Attorneys that are Too Expensive

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

expensive

Recently, a big law firm attorney was suspended for falsely inflating her billable time in order to meet her law firm’s minimum billable hours.  Some law firms require that their attorneys bill clients a minimum amount, no matter what.  Our law office does not believe in or require minimum billable hours of our attorneys because we believe that leads to false invoices and our clients being charged for things that are not necessary.

If you would like to speak to an attorney that will be honest with your invoices, contact our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Bank of America Pays $6 Million for a Wrongful Eviction

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

bank of america 3

Bank of America was recently ordered to pay $6 million to a California couple who was harassed and illegally lost their home to Bank of America.

If you believe you lost your home to a wrongful foreclosure, contact our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Connecticut is Drowning in Debt

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

DROWNING

The state of Connecticut may be looking at huge spending cute to education and other spending areas unless they can offload some debt.  Currently, the state faces a $3.5 billion deficit over the next two years.

If you are drowning in debt like Connecticut, contact our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Homeless Cats

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

cats

Your local cat lady may actually not be as crazy as you think. In 2011, Jan Van Dusen beat the IRS in a case over whether she could claim a deduction for providing foster care for stray and feral cats. She was a volunteer for an approved charity called Fix Our Ferals and she spent significant amounts caring for the cats in her home.

Critical to her victory was that she performed the services in conjunction with the charity and she performed volunteer work for the charity.

The case was heralded as a victory for animal rescuers, but ultimately Van Dusen was a loser as the City of Oakland raided her home and found many of her 100 cats to be suffering from disease and parasite infestation. She was then charged and convicted for animal cruelty, so perhaps your first instinct about crazy cat ladies was correct after all.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime or having tax issues, give us a call at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at www.Hoorfarlaw.com.

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It’s to Help Schools

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

lottery

A California man tried to deduct lottery ticket purchases as donations to the California School system. The claim was that since the proceeds of lottery tickets are supposed to go to the schools, that the tickets could be deducted as a charitable contribution. The problem is that the IRS specifically states that the cost of raffle, bingo, or lottery tickets are not deductible. Just a friendly reminder, if you win the lottery the proceeds are taxable so be sure to find yourself a tax attorney if you win the powerball.

If you or some one you know is having some tax issues, give our office a call at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at www.Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Stop, Thief

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

pepper spray

In another case of a denied medical expense deduction, a woman tried to apply the old maxim “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” by claiming that her pepper spray was a medical expense. Her argument was that an attack would kill her due to her weakened heart. The issue with this one is not that she didn’t suffer from a medical condition, it is that there isn’t much of a connection between pepper spray and treatment of a heart condition. The pepper spray also can’t be considered to prevent disease because it didn’t actually prevent her weak heart condition. There just wasn’t enough of a connection between the pepper spray and her condition to justify the deduction.

If you or someone you know is needing help with taxes, give us a call at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at www.Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Dancing with the IRS

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

dancing

Celebrities often use Dancing with the Stars to rehab their image, but the IRS doesn’t allow dancing as an expense to rehab your wallet at tax time. The IRS has consistently rules that taxpayers may not deduct dancing lessons as a medical expense. People have tried this for various conditions such as varicose veins, arthritis, and nervous disorders. All of these have been tried by taxpayers and denied by the IRS.

If you need some help with your taxes, give us a call at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at www.Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Deductible Sex Changes

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

jenner

One exception to deducting medical expenses for changing one;s appearance is that taxpayers have been allowed a deduction for a sex change operation.

The taxpayer in the O’Donnabhain case was diagnosed with a gender-identity disorder because he felt he was a woman trapped in a male body. The taxpayer tried to deduct $22,000 in out of pocket medical expenses for various surgeries, including hormone therapy, breast augmentation, and sexual reassignment surgeries.

The Tax Court ruled that the taxpayer was able to deduct $14,500 as a qualified medical tax deduction because they felt the surgeries and hormone therapy promoted the proper function of the body or prevented or treated an illness or disease.

However, the Tax Court disallowed the cost of the breast augmentation surgery because they felt that it was strictly for improving the taxpayer’s appearance.

If you are seeking help with some tax issues, give us a call at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at www.Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Ink Me

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

tattoo

While beauty may be in the eye of the holder, the IRS says it’s not subjective whether expenses to improve or alter your looks are deductible. The rule still applies that you can’t deduct cosmetic surgery or similar items. This means that tattoos, body piercings, and most cosmetic surgeries are not deductible. However, some forms of cosmetic surgery are deductible, if for treatment of a disease or condition. An example would be skin grafts and surgeries for a burn victim.

Regret is not a medical condition, so the removal of that full back tattoo of your first crush is not deductible.

If you are dealing with some tax issues you can contact us by phone at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at www.Hoorfarlaw.com.

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Dressmaker Alfred Angelo Says Its Dresses are Not Coming

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Camron Hoorfar

alfred-angelo

Three weeks after filing for bankruptcy, the bridal company Alfred Angelo has told its customers that their dresses won’t be coming. Customers who believe they are owed money should file a proof of claim.

If you need representation in bankruptcy court, contact our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com.

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