(847) 651-7881
From Dynamic Redmond, WA: A Full-Range IRS-Dispute Lawyer with National Stature and a Nationwide Practice, Addressing . . . [scroll down]
IRS Audits, Administrative Disputes, and Litigation
IRS Criminal Tax Matters
IRS Income and Excise Tax Disputes
IRS Payroll Tax Disputes
IRS Estate and Gift Tax Disputes
IRS Corporate Tax Disputes
IRS Penalty Disputes
Disputes over Assessed and Statutory Interest
Disputes over Alleged Tax Shelters and Lack of Economic Substance
Tax Disputes Involving Tax-Exempt Entities
Challenges to the Faulty Regulation under IRC s. 1061(c)(4)(A) Respecting the Taxation of Carried Interest Paid by Hedge Funds
Disputes over the Valuation of Tangible and Intangible Property, including Goodwill
Expert Tax Opinions for Purposes of ASC 740
Disputes over Alleged Prohibited Transactions
Disputes over Listed Transactions
Disputes over Charitable Contributions Made to Donor-Advised Funds
Disputes over Return-Preparer Penalties
Disputes over Proper Responses to IRS IDRs, Formal Document Requests, and Summonses (Issued During Audits)
Responses to IRS CP-Series Forms -- CP2000, CP162, etc. (Precursors to an Audit)
Requests for Innocent-Spouse Relief
Disputes/Controversies Involving the U.S. Constitution (Not Limited to Tax Issues)
Challenges to Federal Rules and Regulations that Overreach (Not Limited to Tax Issues)
Federal Tax-Return Filing Obligations of Visa and Green-Card Holders
Foreign Bank Account/FBAR Non-Filings and Disputes
Amendment of Tax Returns to Include Form 8938, Respecting Specified Foreign Financial Assets (FATCA)
Amendment of Tax Returns to Include a Form 5471, Respecting Certain Interests in Certain Foreign Corporations
Amendment of Tax Returns to Include a Form 3520, Respecting Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts and Transactions with Foreign Trusts
Disputes/Controversies with the U.S. Department of Justice
Disputes/Controversies with the U.S. Department of the Treasury
Disputes in Federal Courts, Including Appellate Courts
State and Local Tax Disputes and Litigation in IL, DC, and WI
Disputes with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Corporate Transparency Act (Proposed Regulations Issued by FinCEN on 12/8/21)
Cryptocurrency Reporting, Including on Amended Returns
Appeals of Social Security/Medicare Benefit Adjustments Under IRMAA.
Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR)/Anti-Money Laundering (AML).
A tax lawyer who discloses an impressive legal background, and his Washington location.
About
Here are the three primary qualities that a taxpayer, expecting or involved in a dispute with the IRS or U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) tax authorities, should seek out when hiring a tax-dispute lawyer:
A Long Record of First-Chair, Top-Tier Accomplishment — Preferably Forged in the Federal-Court “Crucible” and National in Scope.
Judgment Seasoned by Many Years Representing the IRS.
Integrity- and Expertise-Based Credibility with IRS and U.S. DOJ Tax Authorities, and with Federal Courts.
And if the tax dispute has possible criminal overtones, a fourth quality is key as well: Criminal-Tax Experience as a Federal Prosecutor.
* * *
Having represented the IRS during the first half of his tax career, and having represented a plethora of blue-chip corporate, non-profit, and individual taxpayers during the second half …
Having first-chaired a vast array of complex and mega-dollar civil federal tax cases from coast-to-coast for 40 years at the very highest reaches of the tax profession …
Having written and filed hundreds of legal briefs in federal courts, having tried over 20 cases to a jury verdict, and having argued 15 cases to federal courts of appeals …
Having been a federal prosecutor, with criminal tax and non-tax jury-trial experience …
Having been promoted twice into ascending, competitive-service supervisory positions (GM-15) with the Tax Division of U.S. DOJ in DC, and having been a Tax partner or shareholder in the Chicago offices of two of the nation’s largest and most prestigious private law firms …
Having practiced for 18 years each in the “tax vortices” of DC and Chicago, first-chairing cases worth $3 to $4 billion — and now, since 2019, located in Redmond/Bellevue, WA …
Having received many coveted, formal awards from his lawyer peers in both DC and Chicago, across five different decades (i.e., 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s) …
Having demonstrated both a nimble intellect and thought leadership by publishing extensively in premier national tax and non-tax publications, across four different decades (1980s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s) …
Holding a J.D. degree from a Big Ten, first-tier law school … and
Owning a singular “360-degree” federal tax-dispute resume that is national in stature …
Thomas D. Sykes may be your best choice to efficiently and effectively resolve your dispute with the IRS. He will personally handle your dispute, and not hand some or all of it off to a junior partner, an associate, or a paralegal. His no-frills, quick-study, result-focused, “boutique” law firm offers judgment-informed solutions from energetic Redmond, WA — and emphatically not from Florida, Texas, California, or Michigan. What can this responsive, nationally validated, senior member of the tax-dispute bar do for you?
Tom invites you to peruse this data-rich website (including its seven drop-down pages, its four click-on badges, and several testimonials) for uncommonly specific disclosures about Tom’s nationwide federal tax-dispute practice, and about his phenomenal, sui generis legal and tax career. Then maybe use this web page as a checklist for comparisons, and ask . . .
What Other Tax-Dispute Lawyer Offers This to a Taxpayer Needing Smart and Efficient Solutions?
Premier Coast-to-Coast Federal Tax Lawyer ™
Singular and Senior “360-Degree” Tax-Dispute Lawyer Serving Federal Taxpayers Nationwide from Redmond, WA.
Also Available to Taxpayers in Illinois, DC, and Wisconsin for State-Law Tax Disputes.
First Chaired About $4 Billion of Federal Tax Disputes in the Federal Court “Crucible”
Practice Areas
Extensively published in premier tax publications; co-author of a definitive BNA/Bloomberg tax treatise.
Co-Author, Chapter in BNA/Bloomberg’s Tax Practice Series, Addressing IRS Examinations
I am a retired Deloitte tax partner. During my career I had the pleasure of working directly with Tom Sykes on several mutual clients, some of whom I referred to Tom, given his deep knowledge and expertise. These were mostly large, high profile academic medical centers, universities and other not-for-profit entities. His advice and counsel is top notch. Truly an expert in the area of complex federal tax matters and litigation. Highly recommended.
Thomas R. Kromer
Your background is, without a doubt, phenomenal.
Legal Recruiter, Fortune 15 Corporation
A conflict between you and the IRS or SSA is not any fun. Finding a good partner to combat this is important and Tom Sykes is that individual. He knows the laws and he is a tireless, never-give-up individual combating for you every step of the way. Thank you, Tom, for being in my corner!