YOU MAY HAVE SEEN TODD SPODEK ON THE NETFLIX SHOW INVENTING ANNA
When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.
Client Testimonials
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THE BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR.
The BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR!!! Todd changed our lives! He’s not JUST a lawyer representing us for a case. Todd and his office have become Family. When we entered his office in August of 2022, we entered with such anxiety, uncertainty, and so much stress. Honestly we were very lost. My husband and I felt alone. How could a lawyer who didn’t know us, know our family, know our background represents us, When this could change our lives for the next 5-7years that my husband was facing in Federal jail. By the time our free consultation was over with Todd, we left his office at ease. All our questions were answered and we had a sense of relief.
The Consequences of Failing to File Your U.S. Tax Returns
Every U.S. citizen and legal resident is obligated by law to not only report their worldwide income, but also to remit taxes on any income regardless of the source or where it was earned. In actuality, even if no U.S. taxes are due in that tax year because of treaties or tax agreements with foreign jurisdictions, you still have a reporting obligation that you must obey. If you failed to put in your required tax return, you should get that done as soon as possible. Nevertheless, one should never blindly rush into a potentially costly tax scenario with the IRS. Enlist the services of an experienced CPA and tax attorney. The right lawyer can help you lower the amount you owe, keep penalties to a minimum, provide unfiled tax return assistance, prevent collateral issues from coming up and potentially lead to a more favorable outcome.
When is a Failure to File Penalty Possible?
Although this question is seemingly simple, it is deceptively so. For starters, for a failure to file penalty to be applicable, you must have an obligation to file U.S. taxes. Whether you are obligated to file is dependent upon your filing status, the federal income tax withheld, and your gross annual income. When it has been established that there was, indeed, a requirement to file U.S. taxes, you can then figure out if a failure to file penalty can apply.
For the most part, a failure-to-file penalty can be assessed when a tax return is not filed by its due date. While this circumstance is simple enough, what happens in a case where a taxpayer files for a time extension? If the extension is applied for a date prior to the return’s due date, a failure-to-file penalty would not apply. On the other hand, if request an extension but you fail to pay a minimum of 90 percent of your actual tax liability by the original due date, you could be subject to a failure-to-pay penalty. If 90 percent or more of the liability is remitted by the original due date and the outstanding balance is paid by the extended payment date, then a failure-to-pay penalty cannot be assessed. Similarly, if you are owed a tax refund by the IRS, no failure-to-file penalty can apply. Nevertheless, your return claiming a refund has to be filed within 3 years of its due date or you forfeit your refund.
An additional concern regarding a failure-to-file is that the statute of limitations does not start to clock for the assessment or collection of taxes until a return has been filed. What this means is that there is essentially no statute of limitations on tax claims if you have not filed.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
What Penalties can One Face for Unfiled Tax Returns?
Penalties for failure-to-file taxes re typically greater than penalties for failure to pay taxes. The penalty for filing taxes late is usually 5 percent of the outstanding tax bill for every month or part of a month in which the tax return is late. The penalty is not to be greater than 25 percent of the unpaid taxes. Therefore, should you fail to file on time and file 48 days, you can be penalized for each month or part of month that the monies were late. If your tax filing was due on April 15, 2014 and you failed to request an extension, this means you would have filed on June 2nd. You would be liable for penalties for 3 months since your tax filing was outstanding for all of the month of May and portions of the months of April and June. That said, if your taxes are filed more than 60 days after the original or extended due date, then the penalty is the lesser of $135 or 100 percent of your unpaid taxes.
How Can One Avoid Paying Failure-to-File or Failure-to-Pay Penalties?
A person would be liable for failure-to-file unless they have a reasonable cause for the omission. Nonetheless, willful neglect is not an excuse for your failure to pay your taxes. However the IRS’ interpretation of what it considers to be willful is surprising to the majority of people. According to the IRS, willful action is an act that is a voluntary intentional violation of a known legal duty. Therefore, whether conduct is willful depends upon a subjective mental state. Such a mental state can, and often is, demonstrated through circumstantial evidence including but not limited to conduct, financial transactions, and interactions with your bank. Put mildly, room for misinterpretation of your actions, inaction or statements exists. Where mistakes or failures are repeated, it could become increasingly difficult to explain them away despite the fact that they could have all arisen from the same misunderstanding. When your financial holdings become more numerous and complex, such as in the case of foreign assets, the IRS thinks that you should be reading through government documents to find out what you tax obligations are. That said, as you holdings increase in complexity and amounts, it can become increasingly difficult to avoid a finding of willfulness or even deliberate disregard.
Working with an experienced lawyer who can give you unfiled tax return help would behoove anyone in any of the above scenarios. We can assist you in explaining any oversights. Indeed, it could result in a more favorable outcome than trying to go toe to toe with the IRS alone.
