for "structuring" when in fact that person paid all the taxes on the deposits associated with those funds.  He operated a cash business and the bank told him not to make deposits over $10,000 because that was "bad".   He made sure his deposits where under $10,000, but reports all the income from the deposits and paid all the taxes.  In this case, there was zero harm to the government because there was no tax loss.   Regardless, the IRS seized all his funds and prosecuted him for structuring in federal district court.
 
I am glad to know Congress is looking into these practices by the IRS/DOJ of seizing funds just because the person makes deposits under $10,000.  The person needs to intend to violate the Bank Secrecy Act.   I also believe their should be some harm to government, such as underreporting of taxes or other illegal activity, although this is not a requirement of "structuring."
 
You can contact Joe Wilson at the Wilson Tax Law Group if you have questions about structuring.   Our office phone number is 714-463-4430.
 
 

2015 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams


Each year the IRS posts the worst tax scams across America.   The IRS works with the Department of Justice and its criminal division to shut down these tax scams, but it’s a never ending saga and scammers steal billions of dollars each year of public funds.  Let’s take a look at this year's dirty dozen tax scam list:

 
  1. Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents. I have had numerous clients call me who received these phone calls.  Hang up on these people and let them know you are sending their information to the FBI.

 
  1. Fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information (phishing).  If you get an email from what appears to be the IRS delete it and do not open it.  Call a tax attorney or the IRS for assistance to determine if you have a real tax issue.

 
  1. Identity theft continues to be a problem especially around tax time. File your tax return early, the IRS typically accepts the first return filed.  So if you file your return before the scammer, it will be much easier to resolve.  

 
  1. Return preparers who prepare bogus returns for clients to claim deductions and credits that they are not entitled to claim.
 

  1. Offshore tax evasion and the financial organizations that advice people they no longer need to pay taxes if they move their money offshore.  Contact a tax attorney if you have undisclosed assets offshore and need assistance to resolve this.

 
  1. Stating refund amounts before looking at documents, asking individuals to sign blank returns and fees based on a percentage of the refund are signs of a bad tax preparer.

 
  1. Fake charitable organizations with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors.
 

  1. Hiding income by filing false Form 1099s or other fake documents.  This is a criminal act and the IRS will attempt to put you in jail.  

 
  1. Using abusive tax structures to avoid paying taxes. When in doubt, clients should seek an independent opinion from a qualified tax attorney regarding complex products they are offered.

 
  1. Inventing income to claim tax credits. Clients are best served by filing the most-accurate return possible because they are legally responsible for what is on their return.

 
  1. Erroneously claiming the fuel tax credit. This credit is not available to most taxpayers. But yet each year a sizable group of clients erroneously claim the credit to inflate their refunds.

 
  1. Using frivolous tax arguments to avoid paying taxes.

If you need assistance concerning a tax matter, do not hesitate to contact a tax lawyer in Orange County.   Tax scams are immune to the efforts being taken by the US government.  The Orange County Tax Attorneys at Wilson Tax Law Group have experience in federal tax audits, appeals, and criminal prosecutions and IRS matters. You can reach the Wilson Tax Law Group at 714-463-4430.

2015 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams


Each year the IRS posts the worst tax scams across America.   The IRS works with the Department of Justice and its criminal division to shut down these tax scams, but it’s a never ending saga and scammers steal billions of dollars each year of public funds.  Let’s take a look at this year's dirty dozen tax scam list:

 
  1. Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents. I have had numerous clients call me who received these phone calls.  Hang up on these people and let them know you are sending their information to the FBI.

 
  1. Fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information (phishing).  If you get an email from what appears to be the IRS delete it and do not open it.  Call a tax attorney or the IRS for assistance to determine if you have a real tax issue.

 
  1. Identity theft continues to be a problem especially around tax time. File your tax return early, the IRS typically accepts the first return filed.  So if you file your return before the scammer, it will be much easier to resolve.  

 
  1. Return preparers who prepare bogus returns for clients to claim deductions and credits that they are not entitled to claim.
 

  1. Offshore tax evasion and the financial organizations that advice people they no longer need to pay taxes if they move their money offshore.  Contact a tax attorney if you have undisclosed assets offshore and need assistance to resolve this.

 
  1. Stating refund amounts before looking at documents, asking individuals to sign blank returns and fees based on a percentage of the refund are signs of a bad tax preparer.

 
  1. Fake charitable organizations with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors.
 

  1. Hiding income by filing false Form 1099s or other fake documents.  This is a criminal act and the IRS will attempt to put you in jail.  

 
  1. Using abusive tax structures to avoid paying taxes. When in doubt, clients should seek an independent opinion from a qualified tax attorney regarding complex products they are offered.

 
  1. Inventing income to claim tax credits. Clients are best served by filing the most-accurate return possible because they are legally responsible for what is on their return.

 
  1. Erroneously claiming the fuel tax credit. This credit is not available to most taxpayers. But yet each year a sizable group of clients erroneously claim the credit to inflate their refunds.

 
  1. Using frivolous tax arguments to avoid paying taxes.

If you need assistance concerning a tax matter, do not hesitate to contact a tax lawyer in Orange County.   Tax scams are immune to the efforts being taken by the US government.  The Orange County Tax Attorneys at Wilson Tax Law Group have experience in federal tax audits, appeals, and criminal prosecutions and IRS matters. You can reach the Wilson Tax Law Group at 714-463-4430.

Groping Chiropractor Sentenced for Bribing IRS Agent

 
The United States Attorney's Office in MA announced that a Chiropractor, Stephen Jacobs, has been sentenced to 9 months in prison for bribing an IRS agent.  Before this happened, however, he kissed a woman's feet while he was treating her and admitted to other inappropriate contact when he was giving a second woman a massage.   So he paid them $5,000 each because he was concerned that they would report him to the police or to the chiropractic board.  Then when the IRS audited him and quested him about the two payments to these women that he had deducted as a business expenses, he paid the IRS auditor $5,000 to issue him a favorable audit letter showing no additional tax for one year and a refund for another year.  The IRS auditor was wearing a wire when he paid him $5,000.  That was the end game for this guy.  Not the brightest bulb in the room.

Contact Joseph Wilson at 714-463-4430 or at Wilson Tax Law Group at www.wilsontaxlaw.com.
 
 
SEE PRESS RELEASE BELOW
 
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Massachusetts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Chiropractor Sentenced for Bribing IRS Auditor

BOSTON – A Lowell chiropractor was sentenced today to nine months in prison for bribing an IRS agent.
Stephen Jacobs, 56, of Lowell, was sentenced to nine months in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.  Jacobs must report to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons by Feb. 24, 2015.  In October 2014, Jacobs pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to bribery of a public official.
In August 2013, an IRS auditor met with Jacobs, a chiropractor, to examine numerous issues with his federal income tax forms for 2011.  During the initial interview, the auditor advised Jacobs that two $5,000 payments were not allowable deductions after Jacobs admitted that each was a payment to two different women after they accused him of touching them inappropriately during medical treatments.  Jacobs told the auditor that he paid the women because he was concerned that they would report him to the police or to the chiropractic board.  Jacobs admitted that he had begun kissing one woman’s feet while he was treating her.  He also admitted to other inappropriate contact when he was giving the second woman a massage.
Jacobs asked the IRS auditor if there was anything he could do to “just deal with this…”  When the agent said he could not “just deal with this,” Jacobs became agitated and combative, ultimately threatening the agent that he would “ruin [his] career.”
The following month, after several electronically monitored discussions regarding his non-deductible expenses, Jacobs offered to bribe the auditor in exchange for terminating the examination, saying, “. . . you want a bribe? You want me to pay you?...”  The auditor, acting under the direction of law enforcement, then accepted Jacobs’s offer of $5,000 to give Jacobs a favorable audit letter showing no additional tax for one year and a small refund for the next year.  Jacobs paid the auditor $5,000 in cash for the favorable treatment.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Robert O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Eugenia M. Carris of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit

Tax Savings - Expanded Energy Tax Credits

Individuals who make energy improvements to their existing residence including solar, wind, geothermal, fuel cells or battery storage may be...