Landmark Tax Group - November 2019

Landmark Tax Group - November 2019

Landmark Ledger

(949) 260-4770 Professional | Experienced | Licensed Expert IRS & State Tax Relief

November 2019

Taxpayer Rights With the IRS What You Need to Know

When the IRS comes to collect, it can be an anxiety- inducing experience from start to finish, but it’s important to remember that you do have rights in any

will respect all rights of due process. This includes search and seizure protections as well as a collection due process hearing. You have the right to a fair and just tax system. All taxpayers have the right to a tax system that looks at the facts and situations that might affect a person’s ability to pay or provide information promptly. If a taxpayer feels they are being treated unfairly, they have the right to receive assistance from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service. You have the right to retain representation. No matter what your issues are, you always maintain the right to have professional tax representation for IRS matters. If you don’t have the finances available to retain a representative, you’re eligible for one through a low-income taxpayer clinic. When working with you and your tax matters, if we believe any of your rights have been violated, there are several steps we take. We will first speak with the immediate manager of the IRS agent handling the case, and, if necessary, we will talk to the manager’s manager. If there is an action or proposed action we don’t agree with, we will file an appeal to that action. If the situation escalates, we will also file a formal complaint of a violation of the taxpayer’s rights. This type of complaint is registered with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the watchdog of the IRS. When this happens, they open an investigation to see if a violation occurred. If you feel your taxpayer rights have been violated in any way or have concerns, reach out anytime. Feel free to give us a call at (949) 260-4770 or visit our website, LandmarkTaxGroup.com .

tax-related situation. You can exercise those rights and maintain boundaries at any point during a tax-related situation. These rights are listed out fully in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, but here are some of the most essential ones for you to remember so you can protect yourself and your family from the IRS. You have the right to be informed. Every taxpayer is entitled to an explanation of tax laws and IRS procedures regarding forms, publications, notices, and correspondence. You as a taxpayer also have the right to be notified of any changes to your account and receive clear explanations for those changes. The IRS must maintain records and provide detailed proof that they communicated their decisions with any issue in your tax account. If you provide a written request to the IRS and follow their protocols, you are granted the right to appeal an IRS decision. During an appeal, an IRS office of appeals will handle your case and will be independent of the IRS office that opened your case. The IRS office of appeals cannot discuss the case with the IRS office in question unless you or a representative are present. You have the right to complete privacy. You have the right to privacy regarding any tax matter. This means that any examination or enforcement actions that take place will not be more intrusive than necessary and You have the right to appeal an IRS decision in an independent forum.

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Your Vote Matters, and, Someday, Your Kid’s Will Too!

Teach a Lesson About Voting This Election Day!

The 2020 presidential election is heating up, but Election Day 2019 still requires citizens’ voices to decide the fate of their cities, counties, states, and judgeships. As the U.S. enjoys a relatively quiet election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, use the opportunity to teach your children about their civic duty and the power of voting. For the Young Kiddos There’s no reason why children can’t be involved in local elections. Let your kids tag along to the voting area, and ask for help from city workers and local representatives to answer your kids’ questions. You can even set up your own family election by holding a vote over what to have for dinner or where the next family vacation should be located. If you’re looking for bedtime books to feed their curiosity, try out fun reads like “O, Say Can You See? America’s Symbols, Landmarks, and Inspiring Words” by Sheila Keenan. Various websites, like KidsVotingUSA.org, also have ample resources for educators and families. For New Voters Turning 18 comes with the newfound responsibility of voting for our country’s leaders, and, for new voters, the system, ballots, and restrictions can be confusing. Start by walking your teen through the registration process, which can be done in person at your municipality’s office or online at USA.gov or Vote.org.

Next, talk with your teen about what’s at stake in the upcoming election. Be careful not to seed your language with opinions so your teen can develop their own view. Direct them to resources like Ballotpedia.org, where they can find information, practice

voting, and see local sample ballots. And, of course, when Election Day rolls around, celebrate their first vote!

Don’t Forget About You! Voting is a right and privilege that comes with U.S. citizenship. Don’t miss your opportunity to have your voice heard. Learn more about your local election by visiting Ballotpedia.org or contacting your municipality, and be sure to register to vote if you haven’t already. Remember, your kids learn by watching what you do, not just by listening to what you say. Inspire them to get involved and, when the time comes, exercise their right to vote!

HOW THE WILLIAMSES RECEIVED AN 82% TAX REDUCTION!

Our clients go through a lot when working with the IRS, and periodically, we like to showcase the progress they experience after using our services. Tom Williams and his wife went through an assortment of issues regarding the IRS that spans as far back as 2014.

$56,000, he didn’t have the approval to handle the situation, so they were sent back to their initial IRS agent. They were pulled in various directions with no clear path to a resolution. Through an online search, Tom’s wife found Landmark Tax Group, and we were happy to help. After reviewing their finances and representing them in front of the IRS, we were able to get an 82% reduction of their tax debt!

In 2014, Tom and his wife had a payment plan with the IRS for $1,999 a month and never skipped

The Williams are now only paying $622 a month for a limited time, a $67,000 savings! When asked about Tom’s experience, he had this to say:

a payment. In December of 2018, the IRS applied payments they had been making to the wrong tax year. When they eventually received a notice of default for “lack of payments,” they immediately contacted the IRS. By the time they got ahold of the IRS, the agent handling their case already had sent them to collections. When they reached collections, the collections agent found the payments. Since the amount was over

“Our experience was unbelievably phenomenal. My wife and I started this journey back in 2014, but when this came up, we were in the best hands that we could have ever imagined. Now I have peace of mind that I haven’t had in years.”

If you feel you’re in a similar situation, reach out to us anytime at LandmarkTaxGroup.com or call us at (949) 260-4770 .

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Holiday Pitfalls With The IRS

During the holidays, so many different activities will try to grab your attention: family dinners, Christmas shopping, decorating, and so many others. It’s hard to keep anything straight when you’re running around trying to make sure everything is perfect, but one task that’s imperative to keep track of is paying the right amount in taxes.

While issues with the IRS may crop up around the spring, it’s during winter where things manifest. Many taxpayers will be caught off guard when the IRS starts to send notices or ends up on your doorstep, but it can be easy to find the root cause. Check your pay stubs to see how much you’ve already paid into your taxes so far. Ask yourself, “Does this look similar to last year?” If it doesn’t, that’s your first red flag. If your income is similar to last year and you’re paying less in taxes, it may be cause for concern. To avoid this, find the difference in what you’re paying now versus what you paid last year. Increase the amount you’re withholding to reflect the difference in what you’ve paid this year over the previous year. This way, you can avoid any IRS headaches and be ready to pay the difference if you underestimated your taxes. Always be proactive with the IRS to help reduce the chance of them having to send you notices or knocking on your door. Even if you don’t see a notice from the IRS now, the best way to handle them is not to deal with them in the first place. If you have concerns regarding your current tax withholdings or another IRS issue, call us anytime at (949) 260-4770 so we can discuss your options.

S UDOKU

TAX QUOTES

“Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.” –Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court “To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.”

–Edmund Burke

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Inside This Issue Know Your Rights as a Taxpayer 1 Teaching Kids the Power of Voting The Williamses’ Family Journey With the IRS 2 Holiday Pitfalls Tax Quotes 3

Sudoku Answer Key

Stay in a Real Castle 4

Carcassonne Every year, tourists flock to Disney’s “Magic Kingdom” and marvel at Cinderella’s iconic castle. As fun as it is to see this Florida-based attraction, it would be even more magical to step back in time and visit a real medieval citadel. What if you could walk the same ramparts as Roman legionnaires and climb the same towers as French kings? If this idea gives you goosebumps, pack your bags for Carcassonne, France. A four-hour train ride from Paris, towering above the rolling vineyards of southern France, you’ll find one of the most intact, accessible castles in Europe. With sweeping, concentric walls and 53 elegant towers, the Cité de Carcassonne is a breathtaking sight. Once an impenetrable border fortress between the kingdoms of France and Aragon, the gates now stand open to anyone curious enough to walk its cobblestone streets. In fact, you can stay in the ancient city yourself. The five-star Hotel de la Cité Carcassonne occupies a former bishop’s palace and overlooks the inner ramparts of the fortress. With medieval tapestries and gorgeous woodwork in the hotel’s interior, you’ll feel like you’re living among French royalty. Of course, if you’d prefer lodging with the commoners, plenty of quaint bed-and-breakfasts exist just across the Aude river.

The Real Magic Kingdom

With rustic cafes, fresh crepes, and bustling crowds making their way down the twisting cobblestone streets, the surface-level experience of Carcassonne would be enticing to anyone wanting to explore the French countryside. But for those who want to delve into the history of this storied castle, grand narratives await you.

Just walking the walls of Carcassonne paints a picture of the past. While the outer fortifications were built by Louis IX and Phillip III, a section of the inner wall is far older. The red brick used in this part of the construction dates back to before the existence of France itself. Roman troops first fortified the hillside town around 100 BCE, giving every stone of this site a story to tell.

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing medieval life for yourself, your adventure awaits in Carcassonne.

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