Practice Areas

Practice Areas

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The Ornelas Firm prides itself on helping small businesses, nonprofits, foreign investors, and US expatriates meet their tax compliance requirements. We assist our clients in the development of strategies aimed at minimizing their tax exposure and resolving their outstanding tax liabilities. With over 20 years of experience in accounting and tax law, we offer unparalleled technical expertise and are invested in achieving our client’s goals.

Tax Compliance and Resolutions

The Ornelas Firm represents individuals and businesses in El Paso, West Texas, and Southern New Mexico in all stages of tax disputes. As tax attorneys with deep accounting experience, we handle everything from the first audit notice or unfiled return to deficiency notices, administrative appeals, and tax litigation. We deal directly with the IRS, the Texas State Comptroller, and the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department to challenge incorrect assessments, release liens and levies when possible, and negotiate practical resolutions. Our goal is simple: protect your income and assets while bringing you back into compliance as efficiently as possible using effective solutions tailored to your unique situation.

Services include:

  • Audits and Examinations.
  • Unfiled Tax Returns
  • Deficiency Notices.
  • Tax Protests and Appeals.
  • Tax Litigation.
  • Tax Liability Resolution.

International Tax Solutions

Our international tax practice focuses on cross-border clients with ties to the United States, Mexico, and Latin America. We advise foreign investors, US citizens and residents living abroad, and small businesses with international operations on how US tax rules, treaties, and reporting regimes apply to their specific situation. From FBAR/FATCA compliance to USRPI (FIRPTA) withholding and US gift and estate tax on US-situs assets, we help clients understand their obligations, avoid double taxation, and correct past problems before they escalate.

Services include:

  • FBAR / FATCA Reporting and Compliance
  • Foreign Tax Credits
  • Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
  • Totalization and Cross-Border Payroll Issues
  • Tax Treaty Benefits and Limitations (including FATCA IGAs / CRS)
  • Permanent Establishment Planning
  • Foreign Subsidiary Tax Reporting and Related Issues
  • USRPI / FIRPTA Tax Withholding
  • US Gift and Estate Tax on Foreigners’ US-Situs Assets

Small Business Tax Solutions

We help small businesses, nonprofits, and foreign investors make tax-smart decisions at every stage of the business life cycle. Because our attorneys also have an accounting background, we look beyond the return itself to how your entity structure, compensation arrangements, acquisitions, and exit strategies affect both tax liability and cash flow. Whether you are launching a new venture, growing into new markets, or planning a transition to the next generation, we focus on practical strategies that manage risk and minimize unnecessary tax.

Services include:

  • Financial / Tax Analysis
  • Business Startup and Formation
  • Strategic Planning
  • Worker Classification
  • Business and Asset Acquisitions and Sales
  • Reorganization
  • Succession Planning

Probate & Estate Planning

Our estate planning and probate practice is built around helping families protect assets and transfer wealth smoothly under Texas and New Mexico law. On the planning side, we design coordinated packages of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives that reflect your family dynamics and long-term objectives. When someone has passed away, we guide executors and heirs through probate, heirship, and related proceedings—whether the will was signed in Texas, New Mexico, another state, or even another country—and work to clear title and distribute assets with as little conflict as possible.

Services include:

  • Estate Planning Document Drafting (Wills, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts)
  • Durable Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney
  • Advance Directives, Living Wills, and HIPAA Authorizations
  • Probate & Estate Administration (Texas and New Mexico Wills)
  • Foreign and Out-of-State Wills
  • Heirship and Intestate (No-Will) Proceedings
  • Ancillary Proceedings & Multi-State / Cross-Border Estate

Small Business Corporate Services

Beyond tax, we provide small businesses, nonprofits, and foreign investors with corporate legal services that support day-to-day operations and long-term growth. From forming or reorganizing entities to drafting contracts, maintaining corporate governance, and handling acquisitions or collections, we focus on clear documentation that protects owners and reduces risk. Based in El Paso and serving West Texas and Southern New Mexico, we are particularly attuned to the needs of closely held and cross-border businesses operating on both sides of the US–Mexico border.

Services include:

  • Business Formation & Reorganization
  • Registered Agent Services
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Contract Drafting and Review
  • Business and Asset Acquisitions and Sales
  • Collections