If a taxpayer fights the IRS and wins, under certain circumstances, the taxpayer is entitled to recover attorney’s fees from the federal government. Conditions for recovery:
If a taxpayer represents himself, can he recover costs based on what he would have had to pay an attorney? An appellate court recently said no. The language of the law allows a recovery only for the services of an attorney paid or incurred in connection with the court proceeding. Since a taxpayer representing himself does not pay any fees, there can be no recovery.
Source: Paul S. Hudson; No. 09-3600
Shifting income to a later year, such as where you defer taxable interest to the following year by purchasing a T-bill or savings certificate maturing after the end of the current year. Investments in qualified retirement plans provide tax deferral.