A tax notice can raise several different questions: Is the amount correct? Has a payment been credited? Does another state’s return affect the calculation? Is a response or appeal due?
Todd S. Unger represents Jersey City individuals and businesses in IRS and state tax disputes. The starting point is the actual notice and the records behind it, not an assumption that every tax problem calls for the same settlement program.
When New Jersey and Another State Are Involved
Living in Jersey City while earning income outside New Jersey can create additional filing and documentation questions. New Jersey residents may qualify for a credit when New Jersey and another qualifying jurisdiction tax the same income in the same year.
That credit is subject to limits. It is not necessarily equal to the withholding shown on a W-2, and it is not a refund of every dollar paid to another state. The allowable credit generally cannot exceed the New Jersey tax attributable to the same income.
A New Jersey notice reviewing the credit may require the New Jersey return, Schedule NJ-COJ, the return filed with the other jurisdiction, W-2s, and other supporting records.
New York-related adjustments deserve particular attention. For New Jersey’s credit calculation, the relevant New York tax is based on the final tax liability shown on the New York return—not simply the amount withheld from wages. If the New York liability changed after an amended return or audit, New Jersey may request documentation showing the revised figures.
Keep the federal and state matters separate. Resolving an IRS assessment does not automatically resolve a New Jersey or New York notice. Review each agency’s notice, tax period, records, and deadline independently.
New Jersey Credit for Taxes Paid to Other Jurisdictions
New Jersey Tax Notice Help
IRS Audits, Tax Debt and Collection Notices
Todd S. Unger assists individuals and businesses with IRS examinations, unfiled returns, tax liens, levies, payment arrangements, penalty disputes, and other federal tax controversies.
Respond to audit notices, proposed adjustments, examination requests, and disputed findings.
Address missing returns, substitute-for-return assessments, and unresolved federal tax balances.
Review lien filings, property issues, refinancing concerns, and available lien procedures.
Respond when the IRS threatens or takes collection action against wages, bank accounts, or receivables.
Evaluate payment arrangements when you cannot pay the tax balance immediately.
Review whether penalties may qualify for administrative relief, reasonable-cause relief, or another challenge.
When the amount itself is disputed, the focus is on the assessment and the procedure available to challenge it. When the amount is correct, but payment is difficult, the analysis shifts toward financial circumstances and available collection alternatives.
An audit notice, a proposed adjustment, a balance-due notice, and a final collection notice can create different rights and deadlines. They should not receive the same response.
Received a Notice With a Response Deadline?
Keep the complete notice and envelope, identify the response deadline, and gather the records related to the tax period involved. Some IRS notices require a separate written protest, hearing request, or other filing to preserve appeal rights, so don’t let a deadline pass while you assemble a perfect response.
Business Tax Matters
Business tax disputes may involve payroll taxes, income reporting, missing returns, penalties, or collection against business assets. The records needed depend on the entity, the tax type, and the periods identified in the notice.
Keep the business’s records separate from the owner’s personal records while identifying issues that may involve both. Payroll tax matters, for example, can raise separate questions about business liability and potential responsible-person exposure.
For an initial review, identify the business entity, the tax types and periods involved, whether required returns have been filed, any assigned IRS employee, and the next response or payment deadline.
Tax Representation for Jersey City Individuals and Businesses
Todd S. Unger’s practice focuses on federal tax controversy and disputes involving individuals and businesses. Representation can include audits, collection matters, unfiled returns, tax debt, liens, levies, penalties, and related procedural issues.
Discuss Your Jersey City Tax Matter
Have the full notice and a brief timeline ready when you contact the office. Mention whether the issue involves the IRS, New Jersey, New York, or more than one agency.
Many tax matters can be reviewed by phone, email, secure document exchange, or virtual meeting. Remote consultation can be especially useful when the case involves documents and notices that can be reviewed electronically.
We can confirm any in-person meeting location and appointment details when scheduling. For current office and service-area information, visit the office and service areas page.
Jersey City Tax Attorney FAQs
Talk With a Jersey City Tax Attorney
If you are dealing with an IRS notice, New Jersey tax issue, New York-related adjustment, audit, tax debt, lien, levy, penalty, or unfiled return, Todd S. Unger can review the matter and help determine the appropriate next step.