What Is Income Tax?Income Tax is a tax on the money people earn. Usually, the tax is a percentage of your earnings, and is due every year on April 15. Income taxes are paid both to the State and Federal governments. These taxes are used for funding the operations of the government, from national security to local education. How Much Income Tax Will I be Paying?The amount of tax you pay is generally a function of your income minus any deductions that the tax law allows. The amount of taxes you have to pay is set by legislators. The taxes are collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). What Happens if I Don't Pay all of My Taxes? What if I Only Pay Part of Them?
You are required to pay taxes by law. If you don't, the government can demand the money you owe and even put you in jail for tax evasion. If you underpay your taxes, you'll probably have to face an audit. Income Tax AuditsWhen the IRS thinks that you haven't paid your fair share of taxes, they may "audit" your tax return. They usually come to this conclusion when they think either you 1) haven't reported all your income, or 2) made deductions you shouldn't have. In an audit, you meet with an IRS officer who asks you about your tax return. You'll have to convince the officer that you fully reported all your income and that all the deductions you declared were appropriate. If you succeed, your tax return will be closed and you have nothing to worry about. If you don't succeed, then you may be subject to additional taxes and monetary penalties. Tax CourtIf after your audit, the IRS demands payment of less than $50,000 in taxes during a single year, you can go to tax court. In tax court you can dispute the amount of money you owe. The judgment of the tax court is final. What Is an Offer in Compromise?An offer in compromise is an agreement between an income taxpayer and the IRS to allow the taxpayer to pay less than the full amount of back taxes owed. You should speak to an attorney about whether an offer in compromise is an option for you. What Is an Installment Payment Agreement?
Many income taxpayers are unable to pay the full amount of tax they owe. In some instances an installment payment agreement can be reached between the taxpayer and the government to pay back taxes in installments. A lawyer with income tax experience can help negotiate an installment payment agreement. Do I Need an Attorney to Help Me with My Income Tax Problem?Tax law can be very difficult to understand. To make matters worse, tax law changes every year. An attorney can help you understand current tax law and how it affects your income tax problem. If you haven't paid income taxes for several years, a lawyer can assist you by negotiating with the IRS for an offer in compromise or installment payment agreement. If you need to go to tax court, an attorney can represent you and help minimize your income tax bill. Vea esta página en español: Impuesto sobre la Renta (de personas) o visita Abogados-Leyes.com para más información legal. |
