Tax Advocacy Group

As state and local governments grapple with the costs of services and budget constraints, their taxing authorities are aggressively interpreting and enforcing tax laws and regulations. Taxpayers are being challenged at all levels. The Tax Advocacy Group at Rome McGuigan, P.C. applies a proactive and innovative approach to its representation of clients in tax disputes with federal, state and local agencies.

The clients we represent in tax controversies include closely held businesses, commercial property owners, corporations, individual homeowners and utilities. These individuals and businesses rely on us to guide them through and rigorously represent them in tax audit and litigation proceedings. In addition to aggressively representating clients after a dispute arises, we also encourage and assist our clients in establishing organizational procedures and structuring transactions to minimize future tax disputes.

The lawyers in the Tax Advocacy Group analyze current and future tax liabilities and consequences relying, in part, on their substantial experience in general tax, corporation business tax, local property tax, litigation, and criminal and administrative procedures. We represent and advise clients in negotiations with and other situations involving local municipal assessors, the State Department of Revenue Services and the Internal Revenue Service. We also represent clients in audit proceedings, appeals to the local board of tax review and before federal, state and municipal agencies.

Typically, we assist our clients in solving problems and, when necessary, in pursuing litigation with respect to disputes involving the corporation business tax, sales and use taxes, personal income tax and real and personal property. We also represent our individual and corporate clients in matters involving allegations of criminal fraud. Our skills in this area are enhanced significantly by attorneys in our litigation department who have served previously as government prosecutors.

Regardless of whether litigation is required, our first priority is to achieve the most favorable results for our clients in their particular tax matter. Each matter is assigned a senior principal who, together with the client, assesses each matter to determine the most effective and expedient strategy. Our goal is to minimize short-term costs and consequences and prevent future liability through aggressive representation and carefully devised, long-term strategies.

State and Local Tax

• Corporation business tax
• Franchise tax
• Personal income tax
• Personal property appeals
• Real property appeals
• Sales and use tax audits

Federal Tax Litigation

• Internal Revenue Service audits:
  • analysis of factual and legal issues
  • presentations to IRS officials
  • administrative settlement agreements
  • refund claims
• Tax court trials
• Evidentiary hearings
• Summons and formal document requests

Criminal Tax Investigations

• Jeopardy assessment review hearings
• Summons enforcement contests
• Preparation of pretrial memoranda
• Trust and Estate Tax Litigation

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