Tax Debt Relief Attorneys: IRS Resolution Guidance

Plenty of people search for a tax attorney first, but it's usually not necessary for IRS collection and audit matters: an Enrolled Agent can represent you directly, and if your case ever calls for outside counsel, we'll say so and you can engage one separately. Day to day, tax debt relief work means reviewing your IRS account and transcripts, your filings, notices, finances, and collection status, then choosing the right tool: penalty relief, an installment agreement, Currently Not Collectible status, or an Offer in Compromise for those who qualify.

Enrolled Agents are licensed by the U.S. Treasury and have unlimited practice rights before the IRS. That means we can represent you in collections, audits, appeals, payment arrangements, penalty requests, and any other federal tax issue, in any state. Our founder holds the license and leads every case, so the person who speaks with the IRS is the same person who knows your file.

For a small group of taxpayers, an Offer in Compromise can settle the debt for less than the full balance. Most people don't qualify, though, whatever the radio ads say. The IRS weighs your income, allowable living expenses, assets, future earning potential, and whether your filings and payments are current. A strong offer needs complete, accurate financial documentation. We compare an offer against a payment plan or hardship status before you spend money on either.

An installment agreement spreads the balance over scheduled monthly payments. The IRS looks at the amount owed, whether your returns are filed, the payment you propose, and, for bigger balances, a financial statement. Interest and some penalties keep running until it's paid off. The best agreement is one you can afford every month without falling behind on current year taxes, because defaulting puts collection right back on the table.

Call right away. A levy can drain the cash you need for rent or payroll, and deadlines apply. Gather the levy notice, your recent returns, income records, bank details, and a list of your necessary expenses. We'll reach the IRS, confirm why it levied, and work on a release through a payment agreement, hardship status, or another request. Keep opening your mail, too. Later letters often carry new deadlines.

Sometimes. First Time Abate relief covers taxpayers with a clean three year history, and reasonable cause relief applies when events beyond your control, like a serious illness or a natural disaster, got in the way and you acted responsibly once you could. Removing penalties doesn't erase the tax itself, and interest on the tax remains. We check your filing and payment history and build the request around documented facts.

With the missing returns. Most relief options stall until they're filed. If you don't file, the IRS may build substitute returns from the income it knows about, leaving out deductions, credits, and expenses you're entitled to. We prepare accurate returns for the open years, which often brings the true balance down, and line them up with the rest of the resolution plan.

It varies with the issue, how backed up the IRS is, whether your filings are current, and how complete your records are. A simple payment plan can come together faster than an Offer in Compromise, an audit appeal, or a hardship determination. Active levies get handled first. The fastest thing you can do is send complete records quickly when we ask.