[jk6672]

Anyone know of a legitimate tax attorney in Socal? I married last year and with our combined income I must have climbed into a different tax bracket because the Government wants to suck the shirt off my back this year!

[cougfan335]

I don't know the specifics of your situation there, but it seems a bit early to start paying someone $400 an hour to start fighting the IRS over some issue. You defintely want to start with a consultation with a CPA (usually ~$250 for an hour+) and show them what you have going and the situation and any positions you have taken on some grey area in the code in which you took a different position than the IRS. Being so early in the 2008 filing season and the fact that you only mentioned a marriage changing anything on your return I would suspect you are pretty boned and maybe the new lady hasn't been withholding enough.

[Cyrax91]

Ya im not sure how you got into such a bad situation by getting married? Are you doing your return yourself? You get an extra exemption and your standard deduction is increased by being married. But there are marriage penalties so you may just be getting screwed by IRS tax law.

[Cyrax91]

But I agree with the above. No need to go to an attorney yet.

[jk6672]

we both work for fed gov, a little over 100K ea, two houses, 5 kids, owe about 20k, and thats the best my tax guy said he could do. Don't laugh=> I was talking to my mother and she mentioned there are tax atterneys that can reduce the amount you owe. I never knew that.

[Cyrax91]

They can fight the IRS, but honestly you'll probably end up spending as much as you'll get back in benefit. You are in a higher tax bracket now that you're over $150k. You'll both have to adjust you're withholding for 2009.

[Cyrax91]

I would blame your accountant for not tax planning properly unless you didn't inform him of the changes in your life for 2008. Thats what they're there for. Sorry to hear you owe big man.

[jk6672]

I didn't tell him. I really didn't think we would be in this situation with two houses to write off and five kids. but I guess I was wrong.

[Cyrax91]

It does sound weird. You do have a mortgage on both houses right? And pay tax and interest? Im suprised as well. You may want to have another CPA out there look over your stuff. Honestly it may sound stupid, but even let a cheap company like H&R Block look at it. They review returns for like $29 ha. It may help.

[yomama69]

Originally Posted by dpavlakos91

Ya im not sure how you got into such a bad situation by getting married? Are you doing your return yourself? You get an extra exemption and your standard deduction is increased by being married. But there are marriage penalties so you may just be getting screwed by IRS tax law.

Please explain this.

[cougfan335]

That does seem like a big bill considering your deductions and assuming reasonable withholdings. If those 5 kids are your wifes and she was single last year though could explain low withholding coming from her end. A tax attorney (especially the ones you see on TV) is mostly good for businesses arguing the fine points of the tax code or for people that have really screwed up and got hammered with huge penalties and interest. The IRS will cut those down just to get something out of the deal and those TV tax attorneys are just overpaid negotiators.

[Cyrax91]

Originally Posted by yomama69

Please explain this.

The difference between what you pay in taxes as a married couple and what you would pay as two single persons is often referred to as the marriage tax penalty. Some people pay more filing as a married couple. There are different reasons this happens. For example, being pushed into a higher tax bracket.

[yomama69]

Originally Posted by dpavlakos91

The difference between what you pay in taxes as a married couple and what you would pay as two single persons is often referred to as the marriage tax penalty. Some people pay more filing as a married couple. There are different reasons this happens. For example, being pushed into a higher tax bracket.

Than file separately. I think the vast majority of people actually benefit by filing married rather than separate.

[MadDog]

Originally Posted by yomama69

Than file separately. I think the vast majority of people actually benefit by filing married rather than separate.

Sounds like they were both able to file as Head of Household last year. Their combined income, filing jointly, and not having enough tax withheld lead to this problem.

I don't believe that they can both file as Head of Household this year, so they will get no tax benefit by filing separately.

[Cyrax91]

Originally Posted by MadDog

Sounds like they were both able to file as Head of Household last year. Their combined income, filing jointly, and not having enough tax withheld lead to this problem.

I don't believe that they can both file as Head of Household this year, so they will get no tax benefit by filing separately.

You're exactly right. Being legally married they cant file seperately and get the benefit they were before. They can file separately, but there are guidlines they must follow and restrictions to being able to do so.