How IRS agents interview you during an audit
WHILE my audit tips usually focus on how you—the taxpayer—should conduct yourself, let’s look at how IRS agents are trained to conduct themselves when they interview you. Let’s change roles…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Store manager needs bankruptcy relief Separated debtor seeks Chapter 7 relief
CLIENT no. 1 is 50 years old and the manager of a big retail store. He’s been working there for 30 years. Spouse got into an accident and is now…
Who pays the cost of work uniforms?
(Why employees are suing Nike) OMRAN Hamid worked at a Nike store in San Clemente for 15 months. He filed a class action case against Nike, claiming, among other things,…
Thinking of bankruptcy but afraid it might be the wrong move?
DO you have debt problems that you don’t know how to handle? Are you considering filing for bankruptcy but are afraid that it will only make your situation worse? Have…
What to do when the IRS contacts you
What you need to do when you received a call or notice from the IRS? Below are some tips that you should be aware of: • Revenue Officer (RO) observes…
Is an allergy a disability requiring employer accommodation?
WHEN John Barrie first started working as an office technician for California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), he informed his supervisor that he had allergic rhinitis. This made him extremely allergic…
Should you attend your own IRS audit?
MUST you attend your own IRS audit? You don’t have to. This is always a tactical question that should be discussed at the early stage of an audit. I have…
Are you still liable for old debts if bill collectors have stopped calling?
DO you have old debts in the past that you haven’t paid and are wondering if the creditors can still come back now and collect from you after so many…
What to do if you received incorrect forms W-2 and 1099R
FORM W-2 and Form 1099-R should be available to you by January 31st and corrected versions should be available by end of February. What you need to do if any…
How to handle field audit at your place of business
FIELD audits are more challenging than office audits. They are conducted at your place of business. Audits are performed by Revenue Agents who have many years of experience. They may…
Pregnancy is a temporary disability requiring employer accommodation
Protecting women’s rights at work CRYSTAL Losorelli worked as a correctional officer at a men’s prison in Chino, California. She became pregnant and requested light duty assignment. Crystal had asked…
How much debt is too much?
HOW do you answer this question? Let’s check what the Bible has to say about debt. The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or borrower. It does…
Is bankruptcy your only realistic chance to get out of debt?
WHEN your financial circumstances are forcing you to declare bankruptcy, it is one way of dealing with debts that you can no longer manage on your own. Of course, the…
Should the IRS conduct a field audit at your home or office?
NEITHER one, actually. You see, IRS conducts field audits where the books and records of a business are maintained. This, of course, is your office, home, warehouse, factory, or store….
Employee misclassification results in serious injustice to workers
“Independent contractors” lose employment rights “The most important factor to consider whether a worker is an employee or an IC is the employer’s right to control the worker in performing the…
How much debt is too much?
HOW do you answer this question? Let’s check what the Bible has to say about debt. The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or borrower. It does…
Filing bankruptcy when financial stress becomes too much to handle
IF you’ve ever been in a situation in your life where you had to file bankruptcy as a last resort in order to get out of debt, you know exactly…
Reporting requirements for US citizens abroad
U.S. citizens are generally taxed on their worldwide income regardless of where the income is earned or received. A U.S. citizen who earns income in a foreign country may also…
Employees blowing the whistle on employer misconduct
Reporting kickbacks and irregularities are protected activities STEVEN Babyak worked as a regional sales manager for Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., a medical device manufacturer. Throughout his three years at the company, he…
Ex-businessman with commercial lease judgment of $100K seeks Chapter 7 relief Senior seeks Chapter 7 for discharge of $50K credit card debt
CLIENT is 50, divorced and used to own a business that had a commercial lease for retail space. He operated the business for 10 years. On the 11th year, sales…
Can bankruptcy end all your financial worries?
ARE you in debt and in a constant state of worrying about your financial situation? Perhaps like most people you live paycheck to paycheck and are barely surviving but you’ve…
10 general issues covered at IRS office audits
There are three basic types of IRS audits: correspondence, office, and field examinations. A. Correspondence audits are generally used for specific questions that can easily be verified. B. Office audits…
You have not filed your income tax returns for years?
YOU have not filed your income tax returns for the current year and previous years because: 1) you decided you are not required to file? 2) You are a victim…
Work done before or after scheduled shifts must be paid
“If the employee worked more than 12 hours in a work day or in excess of 8 hours on the seventh day in a work week, the employee is entitled…
How to handle IRS correspondence audit
THERE are three basic types of IRS audits: correspondence, office, and field examinations. Let’s discuss correspondence audits. 1. Do not be afraid to open mails from the IRS. If you…
Sooner or later, you will need to face your debt problems
A LOT of people in debt are in denial about their situation so they go about their lives pretending that everything is OK- until one day they find themselves in…
2017 guide for rental property owners and managers
THE bills described in this Rental Property Owner and Mangers Guide are rental housing related bills that were signed into law in 2016 and become effective January 1, 2017 unless…
Senior with bank account levy seeks Chapter 7 relief for $60K credit card debt
Businessman considers bankruptcy for $400K lawsuit I ASKED him if he owed any debts. He said he owed $60K of credit card debt but that they were all still current….
Rights of employees who work 7 days a week
CHRISTOPHER Mendoza and Meagan Gordon are former sales associates of Nordstrom, Inc., a retail chain with locations throughout California. Mendoza and Gordon worked more than six consecutive days in a…
15 dont’s during an IRS office audit
1. DON’T volunteer information. A typical agent is a low-key, friendly agent. They get your guard down by playing a nice guy role. Don’t be deceived by it. Remember that…