Non-Filing Problems in New York City; IRS non-filing problems in N.Y.C.

Quality representation from an NYC tax attorney

Howard M. Koff and his tax law associates focus their practice on one of the most common and most serious tax problems: non-filing.  Tax non-filers come from all walks of life: attorneys, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and blue-collar workers. The largest segment of non-filers is self-employed, or has substantial self-employment income.

Non-filers of tax returns

Koff Tax Advocates recognizes that if you have not been filing tax returns, you have your own reasons for this circumstance. You might at first have a simple explanation for not filing your taxes:

• I could not pay my tax liability
• I thought I had no obligation to file
• I intentionally chose not to file
• I was distracted by daily activities and forgot to file

However, the tax professionals at Koff Tax Advocates understand that there are usually more personal and emotional issues weighing on the mind of a non-filer:

• Marital trouble
• Caring for a sick family member
• The death of a loved one
• A reversal of fortune in business and finances
• The loss of employment

Now, you may have been inspired to seek a way out, perhaps due to a recent life event:

• Publicity regarding IRS and New York State prosecutions for non-filing
• An inquiry from the IRS based on a W-2 or a 1099
• Your fiancée's request that you become current prior to your marriage
• Impending divorce proceedings which will put your finances out on the table
• An anticipated background check by a bank or employer

Whatever has brought you here to read about non-filing, you have come to the right place. Koff Tax Advocates understands your situation, and helps you plan an exit strategy to minimize the risk of prosecution and jail.  Then they work with you to construct a debt repayment plan.

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Unfiled Tax Return Issues

Non-filing of tax returns can result in both criminal charges and civil penalties. Now is the time to come forward and come clean. Waiting for the problem to go away will only make the potential penalties higher and increase the risk of prosecution and jail. Koff Tax Associates helps you take immediate control of this extremely stressful situation.

Criminal charges for non-filers

If the IRS determines that you were aware you should have filed your tax returns yet chose not to file, you may be charged with willful failure to file, a misdemeanor. For each year that you did not file a tax return, you can be subject to the following:

• Imprisoned for up to one year
• Fined up to $25,000

New York State also has criminal penalties for non-filers:

• Failure to file (misdemeanor)
  • Up to one year in jail
  • Maximum fine of $10,000
• Failure to file for three consecutive years (felony)
  • Up to four years in jail
  • Maximum fine of up to $25,000

Civil penalties for non-filers

The Internal Revenue Service imposes a failure to file penalty:

• Five percent per month, based on the amount of tax due
• Total penalty may not exceed 25 percent of the unpaid tax

Your penalty may be waived if you can demonstrate that your non-filing was due to a reasonable cause and not because of willful neglect. This is difficult to prove without the assistance of a skilled tax attorney. Koff Tax Advocates helps you make a case for the reasonable cause of your non-filing. The firm works to reduce or eliminate your non-filing penalties.

Howard M. Koff is an aggressive tax attorney with the experience and resources to direct revenue officers away from the pursuit of criminal proceedings. Mr. Koff keeps the focus on achieving tax compliance, which is the main interest of the IRS (and New York State) in non-filing cases.

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Assisting clients with non-filing tax needs in NYC, Albany and all of New York State

Take action now and confront your tax non-filing issues. For help filing your returns, avoiding criminal charges, and minimizing civil penalties, contact New York tax attorney Howard M. Koff at Koff Tax Advocates for a free initial consultation.