Safeguarding Your Present and Future

Zachary J. Montgomery has a strong academic background that forms the basis for his legal and professional experience.

• University of Virginia School of Law: Juris Doctor (J.D.)
• Texas A&M University: Master of Science (M.S.) in Management Information Systems, summa cum laude
• Texas A&M University: Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Accounting and Business Honors, summa cum laude

Each degree and institution has contributed significantly to his intellectual growth and professional competence.

Zach's credentials allow him to represent clients before a wide range of jurisdictions. He is admitted to practice in the following courts:

• State Bar of Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Northern, & Western Districts of Texas
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. Supreme Court
  

Zach's dedication to excellence in the field of tax law and beyond is further reflected in his active participation in professional associations. He holds memberships in the following organizations:

• State Bar of Texas
• ~Tax Section
• ~Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section
• Texas Aggie Bar Association
• Collin County Bar Association
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA)
• ~Relations with IRS Committee
• ~Professional Ethics Committee
• ~Business Valuations, Forensics, and Litigation Services Committee

His active involvement in these associations allows him to stay up-to-date with the latest legal developments and contribute to the legal profession's ongoing evolution.

Zach's extensive experience in the field of tax, estate, and business law is illustrated by his history of handling a variety of complex issues. He has been involved in numerous cases, including:

• IRS Tax Penalty Representation: Abatement of failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, and failure-to-make estimated tax penalties totaling more than $200,000.
• IRS Trust Fund Recovery Penalty Representation: Represented clients in obtaining full abatement or waiver of trust fund recovery penalties.
• IRS Tax Penalty Representation: Represented clients in obtaining full abatement or waiver of federal tax penalties, including failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties and international reporting obligation penalties such as Forms 5471, 5472, 3520, 3520-A, 8938, and FBAR.
• Innocent Spouse Relief: Represented innocent spouses in obtaining full innocent spouse relief under I.R.C. §6015.
• Collection Due Process Hearings and Litigation: Counsel for clients in Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing matters, including representation before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals and United States Tax Court.
• Criminal Tax Investigation; Non-Prosecution: Represented client in criminal tax investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation Division involving allegations of income tax evasion; obtained an agreement from IRS CID not to seek prosecution against the client.
• IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures: Represented clients with respect to successful submissions under the IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures.
• Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program: Represented clients with respect to unfiled tax return matters including preparation and submission of Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) materials, Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedure materials, and other IRS voluntary disclosure programs.
• IRS Collection Alternatives: Counseled clients on IRS collection alternatives such as offers in compromise, resulting in significant reductions in and/or eliminations of tax debts.
• Tax Planning: Provided legal counsel to clients on tax effects and structuring of domestic and international business transactions, including formations, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, and reorganizations.
• State Tax Audit Representations: Represented companies in sales tax audits. Obtained “no-change” audit result for clients.
• Trust & Estate Planning: Created and drafted robust estate plans for high-net-worth families, involving complex trusts.
• Real Estate Transactions: Represented lessors and lessees in negotiating commercial lease agreements in the Texas market.
• Estate Planning: Guided clients through the estate planning process, creating comprehensive plans to protect assets, minimize tax liabilities, and ensure the smooth distribution of wealth according to their wishes upon death or incapacitation.
• Business Planning: Provided extensive business planning services, assisting clients in setting objectives, formulating strategies, and developing actionable plans to establish, operate, and grow their businesses while addressing key aspects such as market analysis, financial projections, risk management, and succession planning.

Zach's representative matters reflect his commitment to providing quality legal services, his dedication to his clients, and his profound understanding of the complex nuances of law.

Zach has been a prolific contributor to the knowledge base in the field of tax law. His work has been published on a variety of important subjects, including:

• "You Received an IRS Letter 6316, Now What?" - JD Supra, July 11, 2022
• "You Received an IRS Notice CP2000, Now What?" - JD Supra, June 3, 2022
• "You Received an IRS LT11 Notice (or Letter 1058), Now What?" - JD Supra, May 17, 2022
• "A Win for Taxpayers—Section 6330(d)(1) is a Nonjurisdictional Deadline" - JD Supra, May 3, 2022
• "Notable Tax Takeaways from President Biden’s Budget" - JD Supra, March 31, 2022
• "Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act Claims" - JD Supra, March 17, 2022
• "Supreme Court Update on Tax Cases (March 1, 2022)" - JD Supra, February 28, 2022
• "Actions (and Inactions) Matter with Innocent Spouse Relief—Jones v. Commissioner" - JD Supra, February 22, 2022
• "IRS Criminal Investigation’s Top Ten Cases 2021" - JD Supra, February 9, 2022
• "CDP Proceedings—Is the Time Limit in Section 6330(d)(1) a Jurisdictional Requirement for Tax Court Petitions?" - JD Supra, February 8, 2022
• "No Right to Intervene?—IRS Third-Party Summonses" - JD Supra, February 4, 2022
• "A Current ‘Playoff Picture’ of Non-Willful FBAR Violations" - JD Supra, January 21, 2022
• "Section 6700 Penalties – False or Fraudulent Statements" - JD Supra, September 20, 2021
• "Cryptocurrency, Third-Party Subpoenas, and Personal Jurisdiction Collide—Strobel v. Lesnick" - JD Supra, September 2, 2021
• "Missed Window—Taxpayer Loses Chance to Sue IRS on Claim for Refund" - JD Supra, August 19, 2021
• "Back Off, IRS!—Accounts Holding Advance Child Tax Credit Payments Immune from Levy?" - JD Supra, August 13, 2021
• "Tough Luck, Taxpayer!—IRS Continues to Levy on Social Security Benefits" - JD Supra, August 4, 2021
• "'Extreme Personal Hardship' Doesn’t Excuse Trust Fund Recovery Penalties" - JD Supra, July 23, 2021
• "Ill and Illiterate—Torres v. Commissioner" - JD Supra, June 16, 2021
• "Passport Revocation Challenges—Shitrit v. Commissioner" - JD Supra, June 8, 2021
• "Tax Court Addresses Reasonable Cause Standard and Tax Penalties" - JD Supra, May 18, 2021
• "But, Your Honor, There’s A Coronavirus Pandemic, Part II—United States v. Ishmael" - JD Supra, March 5, 2021
• "Forget Uncle Sam—Watch Out for the Tax Comptroller" - JD Supra, February 9, 2021
• "COVID-19 Relief? Think Again!—Corporate Charitable Contributions for Disaster Relief"
  

Zach has frequently been invited to share his unique insights on various topics in law. He has been a key speaker at the following events:

• "Trusts, Charities, and Taxes" - UNT Financial Planning Day, Denton, Texas, October 18, 2023
• "Estate Planning Seminar for Families and Seniors" - Denton, Texas, October 17, 2023
• "Estate Planning Seminar for Families and Seniors" - Prosper, Texas, October 9, 2023
• "Estate Planning Seminar for Families and Seniors" - Prosper, Texas, August 18, 2023
• "Estate Planning Seminar for Families and Seniors" - Frisco, Texas, July 27, 2023
• "Religious Liberty Update - 2023" - Plano, Texas, July 16, 2023
• "Estate Planning Seminar for Families and Seniors" - Lewisville, Texas, July 11, 2023
• "Religious Liberty Update - 2023" - Plano, Texas, July 9, 2023
• "Wealth Transfer Strategies" - Southlake, Texas, June 29, 2023
• "Complex Problems Demand Comprehensive Solutions" - Abiding Wealth Webinar, June 21, 2023
• "Roe’s Decrescendo: From Force to Corse" - Prosper, Texas, July 17, 2022
• "Roe’s Decrescendo: From Force to Corse" - Plano, Texas, July 10, 2022
• "Roe’s Decrescendo: From Force to Corse" - Plano, Texas, July 3, 2022
• "Federal Tax Procedure and Ethics" - Tax Court Program Class, October 28, 2021
• "Trust Fund Recovery Penalties: Civil & Criminal Concerns" - CPA Academy Webinar, October 22, 2021
• "Trust Fund Recovery Penalties: Civil & Criminal Concerns" - CPA Academy Webinar, October 15, 2021
• "Federal Rules of Evidence" - Tax Court Program Class, October 14, 2021
• "Substantive Tax Issues, Part II" - Tax Court Program Class, September 30, 2021
• "Substantive Tax Issues, Part I" - Tax Court Program Class, September 15, 2021
• "An Introduction to the Tax Court: Jurisdiction, Procedure, and Overview" - Tax Court Program Class, September 2, 2021
• "Married to My (Ex)Spouse’s Taxes: Innocent Spouse Relief" - CPA Academy Webinar, March 3, 2021
• "Married to My (Ex)Spouse’s Taxes: Innocent Spouse Relief" - CPA Academy Webinar, February 1, 2021
• "Married to My (Ex)Spouse’s Taxes: Innocent Spouse Relief" - CPA Academy Webinar, February 8, 2021
  

In recognition of his outstanding work and significant contributions to the field of law, Zach has received the following awards:

• Neighborhood Fave, Nextdoor, 2023
• JD Supra Readers’ Choice Top Author, 2021