Tax resolution assistant training outline (free document)

Today’s message is one of the shortest that I’ll ever send you, and it involves adding a tremendous efficiency level to your tax resolution practice: Hiring and training an administrative assistant.

If you are a solo practitioner and have never had an assistant before, I would encourage you to consider hiring one. This is one of the tips that we’ll be covering in the Tax Practice Success Automation webinars, in the section on delegating certain tasks to other people to allow you to accomplish more.

When you hire an assistant, there is going to be a learning curve, because tax resolution admin tasks aren’t taught at paralegal schools or in retail tax preparation courses. Therefore, you need an organized approach for training this new person. Doing so is worth your time, because ultimately it will allow you to carry a much larger case load, which means making more money.

Here is an example tax resolution paralegal assistant training program outline that you can adapt within your practice. I would suggest going through this training with new personnel in short sessions, one or two hours each. If you have purchased the Tax Resolution Mastery Course, then you can have your assistant go through the applicable portions of that course as well. Since that material is intended for licensed professionals, encourage your assistant to write down a list of questions they have as they go through those audio and video presentations, and answer those questions for them to catch them up to speed.

Download Example Paralegal Training Program Outline

I’m putting a lot of time this week into finishing additional modules for some of our courses, as well as working on the latest round of re-writes for The Tax Resolution Sales Handbook.

I’m very excited about the next few months, and am thankful that I have the opportunity to share with you the journey of growing our tax practices. Happy Thanksgiving!… Continue reading

2013 Tax Numbers Announced, Plus 2013 Tax Planning Advice

A variety of numbers that are important for 2013 tax planning were recently released by the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration.

First, let’s talk retirement accounts. In 2013, maximum 401(k) contributions from your own paycheck will be capped at $17,500 for the year, an increase of $500 over 2012. For folks 50 and older, the “catch-up” limit remains the same, at $5,500. Personal IRA contributions will be limited to $5,500 for those under 50, and $6,500 for those age 50 and older. For SIMPLE accounts, the maximum contribution increases to $12,000, with a $2,500 catch-up limit for those 50 and over.

While elimination of the Social Security taxable wage limit is one of the proposals on the table in Washington, D.C., the inflation adjusted cap for 2013 is currently slated to be $113,700, up from $110,100 for 2012. This is the maximum salary level per year per person on which Social Security taxes are charged. Your wages above that amount are not subject to that particular tax. Expect this to be a hotly debated item during the next Congressional session.

Also on the Social Security front, retirees that have not yet reached full retirement age for their birthdate can earn up to $15,120 in 2013 from employment without losing any Social Security benefits.

If you provide cash gifts to others, you’re in luck in 2013: The annual gift tax exclusion has increased to $14,000 for 2013. Do note, however, that this is als a hotly contested item, and may be on the retroactive chopping block for 2013.

Lastly, Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits will increase to $3,250 for individuals and $6,450 for families next year.… Continue reading

Penalty Abatement Statements – A Humorous Example

Taxpayers have the right to request relief from penalties assessed by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS sets very specific criteria for the granting of penalty abatements. It can be very difficult to demonstrate that a taxpayer’s circumstances meet the criteria for penalty relief. Most of the time, we will request a written statement from the taxpayer explaining the circumstances that lead to the accrual of their tax liability, and then use that to create our own penalty abatement request that fits to one of the IRS criterion, cites case law, etc.

Most of the time, taxpayer’s have some reason for not paying their taxes that ties back to not having the money to do so. Lack of funds does not meet IRS reasonable cause criteria, but the circumstances behind the lack of funds sometimes can be reasonable cause.

Occasionally, the taxpayer’s explanation for failing to pay their taxes doesn’t leave us with a lot to work with. On rare occasions, we receive an explanation that is quite humorous.

This example is from a taxpayer that elected to continue NOT paying his taxes because it was financially convenient. With a struggling business, a divorce, and alimony and child support to pay, the taxpayer was experiencing financial hardship. He wrote:

I financed [business] shortfalls with credit card advances and soon I had unsupportable credit card debts and many other expenses…

As things started to turn around for the taxpayer, he continues:

In early 2001 I noticed that I somehow had enough money to pay my bills. Later, I discovered that I had inadvertently neglected to call in the 941 payment [for fourth quarter], even though the check had been generated by the accounting program. I was consternated but simply didn’t have the money to make good.

This is a common reason as to why people miss a Federal Tax Deposit, often several in a row. They then try to make it up when they can. However, in this case:

I expected a notice from the IRS daily, but nothing happened and when it was time for the next 941 payment I thought, “This is the kind of tax relief I need right now.” As an expedience, I didn’t pay the 941’s for the next several months and used the respite to get back on my feet financially.

Doing this enabled the taxpayer to get current with his vendors, credit cards, etc. He skipped his payroll tax … Continue reading