If You’re Going to Argue About Taxes Your Argument Better Be Good

Lets face it a lot of taxpayers make mistakes on their tax returns. It’s also true that there are plenty of other taxpayers that willfully falsify their returns in order to save on their total tax bill. Some people even go as far as to simply skip out on filing a return all together. You should already know how that sits with the IRS.

Of course, the nation’s top tax agency doesn’t take kindly to people who don’t file a tax return when they are obligated by the law to do so. What’s more, they like it even less when one of those individuals or companies decides to argue their case but doesn’t have much of an argument. Taxpayers give all kinds of reason for not filing a return, but if you plan on putting up a fight with the IRS, then you had better have a really good reason; and forget about any argument deemed frivolous. The IRS hates those.

In fact, the tax agency even has a list of such arguments and if you happen to go down that road you can expect serious consequences. That’s because the IRS has the right to add a special frivolous position penalty to your bill under Section 6702 of the tax code. As with all situations associated with the IRS, your best bet is to always just tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. However, if you aren’t completely truthful to begin with, don’t make it worse with a frivolous argument.

Posted in

Investing with Style

Investing with Style How do you define your approach to investing? There may be many answers to that question. One answer goes to the style of investing that you choose: value or growth. Are you looking for value? The goal of a value investor is to seek out “bargains,” finding those companies whose stock may…

INTRODUCING THE “TOTAL RETURN” TRUST

Introducing the “Total Return” Trust

Introducing the “Total Return” Trust The fundamental purpose of most trusts is to create a plan of financial protection for more than one beneficiary, often beneficiaries in different generations. “All the trust income to my surviving spouse, with the balance to be divided among our children at her death” might be used in a marital…

Making Tax-wise Investments

Making Tax-wise Investments

Making Tax-wise Investments Tax considerations are not, and should never be, the be-all and end-all of investment decisions. The choice of assets in which to invest, and the way in which you apportion your portfolio among them, almost certainly will prove to be far more important to your ultimate results than the tax rate that…

Reducing Risk With a Diversified Portfolio; how diversification reduces risk

Reducing Risk With a Diversified Portfolio

Reducing Risk With a Diversified Portfolio Have you been worried about the stock market’s recent volatility? You’re not alone. The stock market in March was a roller-coaster ride that served as a reminder to investors that the market’s ups and downs can be a little dizzying. But a volatile market should not leave you feeling…