Accounting Firm Serving Austin, Texas

It depends heavily on the job. A staff accountant at a small Austin firm, a senior tax specialist, and a controller at a tech company are paid very differently, and licensure, industry and years of experience all move the number. For a reliable current range, look at recent Austin job postings for the exact title and published labor market data rather than any single figure you see quoted online.

An Enrolled Agent holds a license issued by the U.S. Treasury that lets them represent taxpayers before the IRS in every state, on any kind of federal tax issue. In practice that means we can sign on with Form 2848, pull your IRS transcripts, talk to revenue officers and auditors for you, and negotiate payment plans, offers and penalty relief. You don't have to take those calls yourself.

Yes. The first step is getting the real numbers: what's owed for which years, how much is penalty and interest, and where the account sits in collections. From there the realistic options usually include an installment agreement, an Offer in Compromise, Currently Not Collectible status, or penalty abatement. We work with Austin clients entirely by phone, video and secure upload.

Move fast, but don't panic. Keep every letter, especially any Final Notice of Intent to Levy (LT11 or Letter 1058), and note the dates. Once we're authorized, we can contact the IRS, confirm what triggered the levy, and work on a release tied to a payment arrangement or a hardship status. Bank levies have a 21 day hold before funds go to the IRS, so that window matters.

Sometimes. The IRS accepts an offer when it believes the amount offered is the most it can reasonably collect, based on your income, necessary expenses, assets and future earning ability. Plenty of people don't qualify, and a rejected offer costs time. We run the numbers with you first so you know whether an offer is worth filing or whether another route makes more sense.

Often, at least in part. First Time Abate relief is available if you had a clean penalty history for the prior three years, and reasonable cause relief covers situations like serious illness, disasters or bad advice. Abatement removes penalties (and the interest on them), not the tax itself, but it can take a meaningful bite out of the balance.

Usually. The IRS won't approve most payment plans or offers until your required returns are on file. And if the IRS already filed substitute returns for you, those rarely include the deductions and credits you're entitled to, so filing your own can lower the bill. We prepare the missing years as part of the plan, not as a separate project.

Yes, and it shouldn't wait. Unpaid Form 941 deposits draw aggressive collection activity and can lead to the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty, which makes owners and other responsible people personally liable. We sort out which quarters are missing or unpaid, get filings current, and set up a resolution. If your business holds federal contracts, we can also help get your books DCAA ready so the tax issue doesn't spill into your contract work.