914 Tax

Can the IRS Take Your Retirement Accounts?

October 15, 2026

Few IRS fears hit harder than this one. For many taxpayers, retirement accounts represent years—or decades—of disciplined saving. So when IRS debt enters the picture, a common and deeply emotional question arises: Can the IRS take my 401(k) or IRA?

The short answer is yes. Understanding when retirement accounts are at risk (and when they’re not) can help you avoid panic, bad decisions, and costly mistakes.

Why Retirement Accounts Feel “Off Limits”

Most people assume retirement accounts are protected because:

  • They’re intended for future income
  • Other creditors often can’t touch them
  • They may be governed by federal or employer plans

While those assumptions hold true for many private creditors, the Internal Revenue Service plays by different rules.

What Authority the IRS Actually Has

The IRS has the legal power to levy retirement accounts—but only after meeting strict requirements. These include:

  • Providing proper notice
  • Allowing appeal rights
  • Demonstrating that other collection options are insufficient

Even then, retirement account levies are generally considered a last resort, not a first move.

In most cases, the IRS prefers easier collection methods like wage garnishments, bank levies, or payment plans.

The Biggest Mistake Taxpayers Make Out of Fear

Fear often drives people to drain retirement accounts themselves to “get ahead” of the IRS. This can be disastrous.

Early withdrawals may trigger:

  • Income taxes
  • Penalties
  • Loss of long-term financial security

Worse, the IRS may still pursue additional collection afterward—leaving you with less protection and fewer options.

How Proper Strategy Protects Retirement Savings

A strategic approach focuses on:

  • Stopping enforcement before it escalates
  • Using payment plans or hardship status
  • Structuring resolutions that preserve protected assets
  • Communicating with the IRS before extreme measures are considered

At Ron Friedman CPA, we help taxpayers understand real risk versus perceived risk—and take action before fear-driven decisions cause irreversible harm.

Final Thought: The IRS Can—but Usually Doesn’t

Yes, the IRS can take retirement accounts. But in practice, it’s uncommon and usually avoidable with early, informed action.

If you owe the IRS and are worried about your 401(k), IRA, or pension, guessing can be expensive. Ron Friedman CPA can review your situation, explain your true exposure, and help you protect what you’ve worked so hard to build.

Contact Ron Friedman CPA today for a confidential consultation—and replace fear with facts before the IRS makes the next move.

Do Your Job, Do No Harm

October 1, 2026

A woman recently came to me with an IRS debt that had followed her for more than a decade.

She was holding a recent collection notice and a Notice of Federal Tax Lien showing a balance close to seven figures. She was frightened and looking for a way out.

Initially, I was excited to help. Then I began reviewing the records.

Understanding the Tax Debt

Before recommending a solution, I needed to understand the problem.

I reviewed the taxpayer’s IRS transcripts to determine:

  • How the debt arose;
  • When the tax was assessed;
  • Whether the balance was accurate;
  • Whether bankruptcy affected the collection period; and
  • How much longer the IRS had to collect the debt.

The transcripts showed that the taxpayer had filed for bankruptcy. That is not unusual in a tax-resolution matter. Bankruptcy can affect both the collectibility of a tax debt and the time the IRS has to collect it.

In this case, however, the bankruptcy records revealed something more troubling.

A Six-Figure Refund

Years earlier, the taxpayer had filed an income tax return claiming an unusually large refund. The IRS processed the return and issued her a six-figure payment.

The IRS later determined that the refund was improper. It sought repayment of the money, along with interest, penalties, and other charges.

The bankruptcy records also identified an organization accused of promoting tax-defier theories. The available information suggested that the questionable return may have been connected to positions promoted by that organization.

This case highlights an important fact:

Receiving a refund does not mean the IRS has examined and approved the return.

The IRS may process a return and issue a refund before reviewing the claims made on it. If the refund is later disallowed, the taxpayer may be required to repay it—with substantial additions.

What initially appeared to be a financial windfall had become a crushing tax debt.

Bankruptcy Did Not Solve the Problem

The taxpayer apparently believed bankruptcy would protect her from IRS collection.

Bankruptcy can be a valuable tax-resolution tool, but it does not eliminate every tax liability. The result depends on the type of debt, the filing and assessment dates, prior collection events, and the circumstances that created the liability.

When bankruptcy failed to provide the relief she expected, the IRS resumed collection activity.

The taxpayer was now in a serious bind. She wanted to know whether the debt could be resolved through an offer in compromise.

The Professional’s Responsibility

Our job is to investigate the facts, explain the risks and identify the lawful options. We can challenge an incorrect assessment, oppose an improper collection action and negotiate an appropriate resolution.

We cannot make the history of a tax debt disappear.

Sometimes effective representation means fighting aggressively for the taxpayer. At other times, it means explaining that the solution the taxpayer wants may not be available.

That is the meaning behind my professional philosophy:

Do Your Job, Do No Harm

Advocate for the client, but do not mislead the client.

Explore every lawful remedy, but do not reinforce the conduct that created the problem.

Taxpayers should be cautious of anyone promising:

  • A secret way to avoid federal income taxes;
  • An enormous refund based on an unconventional theory;
  • Guaranteed protection through bankruptcy; or
  • A settlement with the IRS for “pennies on the dollar.”

When you hear someone mentioning one of these ideas, encourage that person to obtain competent advice before the situation becomes worse.

Ron Friedman CPA helps taxpayers understand their IRS collection options and build a strategy around their actual financial situation.

If you or someone you know owes back taxes, has been contacted by an IRS revenue officer, or is worried about IRS collection action, call Ron Friedman CPA at 914.712.6919 for a consultation.

When You Can Pay Something, But Not Everything: The Partial Pay Installment Agreement

September 17, 2026

Some taxpayers can’t afford the payment on a standard IRS installment agreement. The monthly number is real, and it’s still more than they have.

A Partial Pay Installment Agreement, or PPIA, exists for that gap. It lets you pay what your financials show you can afford, even when those payments will never satisfy the full balance.

How a PPIA Works

The IRS generally has ten years to collect an assessed tax. That deadline is the Collection Statute Expiration Date, or CSED. A standard installment agreement pays the balance in full before the CSED runs. A PPIA doesn’t. You pay the affordable amount, the statute expires, and the unpaid balance expires with it.

The IRS agrees to this because your financial statement shows the math. That statement is the entire basis of the agreement, which is why the documentation behind it has to hold up.

Example

Angela owed $94,000 after several years of uneven income. She could pay something every month, but nowhere near enough to clear the balance before her collection statutes expired.

Her representative prepared a complete financial statement showing limited disposable income, backed by documentation of her income, expenses, and assets. The IRS approved a Partial Pay Installment Agreement at a payment she could make. The balance she can’t pay will expire when the statutes run out.

What to Expect If You’re Approved

  • The IRS generally reviews the agreement about every two years and can raise the payment if your finances improve
  • Equity matters. The IRS may expect you to borrow against or sell an asset before it agrees to a partial payment
  • A Notice of Federal Tax Lien is likely
  • You have to stay current. File on time and pay on time every year the agreement is open, or it defaults

How We Can Help

Ron Friedman CPA evaluates whether a PPIA fits your numbers, prepares the financial statement and supporting documentation, negotiates the payment amount, and handles communication with the IRS so enforcement doesn’t start while your request is pending.

If you owe the IRS and a standard payment plan isn’t realistic, call Ron Friedman CPA at 914.712.6919 for a confidential consultation.

When You Can’t Pay the IRS All at Once: Installment Agreements Explained

August 24, 2026

Owing the IRS doesn’t always mean you have to pay everything immediately. For many taxpayers, an IRS Installment Agreement provides a practical way to resolve tax debt over time while avoiding aggressive collection actions.

At Ron Friedman CPA, we help taxpayers set up installment agreements that are realistic, sustainable, and strategically structured.

What Is an IRS Installment Agreement?

An Installment Agreement is a formal payment plan with the Internal Revenue Service that allows you to pay your tax balance in monthly payments instead of a lump sum.

Once approved, the IRS generally pauses enforcement actions such as bank levies and wage garnishments—as long as payments are made on time and you stay compliant going forward.

Example: How an Installment Agreement Works

Chris owed $32,000 in back taxes after falling behind during a slow year in his business. He couldn’t afford to pay the balance in full but had steady income.

With professional guidance, Chris submitted the required information and negotiated a monthly payment that fit his budget. The IRS approved the Installment Agreement, stopping collection actions and allowing him to pay down the debt over time.

How We Can Help

Not all Installment Agreements are the same—and agreeing to the wrong payment can create long-term problems. Ron Friedman CPA helps by reviewing your IRS account, determining the right type of agreement, negotiating affordable payments, and communicating directly with the IRS.

If you owe the IRS and need a manageable way forward, contact Ron Friedman CPA today for a confidential consultation to see whether an Installment Agreement is right for you.

The IRS Doesn’t Need to Sue You—Here’s How They Collect Without Court

August 17, 2026

Many taxpayers assume the IRS works like other creditors—that if things get serious, there will be a lawsuit, a court date, or a judge involved. That assumption is not only wrong, it’s dangerous.

The Internal Revenue Service has extraordinary collection powers that allow it to take money directly from you without ever going to court. Understanding how this works can help you recognize when the risk is real—and why waiting for a lawsuit is often too late.

Why the IRS Doesn’t Need Court Approval

Unlike private creditors, the IRS is granted administrative collection authority under federal law. That means once certain notice requirements are met, the IRS can enforce collection actions on its own.

There is no judge, no lawsuit, and no courtroom warning shot. By the time taxpayers realize enforcement has begun, the money is often already gone.

Bank Levies: When Accounts Are Frozen and Drained

One of the IRS’s most powerful tools is a bank levy. When issued, your bank is required to freeze your account—often without advance warning.

After a short holding period, the funds are sent directly to the IRS. This can include checking, savings, and certain investment accounts. For many taxpayers, this is the moment the situation becomes a full-blown financial emergency.

Wage Garnishments: Ongoing, Not One-Time

IRS wage garnishments work differently than most people expect. Instead of taking a percentage, the IRS allows you to keep only a small exempt amount—then takes the rest of your paycheck.

This continues every pay period until the debt is resolved or the garnishment is released. Waiting for a lawsuit means missing the chance to prevent this from starting.

Offsets: Taking Money You Were Expecting

The IRS can also collect by offsetting money owed to you. This commonly includes:

  • Federal and state tax refunds
  • Certain government payments

Many taxpayers are surprised when expected refunds disappear without explanation. By the time they ask why, the funds are already applied to the tax debt.

Asset Seizures and Other Enforcement Tools

In more serious cases, the IRS can seize assets such as vehicles, business equipment, or other property. While less common, these actions are fully legal and don’t require court involvement.

The longer a case goes unaddressed, the more likely aggressive tools are used.

The Most Dangerous Assumption of All

Waiting for the IRS to “sue” before taking action gives the IRS exactly what it needs: time. Silence is interpreted as noncooperation, not inability.

Ironically, many taxpayers who truly can’t afford to pay qualify for protection—but only if they act before enforcement begins.

Final Thought: The IRS Acts First—Courts Come Later (If at All)

If you owe the IRS, enforcement doesn’t start with a lawsuit. It starts with notices—and ends with levies, garnishments, and offsets if nothing is done.

At Ron Friedman CPA, we help taxpayers stop IRS collection actions, understand their rights, and take control before enforcement causes lasting damage.

If you’re receiving IRS notices or worried about what might happen next, contact Ron Friedman CPA today for a confidential consultation. Waiting for court could cost you far more than you expect.

I Owe the IRS but Can’t Afford to Pay—What Really Happens Next

July 9, 2026

When someone owes the IRS and can’t afford to pay, the most common response is…doing nothing. Not because they don’t care—but because they’re overwhelmed, scared, or unsure what options exist. Unfortunately, silence doesn’t pause the process. It starts one.

Here’s a plain-English walkthrough of what the Internal Revenue Service typically does when a taxpayer takes no action.

Step 1: The Letters Start (And Slowly Escalate)

The IRS begins with a series of notices explaining the balance due. Early letters are informational and relatively mild. They outline what’s owed, how to pay, and what happens if the balance remains unpaid.

Many taxpayers ignore these notices hoping the issue will resolve itself. It won’t. Each letter moves the account closer to enforced collection—even if months pass between notices.

Step 2: Penalties and Interest Quietly Grow

While nothing seems to be happening, penalties and interest continue to accrue daily. A manageable balance can quietly grow into something far more serious.

This is where many taxpayers lose ground without realizing it. The IRS doesn’t need to act aggressively for the debt to get worse—it grows automatically.

Step 3: The IRS Files a Tax Lien

If the balance remains unpaid, the IRS may file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. This publicly secures the government’s interest in your property and future assets.

A lien can:

  • Complicate refinancing or selling property
  • Signal that enforcement is escalating

At this stage, the IRS still hasn’t taken your money—but it has positioned itself to do so.

Step 4: Levies and Garnishments Begin

If no action is taken after lien and final notice stages, the IRS may begin levies. This is where things become immediately disruptive.

Levies can include:

  • Freezing and taking funds from bank accounts
  • Garnishing wages
  • Seizing certain assets

Once levies start, financial flexibility shrinks fast—and stopping them becomes harder.

Step 5: The IRS Assumes You’re Choosing Not to Pay

The longer nothing happens, the more the IRS assumes the issue isn’t inability—it’s avoidance. That assumption changes how your case is treated and reduces flexibility.

Ironically, many taxpayers who truly can’t afford to pay qualify for relief—but only if they act before enforcement hardens the IRS’s position.

What Most People Don’t Realize

The IRS actually has options for people who can’t pay—but it rarely offers them proactively. Relief usually requires:

  • Filing required returns
  • Demonstrating financial hardship
  • Requesting protection or structured resolution

Doing nothing guarantees none of that happens.

Final Thought: Inaction Is a Decision—And It’s the Worst One

If you owe the IRS and can’t afford to pay, ignoring the problem doesn’t make it disappear. It simply hands control to the IRS and allows the situation to escalate on its own timeline.

At Ron Friedman CPA, we help taxpayers interrupt this process, understand what the IRS is likely to do next, and take action before enforcement causes real damage.

If you’re overwhelmed by IRS debt and unsure what to do, contact Ron Friedman CPA today for a confidential consultation. Knowing your options early can prevent months—or years—of unnecessary stress.

Influencer Indicted for Allegedly Underreporting More Than $1.1 Million in Income

June 25, 2026

A social media influencer from Phoenix is facing federal tax charges after prosecutors alleged he failed to report substantial income from his online business.

Charles Lewis Davis, owner of Forever Investments LLC, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of making false statements on his tax returns. According to the indictment, Davis allegedly failed to tell his tax preparer about additional income earned through videos posted on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.

Prosecutors claim Davis underreported income by:

$807,142 in 2020
$390,566 in 2021

The indictment also alleges the unreported funds were held in personal and business bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and cryptocurrency accounts.

Davis pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance. If convicted, making a false statement on a tax return carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case is a reminder that income from social media, side businesses, gig work, investments, and cryptocurrency is still taxable income. Even if funds move through multiple accounts or platforms, the IRS has tools to trace income and compare it against what was reported.

For business owners, influencers, contractors, and self-employed taxpayers, accurate reporting is critical. Relying on a tax preparer does not protect you if important information is withheld or records are incomplete.

If you have unfiled returns, unreported income, IRS notices, or concerns about past tax filings, don’t ignore the problem. Contact Ron Friedman CPA today for a free consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and help you take the next step toward resolving your tax issue.

When IRS Penalties Aren’t Fair: Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement

June 18, 2026

IRS penalties can add up quickly—often turning a manageable tax balance into an overwhelming problem. In some situations, the IRS may remove penalties entirely through Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement.

At Ron Friedman CPA, we help taxpayers determine whether their circumstances qualify and present their case clearly and effectively.

 

What Is Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement?

Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement allows the Internal Revenue Service to remove penalties when a taxpayer can show they exercised ordinary care but were unable to comply due to circumstances beyond their control.

This relief commonly applies to penalties for:

  • Late filing
  • Late payment
  • Failure to deposit taxes

Approval depends on facts, documentation, and how the situation is explained.

 

Example: How Reasonable Cause Works

After a serious medical emergency, Tom fell behind on filing and paying his taxes. By the time he recovered, IRS penalties had significantly increased his balance.

With professional assistance, Tom submitted medical documentation and a written explanation showing the situation was unavoidable. The IRS agreed that reasonable cause existed and removed the penalties, substantially reducing what he owed.

How We Can Help

Reasonable Cause requests are not automatic and are often denied when handled improperly. Ron Friedman CPA helps by evaluating your situation, preparing a strong narrative with supporting documentation, and communicating directly with the IRS.

If IRS penalties are making your tax problem worse, contact Ron Friedman CPA today for a confidential consultation to see if Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement may be available to you.

If You Don’t Have Money to Pay Your Taxes, You Have Legitimate Options

June 22, 2022

If you don’t have money to pay what you owe the IRS, you have a few options to work with. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the letters from the IRS and don’t let your back tax problem go unattended. The IRS has a great deal of power when it comes to recovering money, they think is theirs.

When you owe the IRS money, they can garnish your wages, levy your bank accounts, put a lien on your home and seize other assets.

Here’s what you can do if you find yourself not being able to pay your taxes. Note, we always recommend getting in touch with a tax resolution professional to help avoid the harsh penalties and interest that accrued on your back taxes. It’s far easier to navigate towards tax resolution, if you have a professional working on your behalf. If you’d like to schedule a no-cost confidential tax relief consultation, contact us here. Get help from Ron Friedman, CPA.

First, make sure that you file your returns

Even if you have no hope of being able to pay your taxes, you must at least file your income tax returns. Whatever the penalties are for not paying your taxes, the penalties for not filing are much larger and non-filers can be subject to a criminal investigation. . The IRS will remove penalties for not filing and not paying but you have to have a good reason. We can request to have your penalties removed or reduced. It’s also important to remember that when you file for an extension, it only gives you more time to file. Your payment date remains unchanged.

Revisit your W-4 withholdings

If your employer withholds money from your salary to pay your taxes with, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying anything extra from that income source. If you do owe more, it’s a sign that your withholding exemptions are incorrectly reported on your W-4 form. To make sure that you don’t get into tax trouble repeatedly, you should make sure your W-4 form is correct and get advice from a tax professional about the kind of withholdings necessary for exemptions.

Make a partial payment

If you can’t afford to pay all that you owe, you should pay whatever you can. While you will still be hit with interest and penalty charges, they will be smaller than they would be if you paid nothing. These charges are proportional to what you owe the IRS.

Try to work with the IRS

If you can’t pay, there are resolution options available to you if you qualify for them. They include a payment plan or an offer in compromise to name a few. You need to first step up and admit to your inability to pay, though.

An offer in compromise is an agreement between the IRS and the taxpayer that allows the taxpayer to settle their debt for less than the amount owed. Sometimes, for a fraction of the amount owed.  There are strict eligibility requirements and you should consult with a tax resolution specialist first.

An installment agreement, aka payment plan, is an agreement between the IRS and the taxpayer that permits the taxpayer to pay back their debt over time, generally in 60-72 months. Depending upon the amount owed, and ability to make monthly payments, determines the type of installment agreement the IRS will allow, as there are several variations of these payment plans.  An experienced tax resolution specialist will guide you through the maze and myriad of these different options.

If you need an expert tax resolution provider who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem. Get help from Ron Friedman, CPA.

Do You Owe Back Taxes? Why You Should Stop Panicking & Start Planning

May 19, 2022

If you owe back taxes to the IRS, some amount of panic is understandable. After all, the Internal Revenue Service has the power of the federal government in its corner, something no other debt collector can claim. They are considered the most brutal collection agency on the planet.

It is easy to freeze up and just do nothing when you owe back taxes to the IRS, but hiding from, or doing nothing about your tax debt will not make it go away. In fact, ignoring the taxes you owe will only make the situation worse, since interest and penalties can really add up. You also risk having your paycheck garnished (the IRS does not need a court order to do this) or your bank account levied. The IRS can also file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien making it all but impossible to obtain financing for a car or home.

So instead of panicking about your tax debt and hoping the problem will go away, you need to take some proactive steps. Now is not the time to panic and hide – now is the time to start taking action.

Some of these steps you can do on your own if you’d like, while others will likely require the intervention of an experienced tax resolution expert. Here are some proactive steps you can take to get a handle on your tax debt. If you need help resolving your IRS tax problem, contact us here Get help from Ron Friedman, CPA. We help people with IRS problems every day.

Confirm the Amount Owed

When you owe back taxes, one of the first things you should do is make sure you really owe the money. The IRS has been known to make mistakes, a lot of mistakes, and the agency is far from foolproof. Contact the IRS or have us do an IRS transcript analysis to determine the amount the IRS claims you owe.

Seek Out Deductions You May Have Missed

At the very least, you may not owe as much as you think you do, and every dollar you can remove from the bill is one more dollar in your favor. Now is the time to scour your past and current tax returns, looking for deductions and tax credits you might have missed.

Unless you are a seasoned tax expert, you will probably need some professional assistance to make this happen. If you are already working with a CPA or tax expert, you can ask them to look at your past tax returns but only a tax resolution expert, who helps people like you for a living, can protect your income and assets as you go through the process.

If you missed a few deductions and tax credits along the way, your tax professional can file amended returns on your behalf, lowering the amount of tax debt you owe – and possibly eliminating it altogether.  However, you usually can’t go back more than 3 years to amend returns.

Look for Special Programs You May Qualify For

 The bad news is the IRS wants its money and has the power to collect it.

The good news is the tax agency also offers several programs tax filers can use to make the repayment process easier. In some cases, the IRS may even be willing to settle for less, possibly much less, than the total amount of back taxes you owe.

These programs are not available to everyone, and if you have the resources needed to pay your back taxes, the IRS is unlikely to give you much of a break. But if your resources are limited, the tax agency may decide that a small amount of tax repayment is better than none at all.

The first step in the process is finding the programs for which you might qualify, and that will probably require the help of an experienced tax resolution expert.  Most CPAs do not have this experience. Negotiating with the IRS is not an easy thing to do, and you may need help to drive the best bargain and reduce your back taxes. In the end, it may be well worth paying a tax relief expert to negotiate on your behalf, especially if you end up with a much lower tax bill.

It is easy to panic when you owe back taxes, but you should not let fear get in your way. The longer you ignore the problem, the worse it is likely to get, and the sooner you act, the better off you, and your finances, will be. There is a solution to every IRS problem.  Let us see what IRS tax debt settlement programs you qualify for today. Get help from Ron Friedman, CPA.