Tax
Straight Talk on Tax Strategies
One certainty about taxes is that the codes and statutes governing businesses are complex and ever changing. Andrews Kurth tax lawyers guide companies and individuals through the tangle of federal and state tax laws. In keeping with our Straight Talk approach, we decode tax talk and communicate with clients to understand the big picture tax implications and meet their business goals.
Whether counseling on a business or personal income tax issue or resolving regulatory and audit issues, our viewpoint is positive. Our advisors seek proactive approaches and identify the efficient methods for clients to pursue their transactions.
Tax Counsel for Business
Andrews Kurth tax lawyers apply sound corporate knowledge of finance structures to plan and execute asset-based financings, mergers, acquisitions, asset purchases and sales, project financings, corporate reorganizations and bankruptcies.
We provide tax advice and counsel for a wide range of public and private clients. Areas of extensive experience include:
- Energy Transactions—We advise on tax consequences in sales and purchases involving oil, gas and other natural resources.
- Publicly Traded Partnerships
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—We counsel on entity choices, acquisition planning and exit strategy considerations.
- Tax-Exempt Investors—Our experience includes income tax advice related to complex debt instruments and real estate investments.
Personal Tax Counsel
The tax code often is one of the most important influences on financial planning for an individual, family or emerging business. Andrews Kurth combines careful analysis and innovative techniques to meet client objectives and maximize financial benefits in estate and personal tax planning, executive compensation and employee benefits planning.
We counsel clients regarding estate planning, family businesses, gratuitous and intergenerational asset transfers and probate and estate administration matters.
Benefits Plans
Our executive compensation and employee benefits lawyers have extensive experience with most issues that arise concerning executive and employee benefits plans. We provide tax guidance related to qualified pension and profit sharing plans, health and most other types of welfare benefit plans. Our tax experience also includes stock option and other types of equity incentive plans and other non-qualified deferred compensation plans and arrangements. We work with large and small employers to ensure that their benefit plans and arrangements are properly documented and in full compliance with all applicable IRS regulatory guidance.
Regulatory and Audit Representation
Andrews Kurth lawyers are skilled advocates before the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and pursue the most difficult controversies in U.S. Tax Court and other federal courts.
For example, we handled a landmark tax case before the U.S. Supreme Court, and convinced the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reverse a district court ruling in favor of the IRS.
As part of our practice, we secure favorable determination or ruling letters and advisory opinions and prohibited transaction exemptions, and resolve reporting and other compliance issues. When employers or individuals face tax audits or administrative hearings, we have a consistent record of achievement managing disputes in negotiations with the DOL, IRS or state and local taxing authorities.
Tax laws change constantly, and interpreting them takes skill and insight. Andrews Kurth tax lawyers never forget that one of the real challenges of tax law is working with clients to find the right answers.
Publications
- IRS Releases Form 8942 for Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Projects (June 22, 2010)
- IRS Provides Guidance on Application Process for Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Project Investment Tax Credits or Cash Grants (June 2, 2010)
- Carried Interest Tax Provisions of the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 (May 28, 2010)
- Investment Tax Credit or Cash Grant in Lieu of Investment Tax Credit for Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Projects (April 20, 2010)
- Estate and Generation-Skipping Tax Repeal for 2010 (January 13, 2010)
