Taxation & Estate Planning

Once Bitten, Not Shy!

By Darrin Mish

Last August in Wood County, West Virginia, Sharon Roberts was given a stern warning not to run a puppy mill where the dogs were inadequately taken care of and later sold. But last Friday, when deputies from the Sheriff's office in Marietta, Ohio searched her home, they found dozens of puppies, including one that was dead. Besides that, they also discovered $239,000 in cash.

This raises suspicion of tax evasion as initial investigations by the Sheriff's office indicate that Roberts was selling purebred dogs but would only accept cash from her customers so that she did not have to pay taxes. IRS officers have been called in by the Sheriff to investigate.

At the same time, the dead puppy was taken to the vet for a post mortem while the rest of the puppies, according to the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley, are in good health.

Roberts, who does have an Ohio kennel license, contends that she never bred dogs. Instead, other people dropped dogs off at her home and gave them to her. She has avoided speaking to journalists and her attorney has declined to comment until he could speak with the attorney from the prosecutor's office.

Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for almost two decades. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.

Full post as published by IRS Problem Solver Blog on September 26, 2009 (boomark / email).