Are you looking for a tax lawyer in Baltimore County, MD? At Crepeau Mourges, we provide trusted tax counsel for individuals and business owners throughout Baltimore County, MD.
If you are facing an audit, an unpaid tax balance, or a disputed assessment in Baltimore County, the opposing agency already has a file on you. You should have someone reading it with you. At Crepeau Mourges, our two founders hold law degrees earned in 2003 and 2009, and each came to the law with training in accounting or economics. Our Baltimore County, MD tax lawyer can assess your position and speak to the taxing authority for you. Call us today to schedule your consultation.
Tax Lawyer Baltimore County, MD
Our Baltimore County tax attorney is a lawyer who advises clients on their obligations under federal, state, and local tax law and represents them when a taxing authority challenges a return, a payment, or a valuation. The work falls into two parts where one is controversial, including audits, appeals, collections, and litigation. The other is tax planning, which means structuring a business, a sale, or an estate so that the tax result is known before the transaction closes.
Maryland filers sent the IRS 3,131,823 individual income tax returns, 92,294 S corporation returns, and 81,862 partnership returns in fiscal year 2025, according to IRS filing statistics. Returns filed from Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk, and the rest of Baltimore County are included in those totals.
Types of Tax Cases We Handle in Baltimore County
Our Baltimore County tax attorneys represent individuals, companies, company owners, estates, and foreign and domestic taxpayers. We handle matters before the IRS, the Comptroller of Maryland, and the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
- IRS audits and appeals. An examination can arrive as a letter asking for a few documents or as a field audit of several years. We prepare the response, deal with the examiner, and file a protest with IRS Appeals when the proposed changes are wrong.
- State tax audits. The Comptroller of Maryland audits income, sales and use, and withholding tax. We represent taxpayers during the audit and at the hearing that follows a contested assessment.
- Tax collections. Balances that go unpaid lead to liens, levies, and wage garnishment. We negotiate payment plans and settlements and ask for collection to be paused while a resolution is pending.
- Unfiled returns. Years of missing returns can usually be corrected. We rebuild the records, prepare the filings, and address any penalties that result.
- Business taxation. Entity selection, owner compensation, and the sale of a company all carry tax consequences. We advise owners before they commit.
- Employment tax disputes. Payroll tax shortfalls are pursued against the business and against the people responsible for paying them. We defend both the company and its owners.
- Property tax assessment appeals. Commercial and residential owners may challenge the value the State assigns to their property. We present valuation evidence at each level of appeal.
- Estate and gift taxation. Transfers at death or during life may require federal and Maryland returns. We advise executors and families on reporting and respond when a return is examined.
- Offshore accounts and international reporting. Foreign accounts, entities, and inheritances carry their own filing duties. We bring clients into compliance and contest the penalties proposed for past omissions.
- Criminal tax investigations and litigation. When a civil matter turns criminal, or when no settlement is possible, we represent clients before federal agents, prosecutors, and the courts.
Baltimore County Tax Law Infographic
Why Choose Crepeau Mourges as My Tax Lawyer in Baltimore County, MD?
Two Founders With Financial Training
Brian J. Crepeau earned a B.S. in Management Science and Accounting in 1997 and his law degree in 2003. His practice covers federal and state tax controversies for individuals and corporations, along with fraud, income analysis, and business structures. He is licensed in Maryland and Florida and admitted to the United States Tax Court.
Brandon N. Mourges studied economics at The Wharton School before completing a J.D. and an LL.M. in Taxation. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Maryland, holds board certification in Tax Law from The Florida Bar, and belongs to the American Association of Attorney-CPAs. Benchmark Litigation placed him on its 40 & Under Hot List.
Results for Taxpayers
Our Baltimore County tax lawyers measure a case by what the client owes at the end. These outcomes come from Mr. Mourges’ past engagements. Every matter depends on its own facts.
- An admissions and amusement tax assessment against a Baltimore-area sports clinic and league operator, reduced from over $450,000 to approximately $50,000.
- A proposed deficiency of approximately $350,000 against a construction company owner, closed in IRS Appeals with no change.
- A Tax Court case involving more than $1,000,000 in proposed tax and fraud penalties, settled for under $100,000.
- Information reporting penalties proposed against several large companies, abated in full.
- A commercial property valuation dispute in the Maryland Tax Court, ending in a substantial reduction to the assessed value.
Understanding Tax Cases
Tax Liability, Penalties, and Relief Options for Tax Cases
- Federal income tax. Administered by the IRS. Disputes move through examination, appeals, and the U.S. Tax Court.
- Maryland and county income tax. The Comptroller collects the state income tax and Baltimore County’s local income tax on the same return.
- Employment taxes. Amounts withheld from wages, plus the employer’s share. Owners and officers can be held personally liable through the trust fund recovery penalty.
- Sales and use tax. Collected by businesses from customers and remitted to the Comptroller.
- Property tax. Based on a value set by the State. Owners who disagree may file assessment appeals.
- Penalties and interest. Added for late filing, late payment, and inaccurate returns. Interest runs until the balance is paid.
- Relief options. Payment plans, settlements for less than the full amount, penalty abatement, and release of liens and levies.
What Are Important Aspects of a Tax Case?
The first question in any tax matter is which agency you are dealing with. The answer determines the deadlines, the appeal route, and the relief available.
- Agency and procedure. The IRS, the Comptroller, and the assessment office each follow their own process. A federal adjustment often leads to a Maryland one, and state tax audits have separate hearing rights.
- Deadlines. Each notice states a date by which you must respond or appeal. Missing it can end your right to contest the amount.
- Records. Most business tax issues trace back to incomplete books. Organized records shorten an audit and narrow what the examiner can question.
- Filing compliance. Payment plans and settlements generally require that all returns be filed. Any unfiled tax returns need attention first, and this might be the first step when working with our Baltimore County tax lawyer.
What Is The Tax Case Timeline?
Some matters end with one letter while others take years. The length depends on the agency, the amount at stake, and whether the dispute reaches a court.
- Notice. The agency identifies the return or property at issue and sets a response date.
- Examination. Most tax audits involve document requests and written explanations, and some include an interview or site visit.
- Proposed assessment. The agency states what it believes is owed. You may agree or appeal.
- Administrative appeal. IRS Appeals, a Comptroller hearing officer, or the county’s Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board reviews the dispute. Many tax disputes are settled here.
- Court. Unresolved federal cases go to the U.S. Tax Court or federal district court. State cases go to the Maryland Tax Court.
- Resolution. The matter closes with a withdrawal, a reduced assessment, a payment arrangement, or a court decision.
What Should You Bring to Your Tax Consultation?
When meeting with our Baltimore County tax attorneys, we recommend that you bring the following:
- All notices and letters from the IRS, the Comptroller, or the assessment office
- Federal and Maryland returns for the years involved
- Business financial statements, payroll filings, and bank records, if the matter involves a company
- The assessment notice and any appraisal, if the matter involves property
Our Baltimore County tax lawyer will review what you bring, explain where your case stands, and describe the steps available. Consultations are usually scheduled soon after you contact us.
Baltimore County Tax Offices, Courts, and Local Resources
- Comptroller of Maryland, Baltimore County branch. The Comptroller’s branch office at 3104 Lord Baltimore Drive, Suite 100, in Windsor Mill handles state tax questions in person.
- Baltimore County Assessment Office. The State’s local assessment office is in Hampton Plaza at 300 East Joppa Road, Suite 602, Towson.
- Circuit Court for Baltimore County. The Circuit Court clerk is located at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson.
- Maryland Tax Court. Appeals from Comptroller decisions and property tax boards are heard at 301 West Preston Street in Baltimore.
- IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. The nearest IRS office is at 31 Hopkins Plaza in Baltimore City and sees taxpayers by appointment.
- United States Tax Court. County residents with federal cases attend trial sessions held in Baltimore.
Reach Out to Crepeau Mourges to Schedule a Consultation
Crepeau Mourges offers a free case review to individuals and businesses with federal, state, or local tax problems. You will speak with our team who can explain your options and the deadlines that apply. Our phones are answered around the clock, and we return new inquiries promptly. Contact us to schedule your consultation with our Baltimore County tax lawyer today.
