Jonathan Decatorsmith
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Law Degree
Awards
Primary Practice Area
Tax Law
Language
English
About
Chicago tax attorney Jonathan Decatorsmith has been practicing tax law for more than 26 years. Prior to joining the Law Offices of Chicago-Kent, Professor Decatorsmith was a senior trial attorney and internal instructor with the Internal Revenue Service for 11 years. He has tried more than 40 cases before the United States Tax Court, and previously served as adjunct professor at DePaul University in Chicago and the University of Minnesota.In 2000, Professor Decatorsmith joined the IIT Chicago-Kent Law School as a full-time clinical professor, and took over the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (now the Chicago-Kent Tax Clinic). Over the years, the clinic grew from formally representing 42 indigent clients (in 2000) to more than 350 individual taxpayers annually, gaining a reputation as one of the preeminent tax clinics in the country. Utilizing the services of student interns, whom Professor Decatorsmith trained in the practice of aggressive and ethical tax controversy representation, the clinic became particularly recognized for its numerous appearances on behalf of lower income petitioners in the United States Tax Court. In January 2012, the tax clinic was transformed into its present, fee-based model. Services were expanded to include tax return preparation, tax and business transaction counseling, not-for-profit organization formation and compliance, and general civil (commercial) litigation. Professor Decatorsmith teaches courses on federal tax practice and procedure, international business transactions, estates and trusts, tax fraud, and other topics. He is a sought-after speaker, and has presented annually at the IRS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic conference in Washington, D.C. on a variety of topics, including IRS Appeals, Collection Strategies, and Tax Court Practice. He has also lectured on Tax Debt Relief Strategies to the Chinatown Merchants Association and various community organizations in the Chicago area. He is also the author of Chapter 24 on Taxation of the Illinois Jurisprudence volume on Immigration.As a strong advocate for taxpayers' rights, Professor Decatorsmith is frequently cast as the lone defender of powerless against the IRS Chief Counsel Office and the IRS Collection Division. The Chicago-Kent Tax Clinic, under his leadership, has become particularly adept at negotiating creative and successful resolutions to significant federal and state tax debts.
Language
English
Contact
Reviews
I'd spent years trying to resolve IRS/State tax payments and penalties. Three years ago, I began to work with Jon,and he's demonstrated both the experience and insight required to resolve these situations. He'll file my OIC shortly, and I look forward to his assistance in the future with credit repair, release of tax liens.
My friend died and named me executor of her estate. I had never done this before. The accountant I saw to file her taxes advised me that I could pay medical bills before I paid Becky's taxes. That seemed off to me, but I foolishly listened to him and paid a few doctors (she left a TINY estate - about $2000 - and owed the Feds $3500 and doctors about 20,000). The accountant was wrong and the IRS came after ME - saying I had paid medical bills knowing taxes were due and now I was personally liable. Jon took the case for me and handled it very professionally. He was quite organized - knew exactly the documents he needed upfront, got to the IRS immediately, kept me informed of the progress and got me off the hook. My only regret is that I went to the accountant first rather than seeking Jon's counsel. I HIGHLY recommend him. He's intelligent, knowledgeable, organized, communicative - and kind. The whole situation was extremely distressful for me and reassured me and took positive action. I will recommend him whenver possible!
My case involved a criminal conviction for taxes so it was a more involved , and time consuming. I have been notified and kept up on all aspects of the case. I am very pleased with the way it is being handled. Everything is throughly explained in a way that I can understand. I would highly reccomend Jon in any legal matter that you may have.
I am known to dislike attorneys in general since they usually work towards using your retainer. But not this one. Mr Decatorsmith has been my attorney for over 5 years now on a very complex tax matter.He has been honest with my chances. He ie very reasonable with costs. He has asked me to call his cell phone on Saturdays, since I usually get worried when I get IRS mail on Saturday. Mr Decatorsmith is competent and is also a very good human being.
I'd spent years trying to resolve IRS/State tax payments and penalties. Three years ago, I began to work with Jon,and he's demonstrated both the experience and insight required to resolve these situations. He'll file my OIC shortly, and I look forward to his assistance in the future with credit repair, release of tax liens.
My friend died and named me executor of her estate. I had never done this before. The accountant I saw to file her taxes advised me that I could pay medical bills before I paid Becky's taxes. That seemed off to me, but I foolishly listened to him and paid a few doctors (she left a TINY estate - about $2000 - and owed the Feds $3500 and doctors about 20,000). The accountant was wrong and the IRS came after ME - saying I had paid medical bills knowing taxes were due and now I was personally liable. Jon took the case for me and handled it very professionally. He was quite organized - knew exactly the documents he needed upfront, got to the IRS immediately, kept me informed of the progress and got me off the hook. My only regret is that I went to the accountant first rather than seeking Jon's counsel. I HIGHLY recommend him. He's intelligent, knowledgeable, organized, communicative - and kind. The whole situation was extremely distressful for me and reassured me and took positive action. I will recommend him whenver possible!
My case involved a criminal conviction for taxes so it was a more involved , and time consuming. I have been notified and kept up on all aspects of the case. I am very pleased with the way it is being handled. Everything is throughly explained in a way that I can understand. I would highly reccomend Jon in any legal matter that you may have.
I am known to dislike attorneys in general since they usually work towards using your retainer. But not this one. Mr Decatorsmith has been my attorney for over 5 years now on a very complex tax matter.He has been honest with my chances. He ie very reasonable with costs. He has asked me to call his cell phone on Saturdays, since I usually get worried when I get IRS mail on Saturday. Mr Decatorsmith is competent and is also a very good human being.
I'd spent years trying to resolve IRS/State tax payments and penalties. Three years ago, I began to work with Jon,and he's demonstrated both the experience and insight required to resolve these situations. He'll file my OIC shortly, and I look forward to his assistance in the future with credit repair, release of tax liens.
My friend died and named me executor of her estate. I had never done this before. The accountant I saw to file her taxes advised me that I could pay medical bills before I paid Becky's taxes. That seemed off to me, but I foolishly listened to him and paid a few doctors (she left a TINY estate - about $2000 - and owed the Feds $3500 and doctors about 20,000). The accountant was wrong and the IRS came after ME - saying I had paid medical bills knowing taxes were due and now I was personally liable. Jon took the case for me and handled it very professionally. He was quite organized - knew exactly the documents he needed upfront, got to the IRS immediately, kept me informed of the progress and got me off the hook. My only regret is that I went to the accountant first rather than seeking Jon's counsel. I HIGHLY recommend him. He's intelligent, knowledgeable, organized, communicative - and kind. The whole situation was extremely distressful for me and reassured me and took positive action. I will recommend him whenver possible!
My case involved a criminal conviction for taxes so it was a more involved , and time consuming. I have been notified and kept up on all aspects of the case. I am very pleased with the way it is being handled. Everything is throughly explained in a way that I can understand. I would highly reccomend Jon in any legal matter that you may have.
I am known to dislike attorneys in general since they usually work towards using your retainer. But not this one. Mr Decatorsmith has been my attorney for over 5 years now on a very complex tax matter.He has been honest with my chances. He ie very reasonable with costs. He has asked me to call his cell phone on Saturdays, since I usually get worried when I get IRS mail on Saturday. Mr Decatorsmith is competent and is also a very good human being.