Thursday, August 19, 2010

Bankruptcy and Your Taxes

Bankruptcy filings are at an all time high according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U. S. Courts, the highest number since the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. Taxpayers that file bankruptcy need to know the rules regarding bankruptcy protection and how tax debts can come into play. Before a taxpayer attempts to include federal tax debts under their bankruptcy protection they must determine what tax liabilities might be dischargeable.

Find out which tax liabilities are dischargeable here:

Listen!

Taxpayers also must attempt to salvage their credit history by researching other options before including tax debts in bankruptcy filings. Tax administrative options can include a request for abatement of penalties, installment agreements, offers in compromise, and innocent spouse relief. If these options have been exhausted or are not viable for the taxpayer, including tax debts in bankruptcy may be the only solution.

Taxpayers can find assistance with bankruptcy and their tax situation by seeking the assistance of a good bankruptcy attorney and their accountant. Working in conjunction with the attorney and accountant, the taxpayer can determine which type of bankruptcy they need to file, what tax debts if any will qualify for discharge in bankruptcy, and how a bankruptcy filing will affect their tax situation in the future. Filing for bankruptcy is not the end of the world and for some taxpayers may be the only option to help them rebuild their lives.

The Tech Accountant

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