Attorney Biography

Michael C. Whelan • Chicago Tax Lawyer

Michael C. Whelan is a Chicago tax lawyer, former IRS attorney, and certified public accountant who represents clients before the IRS Collection division and  audited taxpayers

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He is admitted to the bar in Illinois; U.S. Tax Court; U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois; U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit; and the Court of Federal Claims. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association – Section of Federal Taxation, and the American Association of Attorneys – Certified Public Accountants.

Michael C. Whelan received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Marquette University and received his Juris Doctor Degree from Creighton University College of Law where he received the Creighton Award in Federal Income Tax. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Whelan was employed by the Internal Revenue Service, District Counsel – Tax Litigation Division in Chicago. Mr. Whelan has also written numerous tax articles for publication, and has lectured extensively in the area of Taxation in Illinois and out-of-state to numerous accountants and attorneys.

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Education

Michael C. Whelan received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marquette University and received his Juris Doctor Degree from Creighton University College of Law where he received the Creighton Award in Federal Income Tax. He also received a masters degree from the University of Chicago.

  • United States Tax Court
  • United States District Court-Northern District of Illinois
  • United States Court of Appeals-Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • Supreme Court of Illinois

  • Co-author of Annual Income Tax Updates for Illinois State Bar Association. Federal Taxation Annual Meeting, 1993-1995
  • “Practice and Procedure Updates,” Illinois State Bar Association Federal Taxation Newsletter, co-author, September, 1994
  • “Income Tax Updates,” Northwest Suburban Bar Association Newsletter, co-author, April, 1993
  • “So the IRS says your independent contractors are employees, so what?” Illinois State Bar Association Federal Taxation Newsletter, co-author, February, 1993
  • “Tax collections and tenants by the entirety,” Illinois State Bar Association Federal Taxation Newsletter, April, 1992
  • “Innocent Spouse Relief,” Illinois State Bar Association Federal Taxation Newsletter, co-author, March, 1992

  • Fresh Start Initiative – Installment Agreements, Liens/Discharging Taxes in Bankruptcy, Enrolled Agents of Indiana, September 2022
  • Independent Accountants Association – “Bad Debt Deductions and Discharging Taxes in Bankruptcy” – November, 2018
  • Illinois Tax Practitioners “Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 and Bad Debt Deductions” August, 2018
  • Travel Expense/Theft Losses – Illinois Tax Practitioners, July 2017 – Independent Accountants Assn. of Illinois, Sept 2017.
  • Internal Revenue Code Section 6672 – Trust Fund Recovery Penalty – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, December 1997 – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, December 2016.
  • Gambling Income – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, August 2006 – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, August 2016.
  • Fresh Story Initiative & Installment Agreements, Liens – Illinois Tax Practitioners, August 2016 – Independent Accountants of Illinois, August 2016.
  • Discharging Taxes In Bankruptcy – Independent Accountants Association, July 2016.
  • Shorts Sales, Bankruptcy, Foreclosures, Etc. – Illinois Tax Practitioners & Independent Accountant’s Association of Illinois, December 2011, September 2013, May 2014, September 2014, October 2014, October 2015, July 2016, October 2016.
  • Mortgages, Foreclosures, and Refinancing Today – Independent Accountants of Illinois, July 2016.
  • Innocent Spouse Relief – Enrolled Agents of Indiana, Fall 2015.
  • Representation Before the Collection Division of the Illinois Department of Revenue – Illinois Tax Practitioners, 2015 – Independent Accountants Assn. of Illinois.
  • Extensions, Waivers, Statute of Limitations, Penalty Abatements – Illinois Tax Practitioners, December 2013.
  • Offers in Compromise, Installment Agreements, IRS Liens
  • Independent Accountants Association of Illinois, December 2012
  • Discharge of Indebtedness Income
  • Independent Accountants Association of Illinois, November 2012
  • Bankruptcy and Taxes; Offers in Compromise – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, 2006.
  • Federal Income Tax Updates – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, 1998.
  • Federal Income Tax Updates – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, 1997.
  • Tax Litigation Issues – H&R Block Regional Satellite Convention, October 1996.
  • Offers in Compromise – H&R Block Regional Satellite Convention, October 1996.
  • Annual Income Tax Updates – Tax Practitioners of Illinois, 1994.
  • Like-kind Exchanges/Installment Sales – Independent Accountants Association of Illinois – 1994.
  • Representing taxpayers subject to the 100% penalty (Trust Fund Recovery Penalty) – Independent Accountants Association of Illinois, 1993; Illinois Tax Practitioners, 1993.
  • Claims For Refund – Independent Accountants Association of Illinois.
  • Representation in US Tax Court – Tax Practitioners of Illinois.
  • Bad Debt Losses – Illinois Tax Practitioners.

experienced Tax Attorney and Certified Public Accountant representing clients before the IRS

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Michael C. Whelan is a former IRS attorney, certified public accountant, and Chicago tax attorney who currently represents clients before the IRS Collection division as well as audited taxpayers. He is admitted to the bar in Illinois; U.S. Tax Court; U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois; U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit; and the Court of Federal Claims. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association – Section of Federal Taxation, and the American Association of Attorneys – Certified Public Accountants.

Our firm concentrates its practice in representing individuals and businesses before both the Internal Revenue Service and the Illinois Department of Revenue. Since we also help people file for bankruptcy relief under the new Bankruptcy Code, we also qualify as a debt relief agency.

If you are looking for a tax lawyer in Chicago and are in need of our services in the state of Illinois, please do not hesitate to contact us at (847) 298-9275 . Get help today!

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