Martin Martelle
 

 

  NEW! Click Here for our Free Article: DISCHARGING TAXES IN BANKRUPTCY

A primer for Attorneys about Discharging Taxes in Bankruptcy. 
   This article is designed to give the basics of  Discharge of Taxes in Bankruptcy.
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ARTICLES

 

 

Attorneys Tax Group has posted these Articles about topics important to Bankruptcy and Tax Problem Resolution Attorneys.

Click on the underlined title to view the article

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UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT RULES IRA NOT PROPERTY OF BANKRUPTCY ESTATE

     The United States Supreme Court has ruled that an IRA account is
not property of the Bankruptcy Estate.  This ruling has clarified the law in various Circuits.  In most Circuits and often pursuant to applicable state law IRAs were found to be property of the Bankruptcy Estate.

    The opinion of the Court found that an IRA was not "freely accessible" due to the penalty for early withdrawal.  The Court held that an IRA was a Pension Plan for purposes of 11 USC 522(d)(10)(E).  The Court found that an IRA met the requirement that the right to receive payment was "on account of.....age.... This ruling will have significant impact for those who were previously in a Circuit which held IRAs to be property of the Bankruptcy Estate.

The ruling leaves intact the requirement that the IRA is exempted only to the extent that it is "reasonably necessary to support" the accountholder or his dependents.

     This ruling does not appear to affect the IRS lien against the account.  The lien will survive Bankruptcy Discharge.  However, the lien will expire when the Statute of Limitations runs, unless the IRS files suit against the taxpayer.

 

To review the full opinion of the Supreme Court:  CLICK HERE



DISCHARGING TAXES IN BANKRUPTCY


     
A primer for Attorneys about  Discharging Taxes in Bankruptcy after Bankruptcy Reform.  This article is designed to give the basics of Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and Chapter 11 Discharge of Taxes.

BANKRUPTCY JUDGE ORDERS IRS TO CONSIDER DEBTOR'S
 OFFER IN COMPROMISE

     IRS must consider Chapter 11 debtors Offer in Compromise, even though he is in Bankruptcy.  Read the decisions and  the implications this decision might create for Debtors in Chapter 13 and Chapter 11.  Click on the title to view the  a detailed analysis and the full Opinion.    

      UPDATE!!  A second Bankruptcy Court has now ruled that the IRS must consider a Chapter 13 Debtor's Offer in Compromise, while he is in Bankruptcy!

     These holdings have great potential for Debtors with both tax and debt problems, who would otherwise be unable to qualify for Chapter 13, because of too much priority or secured debt.  Click on title to read full article and review the Opinions.

LITIGATING TAX LIABILITY IN BANKRUPTCY COURT

  
  The Bankruptcy Court has the ability under 11 USC 505 to make a determination of a Debtors tax liability even if it has already been decided by the Internal Revenue Service.  Read our complete article about determining tax liability in Bankruptcy.

IRS CONCEDES IT HAS NO SECURITY IN ERISA PLANS

 
   The IRS's Chief Counsel office announced it will no longer argue the IRS may include in the value of its secured claim the debtor's interest in a pension plan that is excluded from property of the estate.

IRS LIENS IN CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY 

     In many of the Bankruptcy cases we file, the clients have had a tax lien filed against them.  After the Bankruptcy is completed, the Tax Liens are often not released.  They will remain until something triggers the IRS  to release the lien. 

     This is complicated when the Debtor has assets, particularly if the Lien is for more than the value of the assets.  In Chapter 7, the lien is not stripped down to the value of the collateral.  The lien remains, for its full amount on the debtor's assets until it is released.   (Dewsnup v. Timm 112 S.Ct. 773.)

     To review our full analysis of Tax Liens in Bankruptcy, please click on the title to this article.

OBTAINING AND USING IRS TRANSCRIPTS

     In our office, we order an IRS transcript for any client about to file Bankruptcy who has taxes owing.  We have found the transcripts to be invaluable in doing an analysis of whether the taxes are subject to discharge in Bankruptcy.  Click on the title to this article to read about transcripts.

DISCHARGE OF TAXES WITH UNFILED RETURNS

 Many times clients come into our office with a number of years of unfiled tax returns.  Our task is to determine whether they will be subject to discharge.  For Chapter 7 they are not able to be discharged, unless the client has filed their returns.  Be careful if the IRS has filed a return for them (called a Substitute for Return or SFR). 

     If the IRS has filed a SFR, the tax is not subject to discharge.   If the debtor has filed a tax return after the filing of an SFR, there is a split of authority as to whether the taxes are subject to discharge.

     Chapter 13 Provides a completely different set of rules.  Discharging taxes with unfiled returns is much easier in Chapter 13 than in Chapter 7.  The "Super Discharge" allows taxes with unfiled returns to be discharged if they meet certain criteria.  They must be three years from when the return became due, including extensions.  They must have been assessed over 240 days.

     For a more detailed analysis of Bankruptcy Discharge of taxes with unfiled Returns, click on the title to this article.

Attorneys as Debt Relief Agencies

  A Bankruptcy Judge has recently written an opinion that concludes that Attorneys or Law Firms are not "Debt Relief Agencies".  This Opinion by
Judge Davis of the Southern District of Georgia is a well reasoned analysis of the Legislative intent of the requirements concerning Debt Relief Agencies.
To review the opinion:

CLICK HERE

 

 

OUR PROGRAM

 
    Attorneys Tax Group has a program designed to assist Attorneys learn to represent clients with Tax Problems.  Please visit our main website

www.attorneystaxgroup.com



 

Contact Us:
The Tax Group LLC
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Attorneys Tax Group
82 E. State St. Suite E
Eagle, Idaho 83616
1 877 TAX CREW
1 877 829 2739
Fax :208 938 8500
Martelle Law Offices PA
208 938 8500
webmaster@attorneystaxgroup.com

 

 

 



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