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Bankruptcy mills are high volume law practices that advertise aggressively and provide poor quality legal services.  Typical attributes of a bankruptcy mill are as follows:
a)  rely heavily on poorly supervised non-attorney staff; b) lack adequate controls over workflow (correspondence to 3rd parties & clients) and court deadlines; c)  cut corners both ethically and substantively; d) minimal attorney involvement; e) routinely fail to file necessary documents, and frequently show up to hearings unprepared, and f) Have usually been admonished by the court on more than one occasion.
Unfortunately, with bankruptcy filings soaring, many unaware consumers have turned to “bankruptcy mills” for help with their financial difficulties.  Most “bankruptcy mills” advertise heavily on television and radio while flooding homeowners in foreclosure with direct mail.  When a consumer chooses a “bankruptcy mill” they assume that they will be working closely with a lawyer on their case.  However, with bankruptcy mills, this is often not the case.  The economics are such that with a mill they have a very high ratio of cases to attorneys.  I have seen “bankruptcy mills” that literally have hundreds of open cases for each attorney working at the firm.
While the consumer might initially meet with an “attorney intake coordinator” who will sign them up, the intake coordinator rarely spends more than a few minutes with the client.  Rather their focus is to get a down payment with a signed retainer agreement. Once the retainer agreement has been signed the client is handed off to a “prep team.” The “prep” team usually consists of poorly supervised staff consisting of paralegals, law clerks and secretaries.
The “prep team” will gather necessary documents (usually with little or no attorney review) and prepare the bankruptcy petition and schedules to be filed in a cookie cutter fashion often omitting important disclosures and details.  The client will then be asked to come in and sign the often deficient papers.  Frequently the final signing is not supervised by an attorney.  This means that last minute questions or issues brought up by the client often go unaddressed.
The case is then filed and assigned to an attorney.  Often the attorney assigned to the case has never met the client. Frequently, In a Chapter 7 case the client goes to their 341 meeting of creditors only to find that they and their assigned attorney are playing “blind man’s bluff.”  In other words, the “bankruptcy mill” attorney will wander through the crowded hearing room trying to figure out which of the attendees are his or her clients.  Similarly, the “bankruptcy mill” clients will be looking for the attorney that they have never met while wondering whether they have been abandoned.  When the case is called, often the trustee is asking questions for which the assigned “mill” attorney is completely unfamiliar.  Many of these cases are continued for no other reason than the client was poorly prepped for the hearing or that  their assigned attorney is unprepared to answer obvious questions that should have been apparent if there had been continuity from the start of the case.  In other cases, clients lose their property or wind up charged with nondisclosure and felony bankruptcy fraud because of a break-down of communication with their attorney.   For an example of serious problems that arise from inadequate bankruptcy representation see my blog article “I Wish I had a Time Machine.”
As problems frequently arise with “bankruptcy mill” attorneys in Chapter 7, similar problems also arise in Chapter 13.  In a Chapter 13 case the problems and objections also often arise because of the lack of continuity in the way the case was prepared.  Inherently, without adequate communication between attorney and client the “bankruptcy mill” staff will have made many assumptions (often cookie cutter) rather than annoying a hopelessly over-burdened “mill” boss.  These assumptions along with an improper application of the law will often prompt a Chapter 13 trustee’s objection to confirmation of the client’s bankruptcy plan.  In some cases these problems can be fixed causing only inexcusable anxiety for the client and in other cases they cause the case to be dismissed with serious consequences for the client.
In conclusion it is important that you hire a firm where you can reasonably expect that you can get to know your attorney.  Your attorney should be reasonably available to answer your questions, review your documents and the preparation of your case, and to represent you at all trustee and court hearings. In many cases a consumer in need of personal bankruptcy case will get better representation with a well experienced attorney with a strong reputation and a manageable volume of cases.
 
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A new Chapter 13 controversy is brewing over whether a debtor can take an additional $200 “Old Car” operating allowance on the means test for paid-off vehicles that are more than six (6) model years old or that have more than 75,000 miles.  While the United States Trustee has generally conceded the issue, a number of Chapter 13 trustees have not.  In the Southern District of California where I practice, one of our Chapter 13 trustees has joined the new trend in trying to challenge the extra “Old Car” operating allowance.
Recently this issue has increased in significance since the Supreme Court had decided Ransom v. FIA Card Services.  In Ransom the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) held that a debtor may not take an ownership allowance on a paid-off vehicle.  Ransom v. FIA Card Services, 562 U. S. ____ (2011).    So if you are not able to take the “Old Car” allowance it’s a double whammy.  You cannot set aside an expense for replacement (“ownership allowance”) and you probably have a vehicle that is out of warranty and more costly in repairs and maintenance.
Prior to the Ransom decision there was a split of authority between the federal circuit courts as to whether a debtor could take an ownership allowance (currently $496) on a vehicle that had already been paid-off prior to their filing for bankruptcy.   The Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits said that you could take the allowance and the majority of the other circuits did not so permit.
In an effort to be fair to debtors with older model paid cars the Executive Office of the United States Trustee  (“EOUST”) has had a policy in place to allow  an additional “old car” operating allowance of $200.  This policy was not derived from the direct language of the bankruptcy law but in reference to Internal Revenue Collection Standards from which the “Means Test” expense standards were drawn.  In furtherance of the Internal Revenue Collection Standards, and to help guide field collection agents, the Internal Revenue Agency distributes an Internal Revenue Manual (“IRM”) to its field offices.  The IRM is not a legally binding document but is generally followed by the IRS and carries some persuasive authority with the courts. Similarly, the EOUST has a “Statement of the U.S. Trustee’s Position on Legal Issues Arising Under the Chapter 13 Disposable Income Test,” that is their guiding policy guidance to the Regional United States Trustees but is not legally binding
The IRM states as follows:
I.R.M. 5.8.5.20.3  (10-22-2010)
Transportation Expenses

1. Transportation expenses are considered necessary when they are used by taxpayers and their families to provide for their health and welfare and/or the production of income. Employees investigating OICs are expected to exercise appropriate judgment in determining whether claimed transportation expenses meet these standards. Expenses that appear excessive should be questioned and, in appropriate situations, disallowed.
2. The transportation standards consist of nationwide figures for loan or lease payments referred to as ownership costs and additional amounts for operating costs broken down by Census Region and Metropolitan Statistical Area. Operating costs include maintenance, repairs, insurance, fuel, registrations, licenses, inspections, parking and tolls.
3. Ownership Expenses – Expenses are allowed for purchase or lease of a vehicle. Taxpayers will be allowed the local standard or the amount actually paid, whichever is less, unless the taxpayer provides documentation to verify and substantiate that the higher expenses are necessary. Generally, auto loan or lease payments will not continue as allowed expenses after the terms of the loan/lease have been satisfied. However, depending on the age or condition of the vehicle, the complete disallowance of the ownership expense may result in a transportation expense allowance that does not adequately meet the necessary expenses of the taxpayer. See paragraph (5) below for the definition and allowances of an older vehicle.
4. Operating Expenses – Allow the full operating costs portion of the local transportation standard, or the amount actually claimed by the taxpayer, whichever is less, unless the taxpayer provides documentation to verify and substantiate that the higher expenses are necessary. Substantiation for this allowance is not required.
5. In situations where the taxpayer has a vehicle that is currently over six years old or has reported mileage of 75,000 miles or more, an additional monthly operating expense of $200 will generally be allowed per vehicle.

Example:
(1) The taxpayer who has a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier with 50,000 miles, will be allowed the standard of $231 per month plus $200 per month operating expense (because of the age of the vehicle), for a total operating expense allowance of $431 per month.
Example:
(2) The taxpayer has a 1995 Ford Taurus, with 90,000 reported miles. The vehicle was bought used, and the auto loan will be fully paid in 30 months, at $300 per month. In this situation, the taxpayer will be allowed the ownership expense until the loan is fully paid; i.e., $300 plus the allowable operating expense of $231 per month, for a total transportation allowance of $531 per month. After the auto loan is “retired” in 30 months, the ownership expense is not applicable; however, at that point, the taxpayer will be allowed a $200 operating expense allowance, in addition to the standard $231, for a total operating expense allowance of $431 per month.

6. If a taxpayer claims higher amounts of operating costs because he commutes long distances to reach his place of employment, he may be allowed greater than the standard. The additional operating expense would generally meet the production of income test and therefore be allowed if the taxpayer provides substantiation.
7. If the amount claimed is more than the total allowed by any of the transportation standards, the taxpayer must provide documentation to verify and substantiate that those expenses are necessary. All deviations from the transportation standards must be verified, reasonable and documented in the case history.

 
In opposition to the IRM and the Statement of the U.S. Trustee’s Position on Legal Issues Arising Under the Chapter 13 Disposable Income Test guidance some Chapter 13 trustees’ are still arguing against the “Old Car” allowance.  The Chapter 13 trustees in large part are relying on three post Ransom cases.
In the first of these cases, In re Hargis,  the court denied the claim on the basis that this additional allowance is not in the standards table incorporated by 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2).  The court noted that an additional $200 vehicle operating expense deduction is neither in the Local Standards nor in the Collection Financial Standards.  The court therefore  concluded that “as a matter of statutory interpretation… the $200 additional operating expense is not an expense specified under the …Local Standards with the meaning of  § 707(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I).   In re Hargis, ___ B.R._____, 2011 WL 165123 (Bankr. D. Utah 2011).
In a similar case, Van Dyke, the court disallowed the additional operating expense deduction in part for the reason that the amount referred to in the guideline is not an applicable monthly expense amount specified under the Local Standards as required by the statute.  For that reason the court held that the allowance of this additional amount set forth in the guidelines would be inconsistent with the statute.  Making reference to the Supreme Court’s observation in Ransom about the role of the guidelines, the court concluded that “allowance of an additional amount as set forth in the IRS guidelines is not a matter of interpretation of the Local Standards for transportation, but one of its revision.”  Van Dyke, 2011 WL1833186.
In the final case,  In re Schultz, the court reasons that even if it were to utilize the guidance contained in the IRM, it would not necessarily produce the result that the Debtors would urge.  The court noted that the additional expense is generally, but not universally allowed.  Accordingly, it is discretionary.  Additionally the IRS applies Local Standards as caps on expenditures asserted by taxpayers, not as allowances.  Accordingly, the Debtors would only be entitled to the amount specified in the standard or their actual expenses, whichever is less.  The court went on to conclude since the amount was less on Schedule J for operating expenses than on Form B22C that the Debtors were only eligible for the lesser amount on Schedule J.  In re Schultz Case No. 11-40490-JWV-13, (W.D. of Missouri, June 2011).
In support of the IRM and the Statement of the U.S. Trustee’s Position on Legal Issues Arising Under the Chapter 13 Disposable Income Test guidance some debtors counsel have successfully argued in favor of the “Old Car” allowance in the following cases.
In the case of 10-61317_In_Re_Baker, the court supports its decision to allow the “old car” allowance based on the Justice Kagan’s response to Justice Scalia’s dissent in Ransom.  Justice Kagan for writing for the majority states, “Because the dissent appears to misunderstand our use of the Collection Financial Standards, and because it may be important for future cases to be clear on this point [emphasis and underlining added], we emphasize again that the statute does not “incorporate” or otherwise “import” the IRS guidance. Post, at 730, 732 (opinion of Scalia, J.). The dissent questions what possible basis except incorporation could justify our consulting the IRS’s view, post, at 732, n., but we think that basis obvious: The IRS creates the National and Local Standards referenced in the statute, revises them as it deems necessary, and uses them every day.  The agency might, therefore, have something insightful and persuasive (albeit not controlling) to say about them.”  In re Baker, Case No. 10-61317-13 (D. Montana, February 9, 2011).
Other cases that have found the IRM as persuasive in finding for special circumstances and allowance of the expense are as follows:  In re Slusher, 359 B.R. 290, 310 (Bankr. D. Nev. 2007), In re O’Conner, No. 08-60641-13, 2008 WL 4516374, at *13 (Bankr. D. Mont. September 30, 2008), In re Carlin, 348 B.R. 795, 798 (Bankr. D. Or., 2006), In re Wilson, 383 B.R. 729, 734 (8th Cir. Bap 2008).
In conclusion, the extra $200 “Old Car” allowance should not be considered a given in a Chapter 13 case. In reviewing the appropriateness of the expense courts are looking to see whether or not the extra expense is a special circumstance.  While the IRM may be have some persuasive value, debtor’s counsel should also be prepared to substantiate their estimation of why the allowance accurately reflects the anticipated additional operating expenses for an older high mileage car that in all likelihood is out of warranty.  Counsel should also know that where there is a discrepancy between the B22 allowance and the actual Schedule J expense many courts are disinclined to allow the extra expense.  If the expense is claimed on B22C,  the additional operating expense as expected should also be properly reflected on Schedule J.
For Bankruptcy Assistance in San Diego please contact Raymond Schimmel
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The evidence is coming in, and it makes absolutely perfect sense: The federal and state governments are ramping up tax examinations and collections to bring in more money.

Just this morning in our tax and bankruptcy law firm: Five new cases, not including the other tax cases on my desk. I sensed this was coming. It's a no-brainer for a policy-maker: Why raise taxes and antagonize the citizenry, when you can just enforce more aggressively what's already on the books?

The difference between what is collected on time and what is legally owed to the government is known as the "tax gap." IRS has examined the problem and published its a study.

IRS estimates that, for the 2001 year studied, the federal government was losing about 15 to 16.6 percent of the dollars owed to it. (Since most states mimic the federal tax scheme, the state loss in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia would be comparable.)

As a dollar figure, it amounts to between $312 billion and $352 billion. Collecting that is not chump change and would have a significant impact on public financing. Hence the collection initiative.

According to the study, there are three components making up the "tax gap":
1) Failure to file tax returns.
2) Underreporting of actual income on tax returns.
3) Underpayment of the tax stated on the tax return.

Underreporting occurs when the taxpayer files a return but omits reporting some income and/or overstates or takes deductions or credits to which they are not entitled, whether purposely or out of ignorance.

Underpayment occurs when the tax return is filed reporting the correct tax amount, but the taxpayer does not, or cannot, make full payment when due.

Many of the tax problems we see in this office can be traced to incompetent or downright criminal tax preparers. However, when the taxpayer is caught by the IRS or state tax agents the tax preparer will be of interest to them, but the tax preparer's conduct generally is not a defense for the taxpayer to the tax liability.

My advice: Avoid a tax preparer without demonstrated licensing, education, and experience. Some questions to ask:

• What are your credentials? Generally, you can trust tax preparation by a CPA, tax attorney, or a preparer with a large, national company that has been in business for a long time.
• Of what tax organizations are you a member? Membership in an organization indicates they are serious about what they do, want to keep up with developments in the field, and are not afraid to be in the company of peers.
• What education do you have? Look for a bachelors degree in accounting, finance, or business administration.
• Do you have a license? Attorneys need to be licensed in the state in which they practice or offer services, and CPAs have to pass a rigorous exam. Unfortunately, generally you do not have to be licensed to offer tax preparation services. (Although the IRS is considering licensing.) At a minimum, ask to see a business license, which is required in most jurisdictions. This will indicate the preparer is not afraid to make himself or herself known to the local government and meet some basic qualifications.

What the most current tax scams we are seeing perpetrated by fly-by-night tax preparers:

• Taking TWO head of household deductions by having the couple do two tax returns claiming they live in separate residences. Often they use a relative's address.
• Qualifying for the earned income credit or taking more exemptions by claiming children who do NOT reside with the taxpayer.

It's up to you to be informed. Be careful and seek out competent counsel.

I have written several blogs which address the blight of the homeowner in trouble because of the recent economic downturn.  I’m talking about people who borrowed an affordable sum after making a down payment to purchase their dream home. Until the recent economic downturn these homeowners made their monthly payments ( in many cases for years). Then layoffs started.  In a great number of cases it was impossible to replace lost jobs at their salary range..  Many were forced to accept jobs paying less. By the time life starting getting back to normal, their mortgage payments were way behind.  To make matters worse their new salaries don’t stretch enough to make a full mortgage payment.
 
The federal government had multiple opportunities to act in a way that would have thrown a life line to these good folks and each time either failed to act or threw the life line beyond reach.  What were these opportunities?
 
Congress could have amended the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Code in such a way as to give a Bankruptcy Judge the bases upon which to fix most of these loans. What was proposed was simply giving ‘Middle America’ the same rights as General Motors has, not expanding the Bankruptcy Code.  Congress took away many rights from homeowners a number of years ago and all that was proposed was restoring those; rights and,
 

Congress then set billions of dollars aside to give folks in this position a way to modify their home loans to  make their mortgage payments affordable and at the same time caused very little,( if any pain) to the financial institutions.  There can be little question that this vast amount of money thrown at the problem has done little, , to help the consumer.  In short a failure. . What is more distressing are the results of a homeowners when unsuccessful in obtaining  a loan modification.  The abuses in this area has increased the number of foreclosures, in many cases because each those homeowner thought they were about to get their home loans modified.  The misconduct on the part of the financial institution usually starts with a temporary fix of lowering the payments and/or interest rate while a modification is being processed.  Somehow the modifications are seldom approved and the foreclosure, clock keeps ticking while the loan modification is processing.  For some it’s a matter of days from being denied a loan modification and their foreclosure.
 
Now there may be a glimmer of hope.  The Attorney Generals from a number of states have weighed in on the problem of trying to come up with a fix for HAMP (the law that was to fix home owners having a problem).  These States Attorney Generals are pushing to amend/change the rules as to what lenders can and cannot do while a modification is being considered especially where there is a temporary fix in place.  Briefly it would prevent the abuses that are currently going on..  A word of caution efforts to help the homeowner continues to build a strong opposition in Congress.