Rebuking the Lies – There are many rumors about settling IRS tax debt all over the web. While it is true that some people have settled their IRS debt for extremely low amounts, only a small percentage of people can qualify for very low IRS settlement offers. And only people who display desperate situations can have their IRS debt settled for “pennies on the dollar.”

Another misconception is that you can choose any IRS settlement amount and the IRS will approve it. It’s not that simple. In fact, it’s not simple at all. You have to submit Form 656 Offer in Compromise. You will have to detail your entire financial situation to the IRS. They will determine if the offer you send is fair or not, based on your income and assets. If your income and assets exceed the amount of your offer, your offer will be denied.

The Benefits of Settling Your Tax Debt – The first and obvious benefit of settling your IRS tax debt is saving money. IRS tax debt settlements have the potential to save you thousands of dollars. Secondly, IRS settlements quickly take care of your tax debt. When you choose to pay your IRS debt in monthly payments, penalties and interest continue to accrue on the account. But when you actually settle your IRS tax debt, the tax debt does not continue to grow. It is paid off in a “lump sum”. By comparison, paying monthly will make you feel like there’s no end to your tax debt problem.

Qualifying for IRS Settlement – Not everyone will qualify to settle their IRS tax debt. The IRS is going to weigh your finances very carefully. They need to know your gross income amount. Next they will look at the amount of money in your bank account, and the value of every single asset you own. If any of these amounts are the same or exceed your total IRS tax debt, you will not be approved for an IRS settlement.

Applying for an IRS Tax Debt Settlement – In order to “apply” for an IRS tax debt settlement, you need to file Form 656 Offer in Compromise. It will help you to include any documents supporting why you need IRS settlement. You can show them your income has dropped significantly, or that you’ve lost your assets, or anything else pertinent to your “desperate situation”.

You must double check to make sure you have filled out everything as fully as possible and signed the form. Leave nothing blank. If you make a mistake, your IRS settlement will be denied. You have to include a 20% settlement with your offer. So make sure you do it right, because the money is non-refundable. There is much riding on proper completion of Form 656 and the completeness of your supporting documents!

Getting Professional Help – You can try to fight the IRS “toe to toe” without any help. But you are not likely to succeed. There are too many laws and regulations that ordinary taxpayers simply are not aware of. So where do you start when it comes to settling your IRS tax debt? The best solution is a simple one. Consult with an IRS tax professional that will negotiate with the IRS for you. Having a tax professional on your side greatly improves your chances of winning and ultimately being approved for the IRS settlement!

Don’t panic…don’t ignore the debt, and do file the return. You can try to put off the debt by requesting an extension; October 15th is the latest you can put it off. This could give you a chance to come up with the money that you owe by then. But you do have to file, and the longer you wait the harder the debt will be to deal with.

Depending on how much you owe, you can try to deal with the IRS on your own, or you can seek professional tax help. The first thing you need to do however is to jump on the problem immediately! Do not wait.

Can I bury my head in the sand? I recommend against this. What happens if you wait? First of all the IRS starts sending you letters telling you how much you owe, and asks that you contact them to setup arrangements. If you don’t respond to the IRS then…well, things can get real bad real fast for you. The IRS can seize your wages, seize you bank account, or any other accounts you have. They can also put a levy on your home. That’s why taking immediate action is so important.

But wait… There are options available to you. You want to take action, but you have no way to pay the debt in full. Most people can’t pay their IRS debt in full, and usually it’s over $1,000. Not too many people have that kind of money lying around.

• Setup a payment plan with the IRS.

• Apply for an Offer in Compromise. This can reduce your debt to pennies on the dollar. Beware however, this is very difficult to get, and the IRS frequently denies applicants.

• Apply for Currently Not Collectible status. Again this is very difficult as you have to prove to the IRS that you are living at the bare minimum.

Choose wisely…However you choose to deal with your IRS tax debt is up to you. The key is to make a choice, and not to bury your head in the sand. Just because you don’t see an IRS-Hitman doesn’t mean he doesn’t have you in his sights.

Now you have the smoking gun…Use it!