Segal, Cohen & Landis, P.C.
Sherman Oaks IRS Tax Attorney
Serving Sherman Oaks from our Beverly Hills office. Most matters are handled entirely by phone and video.
Sherman Oaks entertainment professionals, real estate investors, and Ventura Blvd small business owners are prime targets when the IRS challenges Schedule C deductions, 1099 income, and S-corp officer compensation - and California's Franchise Tax Board runs its own parallel audits that don't end when the federal case does. Segal, Cohen & Landis is headquartered just over Beverly Glen at 9100 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, minutes from Sherman Oaks via the 405 or Ventura Blvd, with more than 33 years resolving IRS audits, liens, levies, and back-tax matters. Because federal tax practice is nationwide, attorney Samuel Landis, Esq. (LL.M. Taxation) represents Sherman Oaks clients before the IRS anywhere in the country while also handling the FTB and CDTFA exposure unique to California. If you've received an IRS or FTB notice, a CP2000, or a Notice of Intent to Levy, the response window is short - call SCL before the deadline runs and your options narrow.
CA
Sherman OaksCalifornia
IRS & Tax Context for Sherman Oaks
All of California →IRS Office for Sherman Oaks Taxpayers
IRS Los Angeles Campus (nearest)
300 N. Los Angeles St., Stop 7345, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 576-3140
Federal / Tax Court
U.S. Tax Court — Los Angeles Special Trial Session | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
California tax context
Tax issues affecting Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks sits in one of the highest-tax jurisdictions in the country. California's top marginal personal income tax rate is 13.3% - the highest state rate in the nation - and the brackets climb fast: 9.3% kicks in around $70,000 of taxable income for single filers, with the 1% Mental Health Services Act surcharge layered on income over $1 million.
For the high earners clustered along Ventura Blvd, in the hills off Coldwater Canyon, and in the production and post-production economy that anchors this corner of the Valley, that means a combined federal-plus-state marginal burden frequently exceeding 50%.
California enforcement
Those rates are administered not by the IRS but by the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), which operates entirely independently. The FTB issues its own audit notices, files its own liens, and does not honor IRS settlement terms - a federal Offer in Compromise or installment agreement has no binding effect on the state, so Sherman Oaks taxpayers routinely face two collection fronts at once.
Entertainment and media
Three local sectors drive concentrated audit risk. First, entertainment and media: actors, writers, editors, and producers reporting income on Schedule C or through loan-out S-corps draw IRS and FTB scrutiny over reasonable officer compensation, home-office and per-diem deductions, and the line between hobby and business losses.
Real estate investments
Second, real estate: with Sherman Oaks median home values well above $1.2 million, investor clients face passive-activity loss limitations under IRC §469, real-estate-professional status challenges, and §1031 exchange examinations - all mirrored by the FTB.
Small business and employment taxes
Third, Ventura Blvd small business and professional-services owners confront sales-and-use tax audits from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and worker-classification disputes intensified by AB 5, where reclassifying contractors as employees triggers cascading federal and state payroll-tax assessments.
Audits and representation
IRS enforcement in the Central California region has sharpened around partnership and pass-through audits, cryptocurrency reporting, and high-income non-filers - categories well represented in this affluent Valley market. The FTB separately pursues residency audits aggressively, scrutinizing taxpayers who claim to have left California while keeping a Sherman Oaks home, and it asserts a 20% accuracy-related penalty plus interest that compounds quickly.
From its Beverly Hills base minutes away, Segal, Cohen & Landis represents Sherman Oaks clients on both fronts - federal IRS practice nationwide, plus the FTB and CDTFA matters that follow. Backed by more than 33 years and an LL.M. in Taxation, the firm resolves audits, penalty abatements, liens, levies, and back taxes before they compound.
IRS Tax Services Available to Sherman Oaks Clients
We represent clients in Sherman Oaks and across the United States before the IRS, U.S. Tax Court, and state tax agencies. Common issues we resolve:
Why Sherman Oaks Taxpayers Choose Segal, Cohen & Landis
Attorney-Led, Not Sales-Led
Every case is handled directly by a licensed tax attorney — never delegated to an unenrolled preparer or case manager. You get attorney judgment from day one.
33+ Years of IRS Experience
Sam Landis, Esq. has spent over three decades navigating IRS Collection, IRS Examination, and U.S. Tax Court on behalf of individuals and businesses.
National IRS Practice
We practice before the IRS in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Your physical location doesn't limit your access to experienced IRS tax counsel.
Client Reviews
Read client feedback and visit our review sources for their current ratings and review counts.
What Our Clients Say
Read client feedback on Google and Trustpilot.
“Sam resolved a six-figure IRS levy in under a week. He communicated every step clearly and got the result we needed. I can't recommend SCL highly enough.”
Michael T. · 2024
“I had an extremely complex FBAR and Form 3520 situation. Sam understood every nuance and handled the voluntary disclosure flawlessly. Genuinely the best in the field.”
Priya R. · 2024
“After receiving an IRS audit notice I was terrified. The team at SCL walked me through everything, represented me completely, and the audit closed with no changes. Worth every penny.”
David L. · 2023
Samuel Landis, Esq. · LL.M. Taxation, Boston University · 33+ years IRS controversy practice
Frequently Asked Questions — Sherman Oaks IRS Tax Help
Does SCL handle international tax issues for Iranian-American and Israeli-American clients?
Yes. SCL has decades of experience with the international tax compliance issues most common in these communities — Israeli pension accounts (Keren Hishtalmut, Kupat Gemel), FBAR reporting for foreign accounts, Form 3520 for foreign trusts, and US-Israel tax treaty planning. Persian and Hebrew-speaking staff are available.
I received an IRS CP2000 notice saying I underreported income. What should I do?
A CP2000 is a proposed change — not a final bill. You have the right to agree, disagree, or partially agree. SCL reviews the underlying data the IRS received, identifies errors in the IRS's position, and prepares a formal written response. Many CP2000 adjustments are reduced or eliminated with a proper response.
Can SCL help me settle IRS tax debt for less than I owe?
An Offer in Compromise allows qualified taxpayers to settle IRS debt for less than the full amount based on inability to pay, doubt as to liability, or effective tax administration. SCL prepares and submits OIC packages, handles the IRS evaluation process, and negotiates the settlement amount.
How quickly can you stop a wage garnishment or bank levy?
In most cases, we can issue an IRS levy release or garnishment suspension within 24–72 hours of being retained, pending IRS processing. The first step is a free consultation to assess your situation.
What is the cost of a tax attorney consultation?
We offer a free initial consultation to evaluate your situation. Fee schedules vary by case type and complexity — we are transparent about fees before any engagement.
Attorney-Led IRS Representation
Ready to Resolve Your IRS Problem in Sherman Oaks?
Schedule a confidential consultation with a licensed IRS tax attorney. No sales calls, no pressure — just honest legal counsel and a clear path forward.
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