Business Details
12 Years
experience
Trusted Tax Defense Services in Newport Beach
Founded by Daniel W. Layton, a former IRS trial attorney and federal prosecutor with over 15 years of dedicated tax law experience, Tax Attorney OC specializes in high-stakes tax defense and controversy resolution. Our firm combines insider knowledge of government procedures with extensive courtroom expertise to protect clients' rights in IRS, FTB, EDD, and sales tax matters. With a proven track record of over 30 reported tax court opinions and successful resolutions exceeding $250 million, we provide strategic representation in audits, criminal tax defense, innocent spouse relief, and complex litigation.Our client-centric approach emphasizes transparent communication, modern technology integration, and personalized attention to both individuals and businesses facing tax challenges. Recognized as Chair of the Orange County Bar Association's Tax Section and recipient of the OCBA Tax Section Award, we maintain active memberships in federal courts across California and Washington, D.C., while serving clients throughout Southern California from our Newport Beach and Tustin offices.
Services
IRS Audit Defense
Tax Litigation
Criminal Tax Defense
Innocent Spouse Relief
FBAR Compliance
Details
- Year established: 2014
Highlights and features
- We offer 15+ years of experience as former IRS attorneys and federal prosecutors
- Our team has secured over 30 reported tax court opinions
- We provide direct communication with experienced trial attorneys
- Specialized expertise in FBAR submission procedures and innocent spouse relief
- Recognized leaders in Orange County Bar Association's Tax Section
What people say
Exceptional tax attorney
Life-saving representation
Competent and trustworthy
Superior legal strategy
Excellent client communication
Services
IRS Audit Defense
Our former IRS attorneys leverage insider knowledge to represent clients in IRS audits, protests, and appeals. We specialize in corporate, partnership, and individual income tax audits, employment tax disputes, and penalty abatements. With extensive experience in administrative processes and courtroom litigation, we develop strategic defenses to protect clients' rights and financial interests during audits.
Criminal Tax Defense
Defending against criminal tax charges requires specialized expertise. Our team combines former federal prosecutor experience with IRS trial background to handle tax evasion, FBAR penalties, and return preparer fraud cases. We protect constitutional rights throughout investigations, grand jury proceedings, and trials while leveraging insider knowledge of government strategies and limitations.
Innocent Spouse Relief
We help divorced or widowed individuals obtain relief from joint tax liabilities through IRS and FTB innocent spouse programs. Our proven track record includes successful outcomes in Tax Court and Office of Appeals cases, even in complex situations involving substantial alimony or valuable marital assets, ensuring equitable treatment under tax laws.
FBAR Compliance
Our FBAR specialists guide clients through delinquent submission procedures, streamlined compliance, and voluntary disclosures. With former IRS experience in assessing willful penalties, we develop tailored strategies to resolve offshore account issues while minimizing liability, including preparing certification forms and navigating IRS scrutiny of non-willfulness claims.
Tax Litigation
We provide aggressive representation in tax litigation matters before U.S. Tax Court, District Courts, and state appeals boards. Our experience includes complex cases involving innocent spouse relief, business deductions, real estate income disputes, and multi-million dollar refunds, with a focus on achieving favorable outcomes through trials, motions, and stipulated decisions.
People
Daniel W. Layton
Tax Attorney
Former IRS trial attorney and federal prosecutor with 15+ years of tax law experience, 30+ reported court opinions, and Chair of OCBA Tax Section. Specializes in complex tax litigation and criminal defense.
Melissa S. Kew
Paralegal
Supports tax litigation and compliance matters with extensive experience in court procedures, document preparation, and client communication for complex tax cases.
Questions
What is the difference between tax audit defense and criminal tax defense?
Tax audit defense addresses civil compliance issues with tax agencies, while criminal tax defense handles potential criminal charges for tax violations. Our team has expertise in both areas.
How can innocent spouse relief help divorced individuals?
Innocent spouse relief protects divorced individuals from joint tax liabilities caused by their former spouse's actions through IRS and FTB programs that separate financial responsibility.
What are FBAR submission procedures?
FBAR procedures resolve unreported foreign accounts through streamlined compliance, voluntary disclosures, or delinquent submissions while minimizing potential penalties for non-willful violations.
What sets your tax litigation services apart?
Our former IRS attorney experience and 30+ reported court opinions provide unique insights into government strategies, enabling more effective trial and appellate representation.
Do you handle state tax controversies?
Yes, we represent clients before California FTB, EDD, and CDTFA in audits, appeals, and litigation involving state income, employment, and sales tax matters.
How do you approach penalty abatement requests?
We combine procedural expertise with persuasive advocacy to challenge improper penalties, leveraging both administrative appeals and courtroom litigation when necessary.
