Richard A. Carpenter

YOU DON'T NEED TO FEAR THE IRS OR FTB WITH ME ON YOUR SIDE. 

Since 1984, I have successfully assisted thousands of clients with resolving their IRS and California tax disputes and tax problems.  My San Diego law practice is limited to IRS and California civil tax and criminal tax disputes. If you are involved in an IRS or California tax dispute, I can help you regardless of where you live. You don't need to fear the IRS with me on your side.

LEADING SAN DIEGO TAX DISPUTE ATTORNEY

I have 28 years of tax law experience in San Diego and top credentials. I am Certified as a Tax Law Specialist by the State Bar of California. This is the highest designation available to a California tax attorney. Also, Martindale-Hubbell has awarded me an "AV" Preeminent rating. This is the highest and most prestigious rating available to any U.S. attorney for legal skills and ethics. For the past 19 years, I have also been a part-time tax law professor at the University of San Diego School of Law teaching both the Criminal Tax Fraud and the Tax Court Litigation classes. I am the author of 14 published tax law articles, including some of the leading articles in the U.S. in resolving civil and criminal tax disputes.

I have been recognized as one of the Top San Diego County Attorneys in 2007, 2009 and 2010 by the San Diego Daily Transcript legal newspaper and was also named a "Super Lawyer" in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

TYPES OF TAX PROBLEMS HANDLED

   A.  IRS TAX PROBLEMS

I help clients nationwide with the following IRS tax issues:

• IRS Tax Audit
• IRS Criminal Tax defense
• Tax Court
• IRS Offer In Compromise settlements
• Arrange IRS Installment Agreements/Wage Levy Releases
• IRS Appeals Division
• Trust Fund Penalty Defense
• Innocent Spouse Relief
• Collection Due Process ("CDP") Appeals
• Foreign Bank Account Disclosure
• W-2G gambling tax issues
• Defense of IRS tax preparer penalties
• Payroll Tax Audits/Collection Issues

 B.  CALIFORNIA TAX PROBLEMS

I also help clients nationwide with the following California tax issues:

• Arrange Franchise Tax Board ("FTB") Installment Agreement/Wage Levy Releases
• FTB Tax Audit
• FTB Offer In Compromise Settlements
• Any Franchise Tax Board ("FTB") Tax Dispute
• All California Employment Development Department ("EDD") Tax Issues
• EDD Payroll Tax Audit/Collection Issues
• EDD Offer In Compromise Settlements
• All CA SBE (State Board of Equalization) Sales Tax issues
• CA SBE (State Board of Equalization) Sales Tax Audit
• California Criminal Tax representation
• Defense of California tax preparer penalties

DEDICATED TO DEFENDING TAXPAYERS

Unlike some tax controversy defense attorneys, I did not start out my legal career as an IRS attorney using the Tax Code against honest taxpayers. I also did not start out my legal career as a federal prosecutor working to put good people in prison for some mistakes on their tax returns. Instead, I have devoted my entire 28 year legal career helping to defend hardworking, family-oriented taxpayers against the far and powerful reaches of the Internal Revenue Service and I am proud of that accomplishment. Being an effective tax controversy attorney is a mindset and I have had that tax defense mindset for my entire 28 year legal career.

EXPERIENCE IS CRITICAL

Tax law is very complex. Successfully solving tax law problems requires skill, plus extensive tax law knowledge and many years of experience. I have 28 years of tax law experience. There is no such thing as a routine call or letter to the IRS. I will tailor each communication to the IRS precisely to your specific tax defense plan. Each communication to the IRS means something and it is very important that nothing is overlooked or taken for granted. You need a "Super Lawyer" with 28 years of Tax Law experience working for you.