Providing tax representation, personal income tax preparation, and consulting services nationwide as well as to U.S. citizens internationally.

UPDATE: February 22, 2025 . . . The IRS and FTB have extended the filing and payment due dates for Los Angeles County residents and businesses!
As a result of the horrific wildfires that have destroyed most of Pacific Palisades, Altadena and damaged homes in Malibu and other locations in Los Angeles County, the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) have granted extensions for filing and tax payments for Los Angeles County residents. The extension is to October 15, 2025. This covers estimated tax payments (the last one for 2024, due January 15th, and the first three for 2025) and the balance due on the 2024 tax return. Other deadlines for filing and payment were also extended, with some for shorter periods. More information is available on the IRS.GOV and the FTB.CA.GOV websites.

Taxpayers within the declared disaster area who have suffered fire damage to their real and personal property may be entitled to claim a casualty loss on their 2024 or 2025 returns. Computing the loss can be tricky, and if not done correctly, it can lead to an audit that can be both expensive and time-consuming. So, please be careful that the loss is reported accurately. I am available to assist if you, a family member, or a friend needs help.

IMPORTANT: The passwords for the client area and the tax organizers have been changed for my existing clients. Please e-mail or call me for the new password. Finally, please be sure to read the BLOG section weekly, as I will share important information relevant to preparing your 2024 tax returns!

BACKGROUND

My experience includes almost 35 years in the IRS in technical and managerial positions, achieving the position of Associate Chief in the Office of IRS Appeals, and over 22 years in private practice. During my IRS career, I worked and performed managerial reviews of thousands of cases involving IRS collections, examinations, and appeals. Now in private practice as a United States Treasury licensed Enrolled Agent (EA) and Federally Authorized Tax Practitioner (FATP), I offer my breadth of knowledge and experience to clients in matters of IRS, FTB, and other state tax agencies representation (audits, collections, and appeals), consultation, personal income tax preparation, and litigation support (expert witness).

My goal as an EA is to help you navigate the often-complex world of tax administration and enforcement to minimize financial consequences and stress.

This is your one-stop shop for IRS and FTB tax help!! The sooner you get help, generally the less complex and costly your resolution.

TAX PRACTICE AREAS (Click here for more detailed information)

Who are Enrolled Agents?
Enrolled Agents (EAs) are tax professionals who receive their exclusive right to practice before the IRS directly from the United States Government (U.S. Treasury Department), proving their competence in Federal taxation matters before the United States Treasury Department.  Most Enrolled Agents (EAs) focus on tax return preparation, with fewer providing tax resolution services.

Individual states license Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and attorneys. They may or may not specialize in tax audit, collection, or administrative appeal resolution.

Owe a Lot of Back Taxes and Want to Take an International Trip?
It’s imperative to promptly address and settle your tax obligations if you’re considering traveling outside the United States. The IRS is now communicating with the State Department, prompting them to take action such as denying the issuance of new passports or renewals or even revoking existing passports for taxpayers with outstanding tax liabilities exceeding $64,000 in tax, penalties, and interest (this amount is adjusted annually for inflation). Booking a trip abroad only to encounter the unpleasant surprise of being unable to leave the U.S. due to a revoked passport or inability to get a new one is a scenario best avoided at all costs!

IRS Scams
Be alert to fraudulent contacts by scammers pretending to be IRS employees! Thousands of taxpayers suffer financial loss and identity theft monthly when they provide personal and financial information or make payments to these fraudsters!! Most of these crooks use scare tactics like claiming a warrant will be issued for your arrest or that they will levy (attach) your bank and other financial accounts or salary if you do not pay immediately! They often demand payment using an atypical method, such as gift cards, virtual currency, or a Western Union money transfer.

The typical and legitimate method for the IRS to make initial contact with you is almost always by letter or notice of a pending tax audit or non-payment of a liability. If you have never received such a letter or notice, be very careful about unexpected calls allegedly from the IRS! Bottom line – if you are surprised by a call from someone alleging to be from the IRS, get their name, employee or badge number, the title of their position, their office address, and their contact phone number, and then tell them you will call them back after you have verified their information.  You can then call the IRS at (800) 829-1040 and confirm the call was legitimate.  If you cannot get to the IRS, call me, and I will verify the information through my channels.

Communicating with the IRS or State Tax Agency Employees
Taxpayers should exercise care in deciding whether or not to talk with IRS or state tax agency employees personally. In the worst-case scenario, inadvertently making the wrong statement could turn what should have been a civil resolution into potentially a criminal tax matter. IRS Agents are well-trained to look for “badges of fraud” in their audits. Always be truthful in your statements to IRS or state tax agency employees. An intentionally false statement or providing fabricated documents can land you in very hot water! I recommend retaining the services of an EA or other qualified and experienced tax resolution specialist to handle direct communication with an IRS or State tax agency employee.

Should you handle your tax controversy or audit alone?
Navigating the IRS and State tax controversy resolution process can be complicated. To effectively manage it alone, a taxpayer must invest substantial time delving into the nuances of the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, case law, rulings, procedures, and the revered Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) that dictates IRS protocols. In addition, it takes education and experience to master tax strategies for negotiating favorable resolutions. The financial ramifications of handling a tax controversy independently could far surpass the cost of enlisting the services of a tax resolution specialist who is an enrolled agent or CPA. Just be aware that not all accountants, attorneys, or enrolled agents specialize in tax resolution services. You may believe that prior technical or managerial experience from within the IRS may be important to you in your choice of representation. It is certainly not a requirement, as I have met some very competent professionals who never were employed by the IRS.

When to enlist professional help.
While I generally do not recommend any taxpayer take on the IRS or a State tax agency independently, I am sensitive to clients with financial challenges. I may be able to suggest ways to get IRS tax audit or collection help and guidance while minimizing your out-of-pocket costs. If you feel capable and comfortable with communicating directly with an IRS Revenue Officer, IRS Revenue Agent, IRS Tax Compliance Officer (TCO), IRS Appeals Officer, IRS Settlement Officer, or any other employee involved in your IRS, FTB, or state tax audit or collection controversy, retaining me to explain your options, suggest strategic guidance and review documents could make the difference between the success or failure of your tax resolution efforts! If you get in over your head, I am available and qualified to jump in and take over to resolve your tax controversy.

Time is of the essence when dealing with tax issues. From my 34+ years of inside-the-IRS experience, I assure you the earlier you seek and receive tax audit or collection tax help for resolving your IRS, FTB, or other state tax audit, tax collection, or other tax controversy, the faster you can resume a normal life. Tax audit and collection problems are like tooth decay. They will worsen if ignored, resulting in a “financial” root canal! You do NOT want the IRS, FTB, or other state tax agency doing a “root canal” on your finances!!

An important note about tax liabilities.
Tax liabilities are almost always secured debts.  An IRS federal lien arises after demand and non-payment of tax, including interest, additions to tax, and assessable penalties. The lien is affixed when the assessment is made and continues until satisfied or becomes unenforceable. The lien is not perfected against certain creditors until public notice is given, but the timing of the secured interest still arises at assessment. Issues surrounding the priority of liens and competing claims can be complicated, and advice/assistance from an attorney may be needed. The services I provide relate solely to secured tax debts, and all references on this website are related to the resolution of federal or state liabilities related to secured tax liabilities. If you have unsecured debts, such as credit cards or personal loans, help is available from numerous attorneys or specialized debt-resolution companies to address those liabilities. 

Do your homework before selecting a firm to represent you!
I highly recommend you research any individual or firm BEFORE you commit to having them represent you in your IRS tax or State tax audit, collection, or administrative appeal matter. You can delegate authority to have someone represent you, but ultimately, you are solely responsible for your IRS, FTB, or other state income or employment tax liability. The Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance are two sources worth checking out. You should be aware that many large firms have a high turnover of employees. Being shuffled among employees can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience for the clients and can frustrate the IRS or State employees.

Accessibility.
Many of my clients are local (Santa Clarita, Saugus, Newhall, Burbank, Glendale, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Altadena, Van Nuys, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, and other Los Angeles County cities and valleys). However, many other clients reside in other counties, states, and internationally (I currently have a client in Oman!). Today’s technology allows us to communicate effectively over the internet, including video conferencing.

Local clients have the option of meeting with me in my Santa Clarita office. For clients with mobility restrictions, I may be available to meet at their residences. Clients appreciate my accessibility and the fact that they ALWAYS have me assisting or representing them in their tax audit, collection, or appeals case—never a junior employee.

Updated: 2/22/2025

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