Nazarian College Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Volunteer Wins Case Against IRS – Partner Steven L. Jager Featured by CSUN

The Bookstein Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at California State University, Northridge (“CSUN”), provides free representation to low-income taxpayers facing tax disputes with the IRS. In an article by CSUN, Partner Steven L. Jager was featured for recently volunteering as a practitioner at a Tax Court calendar call in February and represented a petitioner, whom the Internal Revenue Service claimed legally owed  over $60,000 to the IRS.

The pro bono client was initially listed as a co-guarantor on his parents’ home mortgage years ago, but his parents experienced financial difficulty and were unable to pay their mortgage. Although the debt was forgiven, there were a number of other issues relating to the filing of the tax return but the primary issue was “income” that the IRS believed should be included on the tax return in the amount of$118,166. The Internal Revenue Service was there to prove to a Federal Judge that total taxes and penalties owed to the Federal government was in excess of $60,000; the Court was about to hear this case, when the Court permitted the Taxpayer, to confer with Steven literally moments before the case was called for Trial.

Steven strategically argued and proved to the judge that the petitioner was insolvent and his income was non-taxable. Steven successfully reduced the IRS payment to less than $6,000.

“Steve’s continued work with our Bookstein Low Income Tax Clinic is invaluable,” said Chandra Subramanian, dean of the Nazarian College. “He is a great example of the impact the clinic and our volunteers, both students and alumni, have on the community. There is a significant need for these services and Steve’s partnership is beyond helpful in allowing us to fulfill it.”

Read the full article here.