New York City IRS Defense Attorneys
Creative solutions to serious tax problems
Howard M. Koff, J.D., LL.M. (Tax)
Attorney at Law
Koff Tax Advocates understands that people from all walks of life may find themselves in tax trouble. Serious tax situations become worse if they are ignored, and few attorneys focus exclusively on major tax law issues. But Koff Tax Advocates does exactly that. Their tax law team goes to work when you are ready to face your IRS problems and find your way out.
Howard M. Koff, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Attorney at Law
Howard M. Koff formerly served as an appellate attorney with the Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice (Washington, D.C.). He also worked as Chief Tax Counsel for Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (now Cigna) and for Rohm and Haas Company.
Mr. Koff has maintained his tax law practice in Albany for over 28 years. He has long been recognized in Marquis Who's Who in American Law and the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent LawyersTM. He also has an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatingSM from Martindale-Hubbell®. Mr. Koff served for many years as the chairman of the Public Advisory Council for the New York State Ethics Commission.
Mr. Koff is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Brooklyn Law Review. He has an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown Law Center. He is a lecturer on tax topics, the author of the book IRS Problems? A Guide for the Non-Filer, and a frequent guest on television and radio news shows.
Tax experience
- President, Howard M. Koff, J.D., LL.M. (Tax) P.C.
- Partner, Rochester Law Firm of Dibble, Koff, Lane, Stern, Stern and Sundell
- Chief Tax Counsel, Rohm and Haas Company
- Chief Tax Counsel, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company
- Appellate Attorney, Tax Division, United States Department of Justice (Washington, D.C.)
- Attorney General's Honors Program
Professional memberships
- Former Chairman, Public Advisory Council, New York State Ethics Commission
- Former Subcommittee Chairman, Committee on Partnerships, Tax Section, American Bar Association
- Past President, Hartford County Chapter, Federal Bar Association
- Charter Member, Editorial Advisory Board, The Journal of Real Estate Taxation
Education
- Georgetown Law Center, LL.M. (Tax), 1968
- Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1965
- Editor-in-Chief of Law Review
- New York University, B.S. with highest honors, 1962
Awards
- Marquis Who's Who
- Who's Who in American Law
- Who's Who in America
- Who's Who in the World
- Who's Who in the East
- International Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement
- Martindale-Hubbell®
Thomas J. Crossen, Enrolled Agent
Prior to joining Koff Tax Advocates, Mr. Crossen worked with the Internal Revenue Service in various capacities for over 30 years:
- Section Chief CQMS (Collection Quality Measurement System), 1999–2005
- Supervised revenue officers in nine offices over six states
- Area of responsibility was eastern half of the country
- Presentations throughout the country on IRS policy, procedures and Internal Revenue Manual requirements
- Subject matter expert on field collections activities, working with national office personnel
- Field Collection Group Manager, 1992–1999
- Managed the Offer in Compromise and Employment Tax programs for the district
- CQMS Reviewer, 1985–1992
- Revenue Office, 1974–1985
Mr. Crossen provides invaluable knowledge of the IRS and its strategies for collection. Koff Tax Advocates benefits greatly from Mr. Crossen’s IRS experience.
William Continelli, Enrolled Agent
Bill Continelli started his tax career in 1975, when he was hired by H & R Block as a tax preparer. In 1979, he went to work for the Internal Revenue Service. For the next 30 years, Bill was a Taxpayer Service Representative, an Examination Aide, a Revenue Officer, a Quality Reviewer, A Special Procedures Advisor, a Bankruptcy Advisor, a Certified Instructor, and a Subject Matter Expert. Bill retired from the IRS in 2009, and is now an Enrolled Agent with the IRS. His specialties are:
- Bankruptcy Law as it pertains to taxes
- Dischargeability of taxes in Bankruptcy
- Determination of tax status in Bankruptcy (Secured, Priority, Unsecured General)
- Negotiating Compromising Plans in Bankruptcy
- The 45 day rule, and how it impacts Bankruptcy
- Lien Law under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6321 and 6323, and how it impacts Bankruptcy
- Discharge, Subordination and Withdrawal of the Notice of Federal Tax Lien in Bankruptcy
- The effect of the Offer-in-Compromise on Bankruptcy
- The Dischargeability of taxes as a negotiating tool in Bankruptcy
As an Internal Revenue Service employee, Bill worked with Howard for many years on numerous cases. Now, on "the other side of the fence', Bill will work with Howard for you, our client.
Lucy Aguilar, Chief Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Ms Aguilar brings over 13 years of top level paralegal experience—including over five years with New York City law firms—to her work at Koff Tax Advocates. She is in charge of case management, working closely with the firm's clients to assist them in moving forward with their cases and bringing them to closure. Ms Aguilar is efficient, conscientious, and empathetic to the clients of Koff Tax Advocates, most of whom are under heavy levels of stress.
Tax matter representation serving NYC, Albany and New York State
If you are reading this, you are ready to accept help with your overwhelming tax situation. Koff Tax Advocates is ready to help you. Contact the office to make an appointment for a free initial consultation.
