Tax Relief and Resolution in Orange County

It's the work of getting an IRS problem closed out using the IRS's own procedures. That might be a payment plan, removing penalties, pausing collection under Currently Not Collectible status, settling through an Offer in Compromise, or simply getting unfiled returns in. Nothing gets decided until the balance, filing history and your finances are verified, because the right answer depends on those numbers.

Take it seriously but don't panic. A CP504 is a notice of intent to levy, and it means the IRS is moving toward collection. It isn't usually the last warning, but the window to act is getting shorter. Send us the notice and we can pull your transcripts, confirm the balance and get a resolution request in before enforcement escalates.

Possibly, but go in with clear eyes. The IRS compares your debt to what it believes it could collect from your assets and future income. If the debt is larger, an offer can make sense. In high cost areas like Orange County, allowable living expenses and home equity both weigh heavily in that calculation, so we run the numbers before you commit to the paperwork and fee.

You agree to pay the balance over time, monthly. Smaller balances can often qualify for a streamlined installment agreement with less financial disclosure, while larger ones require a full financial statement. Interest and the late payment penalty keep running, though at a reduced rate for the penalty once the plan is in place. Stay current on future returns and payments or the agreement can default.

Frequently. First Time Abate is available when your recent history is clean, and reasonable cause relief applies when something beyond your control, such as serious illness or a disaster, kept you from filing or paying. Interest on the tax itself generally stays, but the interest charged on a removed penalty comes off with it.

Call right away. Bank levies hold your funds for 21 days before the bank sends them to the IRS, which gives a short window to act. Wage levies continue each payday until released. We contact the IRS, confirm what triggered it, and put a release option on the table, whether that's a payment arrangement, a hardship claim, or getting missing returns filed.

Yes. Owner operated businesses often end up here after payroll deposits slip during a slow stretch. Unpaid Form 941 taxes can lead to the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty against owners personally, so we move quickly to get filings current and work out a resolution. Then we look at what caused it. For established companies, including aerospace and defense suppliers with government contracts, our fractional CFO and GovCon accounting work can help steady cash flow so it doesn't happen again.

It depends on the path. A levy release or a straightforward payment plan can come together in weeks once returns are filed. Offers in Compromise and appeals often take many months because the IRS reviews detailed financials and frequently asks follow up questions. Unfiled returns add time at the start. Sending complete documents early is the single biggest thing you can do to speed it up.