Vanst Law LLP

05/28/2026

These days, it seems like the only letters that come via U.S. mail are junk flyers and credit card offers. That being said, there is one agency that still sends important information via hard copy mail and that’s the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). More often than not, letters or notices sent to you by the IRS are about federal tax returns or tax accounts. Vanst Law LLP Partner and Tax Attorney Allison Hebl Soares shares a few tips the IRS recently released about the mail it sends.

It's important to be aware of what to do with mail from the IRS. Here are a few tips the IRS recently released about the mail it sends.

05/27/2026

Whether you are signing a commercial lease for the first time or are at the point of renewing, I always recommend having a business attorney review and negotiate the lease. Seemingly “standard” clauses can create major financial exposure, which may end up costing you thousands of dollars in the long term. Vanst Law LLP Partner and Business Attorney Elidia Dostal looks at five commercial lease clauses that can be extremely costly for businesses. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/commercial-lease-clauses-cost-businesses-thousands-vanstlaw-acxgc/

05/25/2026

In memoriam 🇺🇸

05/20/2026

It used to be that doing a Google search made it so clients became legal “experts” in their cases. Now that practice and mindset has extended to AI. However, when it comes to litigation, this is not the best strategy. Attorneys are being inundated with questions and information that clients are sourcing from AI. The problem is that telling your attorney what AI or the internet told you could waive the very important attorney-client privilege because inputting your legal questions and case information into AI can create a record if commercial-based AI sources are used. Vanst Law LLP Partner and Litigation Attorney Jacqueline Vinaccia explains. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/use-ai-litigation-could-affect-attorneyclient-privilege-vanstlaw-4hc1c

05/14/2026

While tariffs may seem like just a customs issue to many taxpayers, they can directly affect California sales and use tax compliance. Tariffs add another audit risk layer to those sales. Vanst Law LLP Partner and Tax Attorney Allison Hebl Soares looks at how tariffs are creating a new CDTFA audit risk for California importers and online sellers.

Let’s look at how tariffs are creating a new CDTFA audit risk for California importers and online sellers.

05/05/2026

For many businesses, contracts are generally handled in one of two ways. They are either created on an as-needed basis; such as with vendor and supplier contracts, or lease agreements. Or, contracts are created reactively. One way to mitigate risk is through the use of a Master Service Agreement (MSA). This is a foundational contract that governs the overall relationship between two parties. Instead of renegotiating legal terms for every new project, the MSA establishes the core terms upfront. Vanst Law LLP Partner and Business Attorney Elidia Dostal explains more. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/master-service-agreements-do-you-really-need-one-yes-vanstlaw-qnofc/

04/27/2026

There has been a lot of excitement about the many expanded and new deductions in the One Big Beautiful Bill, as well as how it can potentially save taxpayers money. However, with this excitement does come risk. The new or expanded deductions often attract heightened scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service, increasing audit risk for unprepared taxpayers. Vanst Law LLP Partner and Tax Attorney Allison Hebl Soares looks at the bill and the deductions that may raise red flags with the IRS.

The new and expanded deductions in the one Big Beautiful Bill may raise red flags with the IRS. Here's what you should look out for.

04/16/2026

There is a documented uptick in EDD audits from California’s Employment Development Department (EDD). Vanst Law Partner and Tax Attorney Allison Hebl Soares looks at what’s behind the surge in 2026 EDD audits and how your business should prepare.

There is a documented uptick in California EDD audits. Let’s look at what’s behind the surge and how your business should prepare.

04/06/2026

Vanst Law LLP is proud to be recognized as a 2026 Partner in Justice in support of the San Diego County Bar Foundation and its mission to advance access to justice, know your rights education, and the improvement of the San Diego legal system.

03/26/2026

When it comes to tax audits, the IRS is not the only organization that conducts tax audits. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) focuses on sales tax audits among California residents and tax payers. We receive panicked calls from business owners saying they are being audited by the CDTFA and need help to navigate the process. Vanst Law LLP Partner and Tax Attorney Allison Hebl Soares looks at how the CDTFA carries out its audits and whether your California business is likely to face one.

Let’s look at how the CDTFA carries out its audits and whether your California business is likely to face one.