They say that the only thing certain in life is death and taxes. But paying taxes in America is anything but certain – especially for individuals with high earnings or net worths, business interests, or complex family or financial circumstances

The complexity, administrative burden and nature and degree of change in taxation at the federal, state and local level can be staggering:

• According to the Taxpayer Advocate, the U.S. Tax Code contains 9,834 sections – many containing detailed subsections – and a six-volume set of corresponding regulations. Those regulations fill more than 17,600 pages.

• Between 2000 through 2022, an average of 399 changes were made to the tax code each year—including 187 in 2022 alone.

• In addition to these laws and regulations, the IRS also releases thousands of pages of guidance, notices, announcements, private letter rulings, and technical advice memorandums every year – all of which have the force of law.

• Unsurprisingly, the IRS last year closed more than 700,000 formal and almost 1.6 million automated tax return audits, disproportionately targeting upper-income taxpayers – and a revenue-hungry government is promising and has budgeted for many more.

Moreover, even though the state of Florida does not have an individual state income tax, it does levy sales taxes as well as corporate income and other business taxes.

Coping with such complexity and uncertainty and keeping up with that volume of change – much less confidently charting a path to minimize tax liability and reduce the enormous compliance burden – is beyond the reach of most individual and business taxpayers. But it’s the ongoing work and highly developed expertise of the Tax Planning lawyers at Tripp Scott.

In particular, the complexity of the tax code, while creating a daunting challenge in compliance, also creates opportunities in that many of its provisions are designed to benefit individuals who pursue specific policy goals.

Moreover, we’ll stand by you in the event of an audit or other IRS or state department of revenue action, providing expert representation in preparing for an audit, negotiating with the tax authority and often avoiding formal proceedings in any issue that may arise.

Among the services we offer:

• Individual tax planning/strategies and compliance

• Business tax planning/strategies and compliance, including advice on form of organization (C orporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship, Subchapter S)

• Estate and gift tax planning

• Business transactions and succession planning and execution

• Non-profit formation and operations

• Tax audit, negotiations and litigation representation (federal or state)