Anne-Marie Rábago is a tax attorney in San Diego. She will teach the course, “Introduction to Taxes for the Solo/Small Firm Attorney” at Solo Practice University®.

Born in Ohio and raised just outside Washington, DC in Lanham, Maryland. Ms. Rabago returned to Ohio to attend Ohio University; where she graduated Cum Laude and was a member of Golden Key International Honour Society and Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society. In addition, she was honored to be named an Ohio University Outstanding Senior Leader.

Prior to her legal career, she worked in nonprofit fundraising for the San Diego Repertory Theatre and as a human resources professional for Capital One Financial Services.

Almost ten years after completing her undergraduate studies, she enrolled at California Western School of Law. While attending California Western, she was invited to compete as a member of the trial team and the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition team. She was selected as an Honors Instructor for legal research and writing courses, received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship, and was named a Distinguished Advocate for her First Place finish in the First Year Appellate Competition.

After completing her Juris Doctor, she attended Northwestern University School of Law; where she received a Master of Laws in Taxation, and won First Place in the LL.M. Division of the American Bar Association’s Law Student Tax Challenge.

Upon graduation, she worked for the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse Cooper in the area of International Tax Services. Ms. Rabago advised multinational clients in a variety of industries on complicated domestic and international tax matters. Rábago Law is the realization of her aspirations – to partner with individual taxpayers and small business owners to understand their unique circumstances, simplify their obligations, ease their tax concerns, and help them build strong financial futures. Ms. Rabago is licensed to practice in the states of California and Texas.

Ms. Rabago stays active in the San Diego legal community as a volunteer attorney with the Legal Aid Society’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic and a member of the San Diego County Bar Association. She is the Vice President of Philanthropy for the Chi Omega Alumnae Group of San Diego. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the East Village Association Business Improvement District. In her spare time, she can generally be found enjoying the sights and sounds of San Diego’s East Village. where she is an avid craft beer enthusiast and enjoys traveling abroad with her husband.

Syllabus

Introduction to Taxes for the Solo/Small Firm Attorney

Course Objective

At the end of this course, students will have the resources and knowledge needed to operate a tax efficient and compliant law practice. The course will cover key tax considerations in starting, running, and growing a solo or small firm law practice.

Class 1: Choice of Entity
The session explores business structure options and develops an understanding of tax filing, compliance, and payments effected by choice of entity, including discussion of the following:

• Solo practitioners
• Small firm principals
• Employer identification number (EIN)
• Income tax
• Payroll tax
• Required tax filings
• Limiting liability – professional vs. general vs. personal
• State and state bar limitations and compliance

Class 2: Tax Deductions
Students will learn the difference between personal expenses, business expenses, and capital expenses and how to identify valid business deductions, including a discussion of the following:

• Vehicle expenses
• Travel expenses
• Meals and Entertainment
• Gift Expenses
• Library Expenses
• Business Use of Your Home

Class 3: Books, Records, Reporting
Students develop an understanding of how to comply with tax filing and reporting requirements, as well as recordkeeping and substantiation documentation, including a discussion of the following:

• Bank accounts
• Cash payments
• 1099 Reporting
• Documenting deductible business expenses
• Depreciation schedules
• Paying taxes
• Record retention

Class 4: Attorney Audits
Students will learn what to expect in an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit of their law practice, including a discussion of the following:

• Risk of audit
• IRS Notices
• Types of audits
• Information Document Request
• Attorney-client privilege
• Report of Income Tax Examination Changes
• Audit appeal rights

Class 5: Circular 230 and Professional Responsibility
The session covers Treasury Circular 230, its implications for tax practitioners and all attorneys, including a discussion of the following:

• What is Circular 230?
• Do I need a disclosure at the bottom of my emails?
• What is the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)?
• Am I under the jurisdiction of the IRS OPR?
• Overlap between Circular 230, the Internal Revenue Code, Rules of Professional Responsibility
• Common tax crimes

Class 6: Crossover Areas of Law
Students will learn about some of the most common tax issues present in various areas of law practice, including a discussion of the following:

• Business
• Bankruptcy
• Employment/Labor
• Estate Planning
• Family
• Immigration
• Personal injury
• Real Estate

Class 7: Growing your law practice
In this final session, students will discover tax considerations and implications of managing the growth of their law practice, including a discussion of the following:

• Worker classification
• Payroll and withholding
• Trust fund recovery penalties
• Choosing the right professionals
• Planning for retirement
• Insurance considerations