Six 6 steps in the tax research process

Tax Research Assignment 1

Assignment 1: Tax Research

Worth 200 points

Imagine that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has selected your client for an audit. Your client and the

IRS disagree about the amount of tax revenue owed. You agree with your client’s position. You must provide a defense for the client that requires you to research the issues in order to render an educated opinion on a course of action for your client. Note: You may create and/or make all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

1. Prepare a defensible strategy for the client by using the six (6) steps in the tax research process.

a. Determine the Facts

b. Identify the Issues

c. Identify and analyze the tax law sources (i.e., code provisions, Treasury Regulations, administrative rulings, and court cases).

d. Evaluate nontax (e.g., business) implications

e. Develop Conclusions and Recommendations (Solve the problem)

f. Communicate the Findings and Recommendations

Propose how each of the steps provides support for the client’s position.

2. Create a fact-based argument that you plan to propose to the client as a defense of his / her position with the IRS.

3. Predict counter argument that the IRS could use to validate its position. Prepare a response to the predicted IRS counter argument. Provide a rationale for the prediction.

4. Create a letter on behalf of the client that supports the key arguments related to the client’s position. Base the letter on the fact-based research you performed in Question 2.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

· Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

· Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

· Conduct basic tax research and tax planning on individual federal taxation issues.

· Use technology and information resources to research issues in tax research and planning.

· Write clearly and concisely about tax research and planning using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills.