Stephen J. McFarlane

Mr. Stephen McFarlane concentrates his practice representing businesses and individuals before the IRS and all other federal and state tax authorities. His experience spans US Tax Court, Arizona Tax Court, IRS Collections, Offers-in-Compromise, Installment Payment Plans, Appeals, Foreign Account Reporting Violations, Arizona Sales Tax (TPT) Audits, Worker’s Unemployment Tax audits and disputes; liens & levy release.

Mr McFarlane has 33 years of experience in tax controversy resolving taxpayers' tax problems. He has the all-important experience and familiarity with IRS and ADOR agents to efficiently and effectively resolve tax issues.

Services and locations:
Tax Litigation, Administrative Tax Audits, Tax Audits, Tax Collection Matters, Income Tax Audits, Employment Tax Issues, State Tax Representation, in Scottsdale, Mesa, Phoenix, Cave Creek, Glendale, Peoria, Gilbert, Maricopa County, Pima County, Tucson, Flagstaff.

Boston University School of Law

LL.M. (1990) | Tax Law; Tax Controversy

1989 - 1990

mastery of tax laws and IRS procedures; representation of taxpayers before the US Tax Court

Honors: Master's Degree in Tax Law

Activities: BU Journal of Tax Law; US Tax Court Taxpayer Representation Program

Seattle University School of Law

J.D. (1989) | Tax Law & Controversy; Business Law

1986 - 1989

Thunderbird, The International Graduate School of Business Management

MBA, Int'l Finance | Int'l Bsn Management

1980 - 1981

Honors: Master's Degree in International Management & Business Administration

Marquette University

BA (PolSci); BA (Fren); Minor (Phil) (1978) | Politcal Science; Philosophy; French Civilization

1974 - 1978

Honors: National Politcal Science Honor Society; National French Honor Society

Activities: President, French Club

Univ of Strasbourg, France

other | Science Politique; French

1976 - 1977

Tax Attorney

McFarlane Law - A Tax Law Firm

2015 - Current

Mr. Stephen McFarlane concentrates his practice representing businesses and individuals before the IRS and all other federal and state tax authorities. His experience spans US Tax Court, Arizona Tax Court, IRS Collections, Offers-in-Compromise, Installment Payment Plans, Appeals, Foreign Account Reporting and Tax Law, Arizona Sales Tax (TPT) Audits, Worker’s Unemployment Tax audits and disputes.

Tax Attorney & Partner

Bredemann & McFarlane, PLC

2005 - 2015

FORMER IRS TRIAL ATTORNEY. TAX CONTROVERSY: Represents taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR), and local and city taxing agencies. PROPERTY TAX CONTROVERSY: Represents commercial and residential property owners before the County Assessor's Offices, the State Board of Equalization, the Arizona Tax Court and all administrative agencies and the Attorney General's Office. BUSINESS FORMATION: Assists in selecting the proper form of entity and in the formation and filing of that entity with the state. Negotiates and drafts operating agreements, contracts, buy-sell provisions. Assists in preparing past due tax returns and negotiating payment plans with the IRS and ADOR. BUSINESS SALES AND PURCHASES: We counsel our clients in the optimal sales or purchase structure - from both a tax and business perspective. We draft the necessary documentation to memorialize the transaction, including: purchase and sale agreement; buy-sell agreements; employment agreements; non-compete, non-solicitation, non-disclosure, and other restrictive agreements. We also file needed tax return information and statements. TATE PLANNING: We draft revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, ILITS, powers of attorney, and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. GUARDIANSHIPS and CONSERVATORSHIPS: We represent persons needing the protection and oversight of the state through a court appointed guardian and conservator. We practice elder law. PROBATE: Our firm assists surviving family members and relatives with the probate of a deceased person's will, either in a formal court setting or informally. We represent interested parties in their probate controversies and probate litigation. TRUST ADMINISTRATION: Often times the survivng spouse and family members need an attorney to assist them through the comlexities of trust administration. We assist our clients in understanding the trust and other estate planning documentation and direct them efficiently through the complex processes.

Tax & Probate Attorney

The Law Office of Stephen J. McFarlane, PLC

2003 - 2005

Tax controversy: IRS, Az Dept of Revenue, property tax appeals, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Probate, Guardianship Conservatorship, LLC Partnership, contracts and agreements

Associate Attorney

Beus, Gilbert & Morrill, PLLC

1997 - 2003

Practice specialized in business & LLC formation; partnership and corporate tax transactions; federal, state and local tax controversy; and tax planning; estate planning; asset protection; US Tax Court; Arizona Tax Court; Arizona property tax before the Maricopa County Assessor's Office, the State Board of Equalization, and administrative agencies and the Attorney General's Office. Assistant Editor, Journal of Arizona Taxation, a publication by Morrill & Aronson, PLC.

Corporate Counsel/President/CEO

McFarlane Brewing Company, LLC

1995 - 1997

Planned and implemented start-up of Arizona's then-largest brewery and distribution operation.

Asst District Counsel Tax Litigation Attorney

Department of the Treasury

1990 - 1995

Represented the government, and primarily the Internal Revenue Service, in its day to day activities; litigated federal individual income tax, corporate tax, partnership tax, employment tax, estate tax, and other fiduciary tax cases before the US Tax Court; represented IRS agents in their legal issues; reviewed audited cases for purposes of applying civil fraud or criminal fraud penalties; reviewed CID cases for appropriate seizure and forfeiture action; analyzed and drafted position memorandums for various legal issues; interacted with revenue agents, supervisors, revenue officers, appeals officers, the District Director, the Regional Director, and all levels of administration; interacted with US Tax Court judges.

Marketing & Sales Management

The Ertl Company/Daisy Mfg.

1981 - 1986

Managed large manufacturing companies' international operations.

Arizona State Bar Assn  # 018084

Member

1997 - Current

Activities: Tax Law Section Member IRS Liaison - 2003-2004

Washington State Bar Association  # 20161

Member

1990 - 2019

Arizona

Since 1997

Washington

Washington State Bar Association

ID Number: (Ret)

Since 1990

Federal District Ct (Ariz)

Since 2002

Federal District Ct (Colo)

Since 2002

US Tax Court

Since 1990

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted

• IRS & Arizona Tax Controversy
• Corporate and Limited Liability Company Law
• Guardianship Conservatorship
• Probate & Trust Admin
• Tax Return Preparation