Empowering You With The Knowledge To Plan Ahead
At McDowell Law Group, we are committed to helping you make informed decisions about your future. This blog serves as a resource hub for all our practice areas, from estate planning and asset protection to long-term care and Medicaid planning. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to confidently plan for the future, safeguard your assets, and address your family’s unique legal needs.
COVID-Era IRS Penalty Abatement | McDowell Law Group
If you still owe IRS penalties or interest related to tax deadlines during the COVID-19 disaster period, you may have grounds to request abatement—a reduction or removal of unpaid charges. The reasoning in Kwong v. United States may support certain requests, although...
IRS Bank Levy or Wage Levy: What to Do | McDowell Law Group
If you owe back taxes and do not pay or make other arrangements, the IRS can levy your bank account, wages, or other property to collect the debt. An IRS bank levy can freeze funds in your account, while an IRS wage levy (often called wage garnishment) can reduce each...
The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty: When Your Business’s Payroll Taxes Become Your Personal Debt
What Is the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP)? When a business runs payroll, it withholds federal income tax and the employee’s share of Social Security and Medicare taxes from each paycheck. The employer holds those amounts in trust until it pays them to the...
What to Do If You’ve Been Named as a Trustee: 5 Things You Need to Know
Trust planning is popular in estate planning and is a crucial part of many estate plans. Even so, the concept of trusts and how they work can be a mystery to many and, to add to the mystery, many people choose friends or family members to serve as Trustee in the event...
Your Will Doesn’t Have the Final Word
Account ownership and beneficiary designations are just as important than your Will or your Trust. There . . . I said it. That’s because jointly held accounts or accounts with designated beneficiaries pay to those specific individuals – outside the process of...
COVID-Era IRS Penalties and Interest May Be Refundable
If You Paid or Were Assessed Penalties or Interest by the IRS During the COVID-19 Pandemic, You May Be Due a Refund A Federal disaster declaration was in effect for the COVID-19 pandemic from January 20, 2020, through May 11, 2023. A recent court decision (Kwong v....
2026: What’s Changing for Benefits and Estate Planning
As we move into 2026, several significant federal updates are reshaping the financial landscape for retirees, individuals with disabilities, and families engaged in long-term estate planning. From Social Security cost-of-living adjustments and Medicare premium changes...
What to Expect from Probate During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is usually a time filled with joy, family traditions, and meaningful connections. But when a loved one passes away near the end of the year, navigating the probate process can feel overwhelming. Between court closures, family travel schedules, and...
What Can You Expect From the IRS During the Government Shutdown?
Keep your expectations low. In their defense, the reduction in the IRS’s workforce during 2025 is limiting the IRS’s capabilities, which in turn is creating uncertainty and frustration in getting issues resolved. The Federal Government Shutdown Is Further...
Dealing with a Deceased Individual’s Income Tax Issues
If you’ve been named as the executor, personal representative, or administrator of a decedent’s estate, you have the responsibility of handling the decedent’s tax obligations. Failing to properly address a decedent’s federal and state income tax issues can result in...
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