If an attorney performs some estate tax work for a client and the client agrees to pay $6,000 to him and $5,000 to a local financial institution for a debt the attorney owes, the attorney has income of:

Explanation:

The total amount paid for the services rendered is $6,000 + $5,000= $11,000.

Although $6,000 was paid directly to him and $5,000 to a financial institution the attorney owes.

Different channels can be used to make payment for services and also at different times. For example payment could be requested as part cash and part bank check. Payment can also be made at various future times.

Regardless of the channels that were used all payments were in relation to the services provided by the attorney.

$11,000

Explanation:

Attorney income = Amount paid to him + Amount paid to the local financial institution.

Attorney income = $6,000 + $5,000 = $11,000

Since it is an agreement between the attorney and the client to split the payment in that manner, the total income of the attorney is $11,000. It does not therefore matter whether the client paid the total amount to him directly or split it and paid a part to a local financial institution for a debt the attorney owes.