Taxpayers may be eligible for relief if they made an error in reliance upon a tax professional, according to a recent private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service.

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When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the health care law late last month, the decision upholding the individual health insurance mandate made headlines. But lost in the details and unknown to many was the 3.8 percent surcharge tax on ...

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Lawyers and their clients who chose to convert a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA last year face a deadline in the coming weeks. Those who wish to re-characterize their Roth IRA back into a traditional IRA have until Oct. ...

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The new tax law, which contains changes to estate, gift and income tax rules, should keep estate planning attorneys busy advising clients on retirement planning for at least the next two years.

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Lawyers and their clients have a new opportunity to convert their 401(k) plans into Roth 401(k)s, but should think twice before making the switch.

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Despite a looming deadline for special rules on converting retirement money to a Roth IRA, many clients - and even lawyers - have not taken advantage of the offer. Whether they are waiting until the last minute to decide or are gun-shy about writing a big check to Uncle Sam for the income tax on the conversion, lawyers say many taxpayers remain on the fence.

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After taking a year off in 2009, required minimum distributions are back. In 2008, Congress passed a bill that suspended the rule requiring retirees over the age of 70 and 1/2 to withdraw a certain amount from their individual retirement ...

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In addition to universal health care, the new reform law includes various provisions relevant to lawyers, including tax changes, an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act, new whistleblower provisions for hospital employees and other employment-related updates.

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As of Jan. 1, 2010, individuals with an adjusted gross income of more than $100,000 can convert an existing IRA or 401(k) account into a Roth IRA. Estate planning attorneys should contact their clients about this opportunity, and lawyers should consider whether to take advantage of the change for their own retirement plans.

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