Liv Worthington has worked in the debt management field for many years. She also offers advice on IRS tax debt for taxpayers who’ve heard you can settle your IRS tax debt for less than you owe through IRS settlement and the Offer in Compromise program.
Posts tagged ‘Tax Debt’
It’s possible to settle your IRS tax debt, but it presents a challenge. Proving you can settle your tax debt for less is a daunting experience. You have to contend with pages of IRS paperwork rife with technical terms. Settling tax debt is indeed a reality and it can be done. However, there’s a lot you need to know before you attempt to settle your IRS tax debt.
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!
IRS OFFER IN COMPROMISE – IRS TAX SETTLEMENT – IRS TAX RELIEF
An IRS Offer in Compromise ( also known as an OIC ) is an excellent way to settle your IRS Tax Debt with the IRS for much LESS money than what you currently owe. This Settlement of IRS Taxes
Taking on IRS tax debt is a daunting task that presents many confusing issues. The majority of taxpayers are aware of the option to pay their IRS tax debt in full or pay the tax debt in monthly payments or installments. But there is another option, the IRS “Offer in Compromise.” Knowing the steps to success with an IRS Offer in Compromise, also commonly called IRS tax settlement is important, because if your offer is approved you can save thousands of dollars! It can play a critical role in the financial future of any delinquent taxpayer, impacting not only the taxpayer individually, but the financial health and welfare of their family’s future. Settling Your IRS Tax Debt: In a nutshell, an “Offer in Compromise” is an IRS tax settlement. If you qualify for an offer, you can have your IRS tax debt greatly reduced. However, it’s not easy to qualify for an offer. The IRS will weigh your entire financial situation. If the IRS determines you don’t have enough income to satisfy your debt in full, your offer may be approved. It is your job to prove you can’t pay your IRS tax debt in full, so make sure you do your IRS research thoroughly. Insider Tip: It’s notoriously hard to have your IRS tax settlement approved, regardless of “how simply or straight forward it may sound.” But there is a secret way to crack the IRS’s code. The IRS has three ways of determining if you qualify for an Offer in Compromise/IRS tax settlement. The Factors: The IRS may accept the offer based on any of the following:> Doubt as to Collectability: If you know you cannot pay your IRS tax debt in full, you may qualify. Remember, if you have assets that could be sold to satisfy your debt these must be considered when you make your offer to the IRS. > Doubt as to Liability: If you think the debt liability does not fall to you, you’re a good candidate for an offer in compromise. But your reasons must be legitimate. Here are three legitimate reasons listed on the official IRS website:(1) the examiner made a mistake interpreting the law(2) the examiner failed to consider the taxpayer’s evidence or(3) the taxpayer has new evidence. IRS Tax Specialists: Expert IRS tax advisors may give you the edge you need to get your IRS tax settlement approved. Even with some insider knowledge, getting your Offer in Compromise approved by the IRS is difficult to achieve. That’s where IRS tax specialists come in. Tax specialists employ or include Tax Attorneys and Enrolled Agents. IRS tax specialists are experienced in all tax debt issues and know exactly what you qualify for, and how to help you get your Offer approved. They can make the difference in achieving an accepted offer. It’s Just The Start of Your Road to Recovery: Getting your offer in compromise approved is only the beginning of your road to recovery. When your tax debt settlement is approved you are entering a 5 year contract with the IRS. This “contract” means you have to file your taxes on time for five consecutive years. If you default on a payment or fail to file properly and timely, the IRS can charge you the original tax debt amount plus penalties and interest.
Liv Worthington has worked in the debt management field for many years. She also advises clients IRS tax debt who need an Offer in Compromise or IRS tax settlement solution to their tax problem.
It’s important you do not to ignore IRS back taxes for long. When IRS collection notices are ignored, the IRS has to resort to collecting from taxpayers by force. They do this with their dreaded IRS tax levy. By law, the Internal Revenue Service has the right to issue an IRS tax levy on you. This means it’s completely legal for the IRS to levy your bank accounts, issue wage garnishments, and even seize your assets in extreme cases.The most common IRS tax levy collection tools are the IRS bank levy and the IRS wage levy. If you receive notice from the IRS that either Tax Levy is going to be issued on you, you need to act fast. Your income and bank account funds are at stake and the matter is now extremely urgent! IRS Bank Levy: The IRS bank levy is an extremely harmful way to collect IRS back taxes. All of the money you scrimped and saved can be gone in and instant. Here’s what happens when the IRS Issues a bank levy:1. First, the IRS freezes your bank account.2. They give you 21 days to contact them and explain why you should receive the money. If you do not comply, the IRS will keep all of the money in your account for good.If you received a Notice of Intent to Levy from the IRS, it’s imperative to act fast and get your tax debt taken care of. It’s a smart idea to consider professional help at this point. Timing is crucial and a tax professional has a better chance of negotiating with the IRS and getting the bank levy removed in the short 21 day time frame. Remember that once the IRS seizes your account funds with the bank levy, you will not be able to get them back. IRS Wage Levy: The IRS wage levy is another brutal method used to collect IRS back taxes. It’s also known as wage garnishment. Basically, the IRS can take a percentage of your paycheck until your tax debt is paid in full, or until the statute of limitations on your tax debt expires. You do not want the IRS to seize money from your paycheck for years. Remember, they can seize up to 70% of your paycheck. It’s important to work fast to find a better solution for paying off your IRS back taxes. Stop the Bleeding: Your bank account and paycheck are being threatened. How do you stop the tax levies, and fast? You have to start by giving the IRS what they want. You have to make an arrangement to pay on your IRS back taxes. You can pay by settling your tax debt (for less than the full amount due) with an Offer in Compromise, or your can pay them monthly through what is called an Installment Agreement. Hiring Professional Help: Once an IRS tax levy or federal tax lien has been issued against you, things get tricky. Negotiating with the IRS is tough once they’ve opened a direct route to your money. If you’ve already received an official IRS Notice you might need professional assistance with your tax debt. With a tax professional working on your side you have a better chance of being successful and getting your tax debt issues resolved once and for all.
Liv Worthington has worked in the debt management field for many years. She also advises clients with IRS back taxes who are facing an IRS tax levy or bank levy and need a fast tax solution.
It’s important you do not to ignore IRS back taxes for long. When IRS collection notices are ignored, the IRS has to resort to collecting from taxpayers by force. They do this with their dreaded IRS tax levy. By law, the Internal Revenue Service has the right to issue an IRS tax levy on you. This means it’s completely legal for the IRS to levy your bank accounts, issue wage garnishments, and even seize your assets in extreme cases.The most common IRS tax levy collection tools are the IRS bank levy and the IRS wage levy. If you receive notice from the IRS that either Tax Levy is going to be issued on you, you need to act fast. Your income and bank account funds are at stake and the matter is now extremely urgent! IRS Bank Levy: The IRS bank levy is an extremely harmful way to collect IRS back taxes. All of the money you scrimped and saved can be gone in and instant. Here’s what happens when the IRS Issues a bank levy:1. First, the IRS freezes your bank account.2. They give you 21 days to contact them and explain why you should receive the money. If you do not comply, the IRS will keep all of the money in your account for good.If you received a Notice of Intent to Levy from the IRS, it’s imperative to act fast and get your tax debt taken care of. It’s a smart idea to consider professional help at this point. Timing is crucial and a tax professional has a better chance of negotiating with the IRS and getting the bank levy removed in the short 21 day time frame. Remember that once the IRS seizes your account funds with the bank levy, you will not be able to get them back. IRS Wage Levy: The IRS wage levy is another brutal method used to collect IRS back taxes. It’s also known as wage garnishment. Basically, the IRS can take a percentage of your paycheck until your tax debt is paid in full, or until the statute of limitations on your tax debt expires. You do not want the IRS to seize money from your paycheck for years. Remember, they can seize up to 70% of your paycheck. It’s important to work fast to find a better solution for paying off your IRS back taxes. Stop the Bleeding: Your bank account and paycheck are being threatened. How do you stop the tax levies, and fast? You have to start by giving the IRS what they want. You have to make an arrangement to pay on your IRS back taxes. You can pay by settling your tax debt (for less than the full amount due) with an Offer in Compromise, or your can pay them monthly through what is called an Installment Agreement. Hiring Professional Help: Once an IRS tax levy or federal tax lien has been issued against you, things get tricky. Negotiating with the IRS is tough once they’ve opened a direct route to your money. If you’ve already received an official IRS Notice you might need professional assistance with your tax debt. With a tax professional working on your side you have a better chance of being successful and getting your tax debt issues resolved once and for all.
Liv Worthington has worked in the debt management field for many years. She also advises clients with IRS back taxes who are facing an IRS tax levy or bank levy and need a fast tax solution.
IRS Debt Help:
Do you owe the IRS? Are you struggling with IRS debts and cannot figure out what to do? Don’t despair, you are not alone. Many Americans owe back taxes, or cannot afford to pay their IRS debts. If you want to get IRS debt help, it’s important to understand the different IRS tax debt strategies.
There are five strategies for getting out of IRS tax debt.
1.Offer in Compromise: a program where you can settle your tax debts for less than what you owe. Requires making a lump sum or short term payment plan to pay off the IRS at a reduced dollar amount.
2.Installment agreement: a monthly payment plan for paying off the IRS.
3.Partial payment installment agreement: a somewhat new debt management program where you have a long term payment plan to pay off the IRS at a reduced dollar amount.
4.Not currently collectible: a program where the IRS voluntarily agrees not to collect on the tax debt for a year or so.
5.Filing bankruptcy: discharge your tax debts under the strict rules of a Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy petition.
Offer in Compromise
Many people who find themselves in debt to the IRS might focus on the first option above – the Offer in Compromise (”OIC”). For those who qualify it can be the optimal solution, however, it is important to note that not everyone qualifies for the Offer in Compromise solution. Only about 15% of applicants succeed in reducing their debts through the OIC program. For this reason and because of the complexity of filing an Offer in Compromise many people enlist the services of a Tax Professional who has a track record of success negotiating with the IRS. This Tax Professional will not only be able to determine if you are eligible to reduce your IRS debts via an OIC but they will also assist you in navigating the complicated IRS bureaucracy to achieve the desired outcome.
An Offer in Compromise is a lengthy and time-consuming process. It takes most individuals anywhere from 12 months to 24 months to achieve a successful resolution on your offer application. Through an Offer in Compromise, taxpayers agree to pay the IRS only the reasonable collection potential instead of the full amount of taxes owed. For some people the “reasonable collection potential” will be less than the full amount of taxes owed – sometimes as little as 10%.
Installment Agreement
Many taxpayers cannot qualify for an Offer in Compromise, Statute of Limitations expiration, or bankruptcy relief but still seek resolution for their IRS liability. In these cases, it may be possible to negotiate long term IRS payment arrangements. The IRS allows “structuring” five primary types of payment plans, or Installment Agreements: Guaranteed Installment Agreements, Streamlined Installment Agreements, In-Business Trust Fund Agreements, Long-Term Installment Agreements, and Installment Agreements on Specified Balance Due Accounts.
Currently Not Collectible
If a taxpayer does not qualify for an offer in compromise and cannot afford to pay an Installment Agreement, Currently not Collectible (CNC) status may be an option. If a client is placed in CNC status, the statute of limitations continues to run and the IRS will not pursue collection actions. However, if a taxpayer’s financial status improves, the IRS can remove the file from CNC status and return to active collection status.
Reasons for attempting CNC status:
1. Taxpayer has income below allowable expenses and there is no indication that the financial situation will improve in the future;
2. Due to high equity, the taxpayer does not qualify for an OIC and has more allowable expenses than income so an Installment Agreement is not an option; and,
3. Taxpayer has more allowable expenses than income and the statute of limitations is getting close to expiring.
Statute of Limitation for IRS Tax Debt
The IRS has 10 years to collect outstanding tax liabilities. This is measured from the day a tax liability has been finalized. A tax liability can be finalized in a number of ways. It could be a balance due on a tax return, an assessment from an audit, or a proposed assessment that has become final. From that day, the IRS has ten years to collect the full amount, plus any penalties and interest. If the IRS doesn’t collect the full amount in the 10-year period, then the remaining balance on the account disappears forever. The statute of limitations on collecting the tax has expired.
Selecting a Tax Professional to handle your IRS Tax Debts
Because of the complexity of the Offer in Compromise and other IRS tax debt processes, many taxpayers hire a tax professional to prepare their IRS documentation and to negotiate directly with the IRS. Tax professionals charge anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000 or more for accurate and thorough IRS representation. Because most of the IRS tax debt solutions involve negotiating with the IRS, your tax professional should be admitted to practice before the IRS. You should be looking for a Tax Attorney, an Enrolled Agent (EA), or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to handle your Offer in Compromise. The tax professional must know about the laws governing IRS collection of tax debts, how the IRS evaluates offers, and what all the options are for resolving tax debt problems. “Taxpayers should be looking for a tax professional with years of experience in IRS collection matters, especially experience in dealing with revenue officers, the Automated Collection Systems division, and the complex IRS process” according to Jim Brown, the managing tax attorney with Freedom Tax Relief.
Please be aware that even the most successful tax professionals have lost Offer in Compromise cases, so not every consumer looking for IRS debt help is guaranteed the most savings. It is important to know that your Offer in Compromise will be decided based on your unique financial situation. If you do need IRS debt help, having a tax professional represent you before the IRS will help ensure that all letters and phone calls from the IRS are handled quickly and professionally. But in the end, it is up to the IRS to make a decision about your case.
It is important to know that like death and taxes, your IRS tax debt issue will not simply vanish, so you should seek help before the IRS escalates collection efforts and/or you accrue additional penalties and interest.
Tax law provides many solutions for resolving tax debt. But if you were to contact the IRS directly, they would only alert you to one solution, and that’s paying the tax debt in full. Here are five popular IRS tax relief solutions you should know about to be more informed.
IRS Tax Settlement
It is possible to settle your IRS tax debt. But there are some pitfalls you need to know. First, take a good look at your assets and finances. If you have assets that can be sold to satisfy your tax debt or enough money in your bank account to pay the tax debt in full, you will not be approved for an Offer in Compromise (IRS Tax Settlement). Do not waste the money or effort if either scenario applies to your financial situation.
After you’ve determined that you have a chance at settling your IRS debt, you will need to fill out Form 656 “Offer in Compromise.” Make sure you fill out every single space, leave nothing out. Make sure to sign the paperwork, as this is a common mistake people make when they submit their own forms. You do not want your tax settlement offer rejected due to simple mistakes because you will have to submit 20% of your offer along with the forms. If your offer is rejected, this money is non-refundable.
You must also keep some common IRS tax settlement roadblocks in mind before you submit your offer. First, are you up to date with filing your taxes? If you are not, your offer will be rejected. The second issue is bankruptcy. If the IRS finds out that you have filed for bankruptcy at or around the same time you submitted your Offer in Compromise, your tax settlement offer will be denied. Finally, you need to remember that an IRS tax lien will not be removed when you submit your offer. Tax liens, with few exceptions, are only released when the tax debt is completely satisfied. The tax lien will remain until after your tax debt is paid off.
Getting an IRS Tax Levy Released
The IRS Tax Levy is a fierce weapon the IRS uses to collect on tax debt. If you do not reply to the IRS’s correspondence requesting payment, chances are high the IRS will use a tax lien or a tax levy on you. However, there are a couple of IRS tax relief solutions to try to get your IRS wage or bank levy stopped.
IRS Bank Levy
The IRS will send you a notice stating they intend to levy your bank account. You bank account is now frozen. After the notice you have only 21 days before the IRS seizes your money for good. Working fast is imperative. If you set up an installment agreement or make any kind of good faith payment before the 21 days are up, you can save the money that is in your bank account, and avoid the impact of the IRS tax levy.
· IRS Wage Levy
If you ignore your tax debt long enough, the IRS can implement a wage levy against you. This means the IRS will remove a set amount from your paycheck until your tax debt is paid in full. It is not unusual for the IRS to take up to 75% of your paycheck, leaving you a minimal amount to meet your own monthly financial obligations. You are certainly in need of IRS tax relief if you are the victim of the IRS wage garnishment. The IRS wage levy can also be released or “lifted” but seeking expert IRS tax help may be prudent as each pay period that passes creates more financial damage.
Installment Agreement
You can make monthly payments on your IRS tax debt. The IRS will calculate your income and assets when you file Form 9456. After the IRS determines you qualify, they will set the amount you can pay each month to pay off your tax debt. When you are approved, you must make sure not to default on your monthly payments. Your plan will be canceled and you will not qualify for another installment agreement for six months to one year. The monthly installment agreement is the most common IRS tax relief solution for payment of back tax debts. As you can see, the IRS provides many solutions for taking care of common tax problems. You have to act fast and make sure you respond to any notices you receive from the IRS as soon as possible. The IRS will not and can not be ignored.
When Negotiations Fail
Most people who call the IRS directly have trouble communicating with the IRS. The IRS is trained to collect money no matter what, so having them release your IRS tax levy is nearly impossible for the ordinary taxpayer. When levies are being implemented, time is limited. It’s a good idea to hire a tax care professional that can negotiate with the IRS for you, on your behalf. That will improve your chances at an IRS tax relief solution that is workable for you!
Liv Worthington has worked in the debt management field for many years. She also offers advice on IRS tax relief for taxpayers in distress who’ve heard about tax settlement or who are the victims of an IRS tax levy and need urgent help.
IRS tax debtIf you happened to be one of the unfortunate individuals to owe tax debt from your past years, or you have paid your taxes for the current year, and still expect to owe further taxes to the IRS in the form of IRS debt, it?s possible for you to find a solution to redeem your taxes. The actual solution lies in not ignoring to pay your debt. Even though the IRS can collect the taxes up to ten years, it possesses many other powerful options to recover, and chances are it will. If you have outstanding IRS tax debt, the best possible solution is to utilize your savings, or alternatively borrow some funds to clear the debt. By paying your entire outstanding dues, it?s possible to save upon the penalties and fines, which are likely to be levied in case you decide to avail more time and clear your taxes over a period of time. If one borrows against some asset value such as your home, it?s quite possible the interest incurred might be tax deductible. It?s also possible to avail tax relief if you can represent your case properly to the IRS.Tax attorney servicesSince last few years, tax attorneys, and the services offered by them have been in high demand, especially since the tax season is approaching soon. Many taxpayers are likely to need tax help. While selecting your representative to deal with your IRS issues and concerns, it is quite important to retain somebody who can represent you to the best of his or her abilities, and not have conflicts while representing your case to the IRS. Even though the tax attorneys can be quite knowledgeable, properly trained, and have the ability to handle your issues, it is found that they can lack in aggressiveness when it comes to representing you to the IRS. The thing is most agencies like to maintain good terms with the tax authorities, since their entire business is dependent upon special tax clients, helping out tax debtors in availing IRS debt help, and good market reputation. It?s sad that IRS often takes advantage of some timid and docile tax attorneys because it knows that firm prefer to keep a positive image, and IRS can well damage the reputation through propaganda.It?s generally believed that it?s expensive to retain a good tax attorney to avail IRS debt relief. At a first glance, the client might feel that the tax laws are simple to understand and straight forward. So they often feel they can communicate directly with the IRS and avail an acceptable situation. This could turn out to be a mistake, since IRS rules can be interpreted in many different ways, and IRS is an expert in that. So it?s recommended not to take any chances, and have an effective arbitration by employing the services of an experienced tax attorney to get effective tax debt settlement.
Find Free tax Help and get tax relief today. Settle you IRS debt for fewer amounts than you actually owe. Solve tax problems, remove IRS penalties and get tax relief.
If IRS collection notices are ignored, the IRS is forced to collect from taxpayers by force. They do this with their dreaded IRS levy. By law, the IRS has the right to levy bank accounts (IRS bank levy), garnish your paychecks (IRS wage levy), or even seize your assets. But you do not have to let the IRS bully you or your family. There are ways to stop an IRS levy. The first step is to know the enemy.
IRS Bank Levy- The IRS bank levy is an extremely harmful way to collect tax debt. All of the money you scrimped and saved for can be gone in an instant. First, the IRS freezes your bank account. Then they give you 21 days to contact them and make some sort of payment arrangement. If you do not comply, the IRS will keep all of the money in your account permanently. If you received a Notice of Intent to Levy from the IRS, it’s imperative to act fast and get your tax debt taken care of. The freeze on your account from the IRS bank levy will cause issued checks to bounce, bank fees to be incurred, and will give you no access to pay your current obligations from your account. At this point, it’s a very wise idea to consider professional tax help for your IRS bank levy. A tax debt professional has a better chance of negotiating with the IRS to have an IRS bank levy removed in the short 21 day time limit. The IRS bank levy is an urgent issue meriting your full and immediate attention.
IRS Wage Levy – The IRS wage levy is another weapon in the IRS arsenal which is used to collect back tax debt. It’s also known as wage garnishment. The IRS can take a percentage of your paycheck until your tax debt is paid, or until the statute of limitations on your tax debt expires. Your employer is required by law to proceed with the IRS wage levy once the Notice to Withhold has been received from the IRS. They must use a mandated formula to determine “how much of your paycheck is to be garnished and sent directly to the IRS”. It is not unusual for a delinquent taxpayer to be left with 20%-25% of their “net paycheck” to live on, which obviously will not cover even basic living expenses. But there is help for this type of tax levy. There are two ways to stop an IRS wage levy. You can settle your tax debt and have it paid off, or you can have your account changed to a hardship or “Currently not Collectible” disposition. Because of the rapid financial damage that can be caused by an IRS wage levy, it is advisable to seek professional tax help.
Settling Tax Debt to Stop IRS Bank and Wage Levies – Settling your IRS tax debt is the fastest solution for stopping an IRS bank levy or an IRS wage levy. Once you are in the negotiation phase, the IRS levy will automatically stop. If your IRS settlement is approved, the IRS levy will actually be permanently “lifted” giving you complete relief from the tax debt problem!
Hiring Professional IRS Levy Help – It can be very hard to have your IRS tax debt settled when you fight against the IRS all on your own. Your chances of success are far greater if you can count on the help of reliable tax professionals that have experience dealing with the IRS’s complex procedures. If you are the victim of an IRS levy, then time is critical for you to minimize the financial destruction that is undoubtedly already occurring with your personal finances.
Liv Worthington has worked in the debt management field for many years. She also offers tax debt advice for IRS levy matters, especially IRS bank levy and IRS wage levy tax problems that require urgent attention..