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Probably no area of law is more intimidating than our tax laws. We have special training and extensive experience in handling federal, state and local tax matters for individuals, families, corporations, "S" corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLC's) and other entities. We assist our clients in minimizing their personal income, estate, gift, inheritance and other taxes. At the local level, we have handled real estate tax and assessment appeals. At the state level, we have assisted many clients minimize their corporate net income tax, capital stock tax and realty transfer tax.

We represent clients before federal, state and local tax courts and administrative agencies, including the United States Tax Court, Federal District Court, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and county boards of assessment and appeal.

In the tax area, we have always attempted to achieve the best result possible for our clients while permitting them to pay the least amount of tax possible. Likewise, we have always attempted to take a pro-active approach to business and personal tax and estate tax planning.

Federal, Pennsylvania & Local Income Tax

• Tax Planning through charitable giving techniques, retirement planning, real estate partnerships, reallocation of itemized deductions, and many other tax planning techniques.
• Audits, Assessments, Appeals and Tax Litigation.
• Offers-in-compromise
• Prepare and file Federal, Pennsylvania and Local income tax returns.

Corporate and Entity Income Tax

• Business and Tax Planning through single or multiple corporate and other entities.
• Retirement fund planning.
• Audits, Assessments, Appeals and Tax Litigation.
• Offers-in-compromise
• Prepare and file Corporate, Partnership and other entity income tax returns.

Federal Estate, Gift & Generation-Skipping Tax

• Estate and Tax Planning
• Proper implementation of trusts and charitable planned giving.
• Audits, Assessments, Appeals and Tax Litigation
• Prepare and file IRS Forms 709, U.S. Gift Tax Returns.

Non-Profit Organizations and Tax-Exemption Applications

Charitable and income tax exemption; Sales and use tax exemption; real estate tax exemption; management and governance issues involving tax-exempt organizations and charities.

• Incorporation or establishment of trust or operating entity
• IRS Form 1023 or 1024, Application for Tax-Exempt Status
• Pennsylvania Sales & Use Tax Exemption Application
• Local real estate tax exemption with Board of Assessment Appeals
• Periodic corporate records and corporate governance issues

Real Estate Tax Exemption and Assessment Appeals

Real Estate Tax Exemption. For a variety of reasons, charitable, religious and other tax-exempt organizations will acquire real estate to carry out their charitable, religious or exempt activities. When a tax-exempt organization purchases real estate, it is not automatically exempted from the payment of local school, county & municipal real estate taxes. The tax-exempt organization must file an application and proves that it meets the legal requirements for real estate tax exemption. We have represented a large number of clients in the process of applying for and obtaining tax-exemption. We have also assisted a number of larger tax-exempt organizations negotiate "payments in lieu of taxes," where the tax-exempt status of the real estate would be more difficult to establish.

Real Estate Tax Assessment. Local school, county & municipal real estate taxes continue to increase, and their payment is becoming a larger burden on the property owners. A number of counties have failed to reassess their real estate assessments, and those counties that have done county-wide reassessments frequently create large disparities between the assessed value and the true market value. In the situations where there are disparities between the assessed value and the true market value, the property owner could experience a significant reduction in his/her property taxes by appealing the assessment. Prior to starting this process, it is wise to make the appropriate calculations to determine the likely tax assessment reduction and the corresponding tax reduction.

Realty Transfer Tax Assessment and Appeals

The Realty Transfer Tax is a two (2%) percent tax which is assessed against the transfer of real estate (the filing of a deed) by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the local school district and local municipality. Although not required by law, the two (2%) percent tax is typically share equally, one (1%) percent each, by the buyer and seller of real estate.