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United States Tax Court Practitioner Defined
A United States Tax Court Practitioner aka Tax Litigation Counsel is a qualified non-attorney, typically an IRS-approved tax professional e.g. CPA or EA, who has passed a rigorous bar examination, received litigation training, and been vetted by the Court, and admitted to practice exclusively in and before the United States Tax Court. They provide attorney-equivalent representation in tax litigation. They are authorized legal practitioners before the U.S. Tax Court. They represent taxpayers - individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates and trusts - during legal proceedings held in U.S. Tax Court. Because of their highly specialized tax accounting skills, litigation training, and stringent IRS approval and practice requirements, USTCPs are often chosen by tax clients over tax attorneys to handle deficiency matters, civil fraud offenses and other complex tax controversies that migrate into U.S. Tax Court.
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The John F. Dean Apprenticeship for Litigation & U.S. Tax Court Trial Practice
- Organized by Michael Jerome Stuart, Professor Emeritus at the Tax Law Institute and U.S. Treasury Department Internal Revenue Service-Approved Provider of Continuing Professional Education.
- Developed, advanced, and first presented by Judge John F. Dean, Ret., formerly of the U.S. Tax Court Judiciary, and upon his retirement from the bench, Distinguished Judicial Speaker at the Tax Law Institute for six years, and Joni D. Larson, eminent legal author and Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Law.
- Traditional law school apprenticeships take a minimum of four (4) years to complete in any of the 4 states where an individual is 'to read' the law under the supervision of a seasoned licensed attorney or judge. Afterward, an individual may sit for the respective state bar examination. Whereas individuals who pass the Tax Court bar exam and then hang out their shingle to begin practice as a legal representative are, in fact, going into a courtroom with no formal legal training.
- The John F. Dean Apprenticeship for Litigation and U.S. Tax Court Trial Practice is a rolling admissions program that speaks to the mission of the United States Tax Court, a national forum for the expeditious resolution of disputes between taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service. The objective of the apprenticeship is to convey to future federal tax litigators that the Court is committed to providing taxpayers, most of whom are self-represented, with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the Court, with as little inconvenience and expense as is practicable. The Court is also committed to providing an accessible judicial forum with simplified procedures for disputes involving $50,000 or less. Our objective is to provide well-trained, non-attorney legal practitioners to assist them as well as moderate- and high-liability taxpayers.
- We recognize that taxpayers sometimes choose not to go it alone and often prefer representation. Many also believe they can neither afford nor want to retain a licensed tax attorney, who may or may not be the right person to address their concerns. So they turn to their CPA or IRS-approved enrolled agent who prepared their tax returns and discover that these individuals are not authorized to represent them in a tax deficiency or other matter before the Tax Court. Enter the United States Tax Court Practitioner.
- We also want to consider that although many discussions focus on individual taxpayers and small businesses, we cannot overlook that, as noted above, the United States Tax Court is also the legal forum where large corporate and partnership tax controversies are resolved. Accordingly, the Tax Court also dockets high-liability tax deficiencies and tries unsettled cases. Therefore, our Apprenticeships speak to both categories of taxpayers - low-to-moderate income as well as high income that give rise to high-liability tax litigation associated with big business. Indeed, United States Tax Court Practitioners have a role at the table and are increasingly associated with top-tier, white-shoe law firms engaged in these types of federal tax litigation practices, e.g., TLi Litigation Services Group.
- The United States Tax Court Practitioner should not be mistaken for the cheap alternative to hiring a tax attorney. If you haven't yet read 'The Best Kept Secret,' then do so now. Their unique skills in tax accounting, auditing, tax law, and litigation and trial practice make them a rare find, with fees ranging from $275-$650 per hour. Then there are the Specialists, who can earn up to $1200 an hour.
- Our Apprenticeship | Federal Tax Litigation and Trial Practice Program is designed for both the socially-conscious and the ambitious tax professional. This is a great opportunity to earn substantial fees while also performing a valuable public service. Whether it's either/or depends entirely on how you use the training we provide.
Preliminary Program Structure
- The courtroom-student litigation and trial practice component of the apprenticeship occurs during the Fall, Winter, and Spring Trial Sessions of the U.S. Tax Court. (Classes also convene during the summer months as well, although the Court is recessed.) Each Apprentice is assigned to assist at the free tax clinic we support. One or two also opt to intern with the TLI Litigation Services Group. They go to work under the supervision of a USTCP soon after they begin the program. The Apprentice gains real-world experience related to their studies at TLI. This exciting activity offers early insight into what a career as a USTCP, aka Tax Litigation Counsel, is actually like. The Apprentice works remotely and in person with both low-income (pro bono) and non-qualified clients with docketed cases in U.S. Tax Court. Look to the green sheets at https://www.ustaxcourt.gov/trial_sessions.html for the schedule of calendar call dates and in-person pro bono proceedings when the Tax Court convenes in various cities during 2026.
In-Person U.S. Tax Court Pro Bono Practice & Clients' Luncheon
- Our in-person Honolulu U.S. Tax Court component, scheduled to begin on Monday, May 11, 2026, and conclude on Thursday, May 14, 2026, has been postponed until Spring 2027; however, we present here the planned events: Participating Apprentices depart from their respective local airports en route to Honolulu, Hawai'i. The Court is tentatively scheduled to convene on Monday, May 11, 2026. Pro bono representatives should arrive at the Court in time for the 9:30 a.m. HT Calendar Call. They will assist low-income clients who appear to answer their calendar call, as well as other unrepresented taxpayers who qualify under IRS guidelines for free services. The Tax Law Institute covers airfare and hotel accommodations. Apprentices must provide their own meals.
- The Tax Law Institute Tax Litigation Clinic Apprentices and Teaching Faculty will host a luncheon with local taxpayer clients served during TY 2024, 2025, and thus far in 2026. We will publish event details and the Honolulu location before our visit.
Who Should Apply?
- The Apprenticeship is best suited for federally authorized tax practitioners (CPAs and EAs) who want to pass the 2027 Tax Bar Examination and guarantee themselves a high-paying career in Federal Tax Litigation. First-time test-takers, repeat test-takers, and newly admitted USTCPs are ideal candidates. Nevertheless, other tax professionals may also apply. If you're unsure, then call us. We'll be happy to discuss the possibilities. Book an interview here.
Nature of the Apprenticeship
- The Apprenticeship takes a judicial approach to guide future tax court litigators, as proposed by the retired Tax Court judge who shaped our litigation and trial practice program at its inception.
- Next, we address the first unwritten rule of practice: We then consider, in detail, how to Manage Client Expectations and Structure Fees, including dos and don'ts when writing the retainer agreement or engagement letter. Then we move on to discuss the Legal Liability of United States Tax Court practitioners, as well as Tax Court Practitioners and the ethical rules of conduct, including the pitfalls of court-imposed sanctions.
- We then take a close look at the legislative explanations for Tax Court Jurisdiction over various actions and practice writing the Petition (initial pleading).
- We then discuss the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, from a perspective unfamiliar to the CPA and EA bar candidate: that of a tax litigator negotiating with a government attorney.
- Next, we will conduct a mock Branerton Conference, after which we will use various negotiation tactics to attempt a Settlement (over trial) and then draft Documents that get you the information you need to prosecute your case. This process is known as Formal Discovery (Pre-Trial Motions, Interrogatories and Depositions). Formal Discovery is minimized in U.S. Tax Court, and the extent of which is at the discretion of the presiding judge.
- We will then begin building the skills necessary for document preparation and Case-Related Forms, formatted to create professionally styled pre-trial submissions. Please remember that Tax Court proceedings are document-driven. Preparation and research get the litigator halfway there. Trial presents the evidentiary information and has it admitted into the record. The acting judge will then reserve his decision based upon the preponderance of the evidence standard.
- Finally, we will get to the most exciting segment of the course that begins with analytical discussions of Litigation Strategies for U.S. Tax Court. Here, we develop sound written and oral legal arguments based upon selected case scenarios which the USTCP can employ before, at, and after Trial and Case Presentation. Next, we will review various Orders and Opinions issued by the Court to learn how judges reason. Lastly, we will show the Apprentice how to search the database using the Dawson system to find current and past cases and opinions. We will end these discussions by hearing from a top tax litigator, who will describe their experiences with the Tax Court.
- Lastly, we will address Post-Trial Matters, i.e., Post-Trial Briefs, Opinions, Decisions, Post-Trial Motions and Appeals. Be aware that in U.S. Tax Court a case can turn on a well-written and persuasive Post-Trial Brief. This is where the evidence admitted into the record at trial is re-presented and summarized, along with the arguments, so the judge can make a final ruling. It is the last opportunity for the litigator to influence the Court through the use of post-trial motions.
Mock Hearings & Trials Explained
- Under the supervision of the Teaching Faculty, an acting Tax Court judge and a seasoned tax litigator, select precedential cases that are re-enacted in hearing and trial format. Hearings arise when one of the parties submits a motion where counsel or counselor (government attorney) needs to be heard. The Apprentice will take on the persona of tax litigation counsel, go, and taxpayer during a how-to session on obtaining transcripts of these and other court proceedings from the Court. The apprentice gets an opportunity to apply what they learn and to perfect their skills - before, during, and after they are assigned to assist tax clinic staff and taxpayer-clients, under the supervision of participating USTCPs engaged with the free tax clinic's U.S. Tax Court Clinical, Student Practice and Calendar Call Program.
Mock U.S. Tax Court Trial | Zoomgov.com
Case Decisions: U.S. Tax Court Reports
- These Reports contain the official, formally published decisions of the U.S. Tax Court. These "regular" decisions address novel or particularly important legal issues and carry precedential weight.
Specialization Courses
- Civil Tax Fraud Defense
- Partnership and Corporate Tax
- Small Business Taxation
- Nonprofit Organizational Development, Management & Finance
- Entertainment and Sports Management Taxation
- Taxation of Certain International Transactions
Fees
- The total costs for the combined Apprenticeship and Tax Bar Prep are $ 64,176.20
- The Apprenticeship fee is $29,995 (less 25% deposit of $7,498.75), leaving a remaining balance due of $22,496.25 + 10% Surcharge on this remaining balance for the Apprenticeship, plus all other unpaid fees as listed below.
- The Tax Bar Prep course fee is $11,765
- The Specialization Course fee is $4,995 (taught post-2027 Tax Bar Exam)
- The Self-Instructive Tax Law Library access fee is $4,995 (under revision)
- The Textbook cost is $1717 (fee contributed to Free Tax Clinic)
- The Litigation Services Internship fee is $2,500
- The Free Clinic Contribution remote pro bono fee is $1,000
- The Free Clinic Contribution in-person pro bono fee is $1,000
- The registration fee for the Apprenticeship is $250
- The registration fee for the Tax Bar Prep is $125
- Surcharge @ 10% is $5,834.20
►Financing: @ 10% surcharge is included in the above calculations. For Prepayment Total deduct the surcharge.
Caveat
- Please note that the program has strict admission criteria that must be met. Participation in the Tax Bar Prep does not necessarily lend itself to Apprenticeship admission. TLI reserves the right to deny admission to the Apprenticeship, where academic performance of the applicant indicates poor prospects for future litigation and trial practice success. Similarly, a reserved right exist to dismiss from the Apprenticeship Program any person whom the Teaching Faculty deems is out of compliance with the tenets of the training goals and objectives.
Teaching Faculty
Louis B. Carpenter III CPA CFP USTCP
- Assistant Professor Emeritus of Federal Tax Practice and Chief Tax Counsel Emeritus
- Chief Tax Litigation Counsel Emeritus, Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic on O'ahu
- Registered Coordinator, U.S. Tax Court Clinical, Student Practice and Calendar Call Program
- Pro Bono Advisor, Tax Litigation Clinic at the Tax Law Institute a Washington DC
- Member of the Board, Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic
James H. Chapman EA MPA MA
- Associate Professor Emeritus of Federal Tax Research & Practice
- Chair of the Board of Directors, Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic on O'ahu
Daniel Ng J.D. LL.M.
- Adjunct Research Professor of Law
- 2025-2027 Litigation & Case Law Specialist and Advisor
- Interim Director, Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic on O'ahu
Michael Jerome Stuart J.D. MPA
- Professor Emeritus
- The John F. Dean Professor of Federal Tax Litigation & U.S. Tax Court Trial Practice at the Tax Law Institute at Washington DC
- Director, Tax Law Institute at Washington DC
- President, Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic on O'ahu
- Approved Provider of Continuing Education, IRS Office of Professional Responsibility
Jeffrey G. Thompson E.A. MBA M.A. USTCP
- 2026 Teaching Fellow
- Tax Litigation Counsel
- Acting Clinic Director | Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic on O'ahu
- Assistant Coordinator | U.S. Tax Court Clinical, Student Practice and Calendar Call Program
- Team Leader | Pro Bono Program
Guest lecturers are invited to speak as well.
Below is the Apprenticeship Program schedule for the 2026-2027 Testing Cycle
18-22-Month Course Schedule | U.S. Tax Court Sessions Calendar: 2026-2027
- Winter 2026 | Session 1 | Case Preparation & Management
- Classes meet each designated Saturday following Tax Bar Prep classes | 90-120 minutes | Reading assignments | Discussions.
- Remote Pro Bono Practice includes client conferences and engagements with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, and the Honolulu U.S. Tax Court.
Break
- Spring 2026 | Session 2 | Mock Trials: Litigation Strategies in U.S. Tax Court
- Class meets every designated Saturday following Tax Bar Prep classes | 90-120 minutes | Reading assignments | Mock Trial Program | Individual instruction given by expert trial practitioners.
- Remote and in-person pro bono practice includes client conferences and engagements with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, and the Honolulu U.S. Tax Court.
Break
- Fall 2026 | Session 3 | Mock Trial Practice in U.S. Tax Court.
- Classes meet every designated Saturday | 90-120 minutes | Reading assignments. In accordance with the remote calendar of the U.S. Tax Court | Document preparation | Trial Practice | Oral Argument | Under the oversight of participating counsel.
- Remote Pro Bono Practice in IRS Independent Office of Appeals and Honolulu U.S. Tax Court.
Break
- Winter 2027 | Session 4 | Pro Bono and Litigation Services Practice
- Classes meet every designated Saturday | 90-120 minutes | Reading assignments. In accordance with the remote calendar of the U.S. Tax Court | Document preparation | Trial Practice | Oral Argument | Under the oversight of participating counsel.
- Remote Pro Bono Practice in IRS Independent Office of Appeals and Honolulu U.S. Tax Court.
Break
- Spring 2027 | Session 5 | Pro Bono and Litigation Services Practice
- Classes meet every designated Saturday | 90-120 minutes | Reading assignments. In accordance with the remote calendar of the U.S. Tax Court | Document preparation | Trial Practice | Oral Argument | Under the oversight of participating counsel.
- Remote Pro Practice in IRS Independent Office of Appeals and Honolulu U.S. Tax Court.
Break
- Fall 2027 | Session 6 | Pro Bono and Litigation Services Practice
- Classes meet every designated Saturday | 90-120 minutes | Reading assignments. In accordance with the remote calendar of the U.S. Tax Court | Document preparation | Trial Practice | Oral Argument | Under the oversight of participating counsel.
- Remote Pro Practice in IRS Independent Office of Appeals and Honolulu U.S. Tax Court.
Taught in conjunction with ...
Tax Bar Prep | Course Listing | Comprehensive Review
- Orientation to the Tax Bar Examination
- Federal Rules of Evidence as Applied in Tax Court
- Federal Tax Procedure
- IRC
- U.S. Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure
- Case Law
- Legal Ethics | Model Rules of Professional Conduct
Break
Comprehensive Tax Bar Review
- Q &A: Selected questions from the 2021, 2023, and 2025 Tax Bar Exams
- Review of selected sections of Federal Tax Procedure
- Review of selected sections of the IRC
- Review of Federal Taxation Review of Tax Evidence
- Review of Legal Ethics
- Review of U.S. Tax Court Practice and Procedure
- Review of Case Law
All remote classes are audio-video conferences in the TLI Virtual Conference Rooms and break every 50 minutes.
*This guide provides resources about the Court's Zoomgov remote proceedings. Click/Tap here.
Course Discussions | Textbook Readings
LITIGATING IN TAX COURT
1. The Decision to Litigate
a. Performing Due Diligence: The Statutory Notice of Deficiency
b. Taxpayers' options
c. Exhausting All Remedies with IRS
2. Eligibility to Represent a Petitioner
a. Admission in Good Standing
b. Skills and Training
3. Managing Client Expectations
a. Fee Structuring
b. Expense Predictions
c. Client and Practitioner Expectations
Trial Documents
Statutory Notice of Deficiency
Application for Admission to Practice (Attorneys)
PART 1
TAX COURT JURISDICTION
4. Determining Tax Court Jurisdiction Over Actions for Declaratory Relief
a. Section 7428 Actions
b. Section 7476 Actions
c. Section 7477 Actions
d. Section 7478 Actions
e. Section 7479 Actions
f. Section 6234 Actions
5. Determining Tax Court Jurisdiction Over Other Actions
a. Section 6015 Actions
b. Section 7436 Actions
c. Tax Court Rule 240
d. Section 6512(b) Actions
e. Other Actions
PART 2
6. PLEADINGS
General Forms of All Pleadings
a. Allowable Pleadings and Privacy Protections
b. Purpose of pleadings
c. Caption and signature
d. Form and style
e. Service of pleadings
7. Petition
a. Time for filing
b. How to file
c. Filing fees
d. Content of petition
8. Answer
a. Time for filing
b. Content of answer
9. Reply
a. When a reply is required
b. Content of a reply and time for filing
10. Small Case Procedures
a. Purpose
b. Pleadings
11. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings
a. Time for amendments
b. Amending pleadings to conform to evidence presented at trial
c. Supplemental pleadings
12. Joinder of Issues
a. Case is "At Issue"
Trial Documents
Certificate of Service
Motion to Waive Filing Fee
Designation of Place of Trial
Sample Petitions
Sample Answer in response to Comprehensive Petition
S Case Procedure
Deficiency Petition
Request for Designation of Place of Trial
SFR Petition
Brief for Petitioner
Opening Brief of Respondent
Reply Brief for Petitioner
T.C. Memo 2006-04
Sample Ownership Disclosure Statement
PART 3
13. PRETRIAL MOTIONS
General Motions and Content of Motions
a. Purpose of pretrial motions
b. Form and style
c. Jurisdictional motions
d. Motions regarding the pleadings
e. Motions to dispose of case without trial
f. Motions relating to calendared cases
Trial Documents
Motion for Judgement on the Pleadings
Petitioner's Motion for Summary Judgment
Motion to Consolidate
Motion for Continuance From Trial Session
Motion for Leave to File a Response to Objection to Motion for Summary Judgment
PART 4
14. DISCOVERY
Informal Approach - Timeframe
a. Informal discovery process
b. Timeframe for discovery
Formal Discovery Procedures
a. In general
b. Permissible scope of discovery requests
c. Formal discovery methods
d. On-going duty to supplement responses
e. Protective orders and enforcement of discovery tools
Strategies for the Practitioner to Limit Discovery Responses
a. Analyze requests carefully and narrowly
b. Assert privilege
c. Seek a protective order
Trial Documents
Sample Branerton Letter
Respondent's Interrogatories to Petitioners
Respondent's Request for Production of Documents
Respondent's Request for Admissions
Motion for Protective Order
PART 5
15. PRETRIAL NEGOTIATIONS
Dispute Resolutions Options
a. Referral to appeals
b. Settlement negotiations with Counsel attorney
c. Mediation
d. Arbitration
Stipulation of Facts
a. Duty to stipulate
b. Form and filing
Trial Documents
Stipulation of Settled Issues
Model Agreement to Mediate
Joint Motion for Voluntary Binding Arbitration
Stipulation of Facts
PART 6
16. TRIAL PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF CASE
General Considerations
a. Burden of Proof
b. Evidence
c. Expert witness
d. Entry of appearance and court etiquette
Preparing for Trial
a. Pretrial memoranda
b. Calendar call
Presenting the Case
a. Opening statement
b. Offering stipulation of facts into evidence
c. Presentation of petitioner's case
d. Presentation of respondent's case
e. Closing statement
Trial Documents
Trial Memorandum for Petitioner
Respondent's Motion for Extension of Time to File Stipulation and Decision Documents
Expert Witness Report
Motion in Limine
Limited Entry of Appearance
PART 7
17. POST TRIAL MATTERS: BRIEFS, OPINIONS, DECISIONS, AND MOTIONS
Post-Trial Formal Briefs
a. Timing and order for filing
b. Form and content
Post-Trial Informal Briefs
a. Informal briefs generally
Repots, Opinions and Decisions
a. Introduction
b. Reports
c. Opinions
d. Decisions
e. Tax Court Rule 155 computation
f. Date of decision
Post-Trial Motions
a, Motion for reconsideration of findings or opinion
b. Motion to vacate or revise decision
Trial Documents
Brief for Petitioner
Reply Brief for Petitioner
Decision
Motion for Reconsideration
PART 8
APPEALS
Decision to Appeal
b. The petitioner
b. The Government
Perfection of an Appeal
a. Notice of appeal
b. Standard of appeal
c. Venue for appeal
d. Form of appeal
e. Bond to stay assessment and collection of tax
f. Appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court
Finality of Tax Court Decision
a. Rules of Finality
Trial Documents
United States Tax Court Forms
Form 2 - Notice of Appeals to a Court of from a Decision of the United States Tax Court
PART 9
SPECIAL MATTERS
Small Tax Court
a. Small tax case procedure
Collection Due Process
a. Collection due process
b. Purpose of I.R.C. section 6320
c. Appeals consideration
d. I.R.C. section 6320, notice and opportunity for hearing upon filing of notice of lien/requirements of notice
e. I.R.C. section 6330, notice and opportunity for hearing before levy
Short Discussion Topics
Combined Notice
Notice Rules
Requirements of notice
Right to CDP hearing
Conduct of CDP hearings
Matters Considered ate CDP hearings
Liabilities not subject to deficiency procedures
Judicial Review of CDP hearing
Jurisdiction
New issues
Recent case law
Statute suspension
Standard of review by the Court
Effect of request for judicial review on statute of limitation
Tax Court rules
CDP hearing record
Spousal Defenses
Innocent spouse relief
Relief easier under I.R.C. section 6015
I.R.C. section 6015 relief
Knowledge
I.R.C. section 6015(c), election of separate liability
Knowledge of the source of an erroneous item
Divorced, separated or living apart
Time deadline
I.R.C. section 6015(f), equitable liability
Revenue Procedure 2013-34
Eligibility to be considered for equitable relief
Circumstances under which the Service will make streamlined determinations granting equitable relief under I.R.C. sections 66(c) and 6015 (f)
Limitations
Refunds
The Tax Court review in "Stand Alone" petition
Distinction between should have known and actually knew gives rise to I.R.C. section 6015(c) relief
Nonelecting spouse entitled to challenge grant of innocent spouse relief to former wife
Nonelecting ex-spouse may intervene in deficiency case where other spouse is claiming section 6016 relief
"Item Giving Rise to Deficiency" in omitted income case disputed