IRS Solutions

Including: Unfiled Tax Returns, Unpaid Taxes, Lien Subordination, Innocent Spouse Relief, Liens, Levies, Seizures, Payroll Tax Problems, Due Process Hearings, Collection Appeals Audits, Audits and Audit Appeals

Unfiled Tax Returns
People fail to file or pay their taxes for a million reasons. But, failing to file your tax returns is a criminal offense. People who do not file their returns can be prosecuted and punished with jail time, one year for each year the returns are not filed. Why risk losing your freedom for failing to file your tax returns? If you don't file your return the IRS will file them for you based on the financial data that they collect. But when they file your returns, they are filed considering the best interest of the government, usually with little or none of the deductions you would normally be entitled to. Of course, you have the right to file an original return no matter how late it is. If you haven't filed in several years, we can help, no matter how late your returns will be. Let us help give you the peace of mind you want by helping you get caught up with your returns. For more information, please contact us.

Unpaid Taxes
People can get behind on their tax payments for many different reasons; divorce, illness, death of a loved one, bankruptcy, business failure, alcohol, drugs, etc. Regardless of the reason, how do you fix the problem? Well there are many different options when it comes to resolving unpaid taxes.

Offer in Compromise
Did you know that every year the IRS settles thousands of taxpayer's delinquent tax debts for just pennies on the dollar? Why don't you know this? Because the IRS does not publicize the fact that the law allows taxpayers to settle their old tax debts for a fraction of what they owe. The IRS would rather just seize and levy everything you own. So, who qualifies for the Offer in Compromise program? Taxpayers who can demonstrate an inability to pay their delinquent taxes in a short period of time. You may be eligible for this program, so let us help you determine if this is a viable option for you. For more information, please contact us.

Payment Plan
If you don't qualify for an Offer in Compromise, then a Payment Plan may be the best solution to your problem. Many people are able to pay off their IRS debts, but just need time to make the payments. Negotiating payment terms you can live with is the key to success. Unfortunately, penalties and interest will continue to accrue on your outstanding balance as you pay off the debt. You may qualify to have the penalties removed or abated, however, interest on the debt owed is, by law, rarely if ever abated. We can help you determine if a Payment Plan is the right solution to your problem. For more information, please contact us.

Penalty Abatement
The IRS has penalties for just about everything; late filing, underpaying your estimated taxes if you are self employed, if you make a mistake preparing your return, etc. etc. It's ridiculous how many different penalties the IRS can impose for the smallest of mistakes. The original intent of penalties was to punish taxpayers who didn't comply with the law, and to warn the citizen taxpayer to stay in line. However, the main reason penalties exist today is that they have become a huge revenue source for the IRS. Many citizens could pay off their tax debts if it were not for the penalties that can equal or exceed the amount of the taxes owed. The law allows taxpayers who have "reasonable cause" to file for a Penalty Abatement. We can help you determine if you would qualify for a Penalty Abatement. For more information, please contact us.

Lien Subordination
Often taxpayers can't get home equity loans to pay off their old tax debt because the IRS has filed a Federal Tax Lien against their property. These liens are not only public record, but also show up on your credit report, thereby preventing you from getting a loan to pay off the very tax that created the Lien in the first place. It seems like a Catch-22. If you have significant equity in your home to use to pay off you tax debt, there is a way out. A Lien Subordination allows the IRS to reduce its Lien priority and give your lender a superior Lien priority, thereby protecting their loan in exchange for the proceeds from the loan. In this way the IRS gets the equity it had a Lien against and your bank is protected. If you have enough equity in your home to pay the entire amount of taxes owed, many banks won't even require a Lien Subordination to protect their loan. They will simply pay the loan proceeds to the IRS, who will Release the Federal Tax Lien. We can help you determine if a Lien Subordination is the best answer for your tax problem. For more information, please contact us.

Innocent Spouse Relief
Because many spouses submit joint returns, which both spouses sign, any tax liability becomes joint liability. Unfortunately, sometimes the misdeeds or fraud committed by one spouse can create tax liability for the unsuspecting innocent spouse. Sadly, the innocent spouse also gets hit with the tax debt. Innocent spouse relief was designed to alleviate unjust situations where one spouse was clearly the victim of fraud perpetrated by their spouse or ex-spouse. If you qualify for innocent spouse relief, you may not owe any tax. We can help you determine if you would qualify for innocent spouse relief. For more information, please contact us.

Liens
Federal Tax liens can really make life miserable! The IRS files Liens in the public record to protect the government's interest and to ensure you pay your outstanding taxes. Yet the very same Liens filed against you by the IRS also show up on your credit report and often prevent you from borrowing against any assets, like your home, to pay them off. Its a Catch-22. Let us help you resolve your tax problem. For more information, please contact us.

Levies
IRS levies can really ruin your life and do a lot of damage. The IRS uses levies to collect outstanding taxes you owe. They can levy everything from bank accounts to your paycheck; and even Social Security checks. Nothing is sacred. If you own it, they can take it. They know that levies cause damage to your relationships with your bank and your employer. They know that levying your bank account will cause bounced checks, alerting people to your financial problems. But they don't care because their goal is to collect the taxes owed. They don't care if you or your family get hurt along the way! Nevertheless, there are ways to get the IRS levies released. Let us help you get the levies released. For more information, please contact us.

Seizures
Unlike the Levy which involves intangible assets such as your bank account, a Seizure is the taking of physical assets, such as your home or car. Seizures usually happen in aggravated cases when someone ignores many requests by the IRS, over a long period of time, to pay their outstanding taxes. A seizure should not be taken lightly. The IRS will ultimately pursue Seizure of your physical assets. Don't think they won't. Many a newspaper or television show has reported citizens being forced out of their homes, after it was sold at an IRS auction. You can avoid Seizures so you and your family can go on living while your tax problems are being resolved. For more information, please contact us.

Payroll Tax Problems
Because a large portion of the payroll taxes that a business must pay are the employees' withholdings (i.e., other people's money), the IRS views failing to pay payroll taxes as the cardinal sin of tax delinquency. Not paying your company's payroll taxes is the same as stealing your employee's money in the eyes of the IRS. As a result, penalties for failure to pay your payroll taxes, or not filing your returns on time, are much more severe than other types of penalties. The IRS can drastically multiply the amount you owe in a very short time. If you are behind on paying your payroll taxes, LOOK OUT! The IRS is much more aggressive pursuing collection of this type of tax than any other. They would rather seize your business and all of your assets, to be sold at auction, than to allow you to continue amassing additional payroll tax liability. If you are behind on your payroll taxes, DO NOT meet with the IRS on your own. How you answer the questions they ask can determine whether you stay in business or not! It is critical that you hire a professional representative who knows how the IRS operates. For more information, please contact us.

Due Process Hearings
Many citizens are not aware of their Due Process rights. These rights allow taxpayers to contest Federal Tax Liens that have been filed against them; and to protest the decision by the IRS to Levy or seize their assets. Hearings must be requested within the prescribed time allowed after a Federal Tax Lien is filed or Notice of Intent to Levy/Seize has been issued by IRS. Hearings are administered by the IRS Appeals Office. If your request is timely, all collection action will be suspended until a determination is made by Appeals. If you disagree with Appeals' determination, you have the right to judicial review in U.S. Tax Court or U.S. District Court. Collection action is also suspended while your case is under judicial review. Once the court rules, the decision is binding on both you and the IRS. If your request is not timely filed, a hearing will still be allowed but you can not go to court if you disagree with Appeals' determination and collection action will not be suspended. Be aware that the Statute of Limitations on Collection is suspended upon requesting a Due Process Hearing. Let us help you request a Due Process Hearing and represent you before the IRS Appeals Office. For more information, please contact us.

Collection Appeals Audits
Taxpayers may contest other types of IRS collection actions by filing a Collection Appeal. Unlike Due Process hearings, Collection Appeals can also be filed for Denial or Termination of an Installment Agreement; both before a Federal Tax Lien is filed, and after a Levy or Seizure of property. They may also be filed for denied requests to withdraw a Notice of Federal Tax Lien as well as denial of Lien Discharges, Subordinations, and non-attachments. Collection Appeals must be requested within certain prescribed time limits. Collection action will normally be suspended until the IRS Appeals Office makes a determination. Once they make a determination, it is final and binding on both the IRS and the taxpayer. There is no judicial review of Appeals' decision in a court of law. For more info, or to find out if you could benefit by filing a Collection Appeal, please contact us.

Audits
Nothing can strike fear in the hearts of the average American citizen more than receiving an IRS Audit letter in the mail. Audits take significant time away from you and your family, requiring you to gather mounds of records substantiating each and every item reported on your tax return. The IRS will leave no stone unturned in its unrestrained mission to determine the accuracy of your tax return. If you don't comply with the Auditors' wishes, the IRS will recalculate your tax and send you home with a hefty tax bill as your parting gift. It's never a good idea to represent yourself at an Audit. IRS Auditors are trained to extract more information from you than you have a legal obligation to provide. IRS Auditors know that most people fear them and are ignorant of their rights. As a result, they know they can use that fear and ignorance to their advantage. Don't represent yourself in an Audit. It will do far more harm than good. Do yourself a favor. Hire a competent tax professional to represent you. You'll be glad you did. Your representative will handle all correspondence and meetings with the IRS, freeing you to spend more time with your family and less time worrying. Having a representative puts the IRS on notice that you will not allow them to abuse you and stomp on your legal rights. Pre-Audit planning and preparation are critical to winning your Audit.

Our goal is to minimize any changes to your return and to stop the IRS Auditor from opening up additional tax years for examination. IRS Auditors meet in our office or theirs, NOT in your office or home. This allows you to go on with your life without interruptions or worry. Let us represent you in your Audit so you and your family can go on living while our firm does battle for you. For more information, please contact us.

Audit Appeals
Many citizens are not aware that an IRS Agent's decision is not final and can be appealed. IRS Agents have no power to assess additional taxes against you unless you agree with their decision by signing IRS documents stating so, or if you do not file an Appeal within the allotted time. IRS Agents often use a taxpayer's ignorance of their rights against them by intimidating and threatening them if they don't agree with their decision. Just knowing that you have the right to Appeal the IRS Agent's decision gives great power to the average citizen. Let us help you determine if filing an Appeal is the best option to resolve your tax problem. For more information, please contact us.