Federal tax mistakes can lead to criminal charges in various circumstances. While federal prosecutors must prove a willful violation of the law to pursue criminal charges, they can use various forms of evidence to substantiate allegations of willfulness. This includes evidence of willful ignorance of the law. As a result, […]
Author: Lawrence Brown
In-state and out-of-state companies doing business in Texas need to prioritize state tax compliance. Companies’ compliance obligations can vary widely, and all forms of noncompliance can create significant liability exposure. The Texas tax attorneys at Brown PC assist companies nationwide in managing compliance and, when necessary, defending against Texas Comptroller […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is continuing to aggressively target businesses suspected of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) fraud in 2026. While the PPP and ERC were pandemic-era programs, widespread fraud has resulted in ongoing enforcement—including criminal enforcement in many cases. Exposing fraud under the pandemic-era […]
Out-of-state businesses can get into trouble with the Texas Comptroller’s Office in several ways. These include failing to collect Texas sales tax, failing to remit collected sales tax in a timely manner, and incorrectly calculating their Texas sales tax liability, among others. When facing scrutiny from the Texas Comptroller’s Office, […]
Texas sales tax audits pose substantial risks for businesses targeted by the Texas Comptroller’s Office. As a result, targeted businesses need a clear understanding of whether they are in compliance with Texas law—and, if they are not, they must work with an experienced Texas tax defense lawyer to seek a […]
On May 13, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a “limited-time settlement opportunity” for eligible taxpayers to resolve conservation easement and historic preservation easement disputes. The IRS is allowing eligible taxpayers to settle their disputes without making an upfront payment, while warning that declining its settlement terms will lead […]
Facing scrutiny from the Texas Comptroller’s Office presents substantial risks. Facing scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also presents substantial risks. Facing a tax audit can be dangerous, and when facing tax-related scrutiny at the state or federal level, businesses (and their owners and executives) must ensure they are […]
If your business is facing a Texas sales tax audit, there are several important decisions you need to make promptly. One of these decisions is whether (or when) to engage legal counsel. Due to the costs involved, many business owners will delay engaging legal counsel for as long as possible. […]
Nexus is a key issue for determining Texas sales tax liability. In fact, it is the key issue in many respects—particularly for businesses located in other states. While businesses with nexus are required to collect and remit sales tax, those without have no sales tax-related obligations. “We don’t have nexus […]
Under Texas law, businesses are only required to collect and remit sales tax if they have “nexus” with the state. Businesses that do not have nexus have no Texas state sales tax obligations. However, Texas’ nexus rules are broader than many people realize, and, unfortunately, a lot of misinformation about these rules […]