3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Talk To The IRS Yourself If You Owe Back Taxes

August 8, 2019

If you owe money to the IRS, it might sound like common sense to try to tackle your tax problem on your own. However, one of the worst things you could do is talk to the IRS directly without proper representation. As an expert Tax Resolution Firm, we encourage all readers facing a tax problem … Read More…

As an expert Tax Resolution Firm, we encourage all readers facing a tax problem to contact us for a free consultation Contact Me – Ron Friedman, CPA CTRS.

tax helper The IRS is not on your side and their primary goal is to collect the taxes they believe you owe. In this article, we give you 3 reasons why talking to the IRS directly could get you into deeper trouble.

You Have Rights

Contrary to popular belief, you DO have rights as a taxpayer you probably don’t even know exists. One of those rights is the right to representation. If an IRS revenue officer or revenue agent calls or “visits” you, did you know you are under no obligation to answer any of their (very intrusive and condescending) questions? You politely respond by asking for their contact information and telling them you are in the process of hiring a professional to represent you and that this person will contact them directly. A CPA or Enrolled Agent (EA) that deals with IRS problems for a living knows the “ins” and “outs” and how to deal with the IRS so that your rights are protected. A tax resolution specialist also knows how to get you the lowest possible settlement allowed by law. Generally, our clients never meet or speak with the IRS once we’re on the scene!

Answering Questions Can Dig You Into A Deeper Hole

If you are being audited or about to be – The IRS will ask you about 50 very intrusive questions in the initial interview with them. How you answer these questions will dictate the fate of your case. Having a tax resolution specialist conduct these meetings, WITHOUT you is the best course of action I can recommend. Half of the referrals to the IRS’s criminal investigation division (CID) come from that “nice” auditor you’re sitting across the table from at the audit.

They won’t tell you about all the settlement programs and options you have. The just want their money.

If you owe between $10,000 and $25,000 plus, the IRS has many NEW flexible programs, under their Fresh Start Initiative, available to taxpayers such as Offer in Compromise, Partial Pay Installment Agreements, Payment Plans, Penalty Reduction, and Currently Not Collectible Status to name a few. Each carry with it its own unique process, procedures and qualifications. Having an experienced Tax Pro in your corner ensures you are taking advantage of the best options available to you.

One last thing….

Ask yourself this question: Would you go to court without a lawyer?

If you answered “yes” hopefully you know the law inside and out concerning your case, but if representing yourself doesn’t seem like a great idea it’s best to hire somebody who is well versed in the subject matter. Well, it’s the same thing with the IRS. Having someone who knows how to negotiate the IRS’s maze of rules, regulations and the 74,000 pages of the Tax Code and deal with the IRS may be the best money you’ve ever spent!

If you want the help of an expert tax resolution professional who navigates the IRS maze for a living, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem. Contact Me – Ron Friedman, CPA CTRS.

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

As the best tax resolution and relief company in Westchester County, NY, and the tri-state area, Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro has specialists to stop the IRS and help troubled tax payers get out of IRS debt. If you have back taxes owed, unfiled tax returns, IRS levies, liens, seizures or wage garnishments, we at Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro can help you settle for a fraction of what you owe. As trusted, credible tax resolution specialists, we are vested in our client’s well-being and financial security.

How to Recognize an IRS Tax Scam – and What to Do if the Tax Due Notice is Real

July 24, 2019

Hearing from the IRS is bad enough, but being contacted by a scammer posing as the IRS is even worse, or at least just annoying and frightening. IRS scams are everywhere these days, and they take many different forms. Even sophisticated taxpayers have been fooled by these fakers, sometimes losing thousands of dollars in the … Read More…

If you do not want to be the next victim, you need to educate yourself about how these scams originate, what forms they take and how the perpetrators prey on an inherent fear of the IRS.

Here are some warning signs to look out for when someone claiming to be from the IRS comes calling.

1 – The tax bill comes out of the blue. Notices of taxes due are rarely surprises. If you have always paid your taxes on time, a past due notice or other scare tactics should be met with skepticism.

2 – The “agent” threatens to have you arrested. IRS agents are scary, but they will not threaten you with arrest or imprisonment before the audit process has even begun.

3 – You are offered relief in exchange for immediate payment. The process of paying overdue taxes and resolving tax disputes is long and complicated. Offers of immediate settlement are common signs of a scam.

4 – The caller asks you to pay your bill with gift cards. The IRS does not accept iTunes gift cards or prepaid phone cards as payment for taxes due. If the “agent” on the other end of the line asks for these payments, just hang up.

5 – You receive a phone call or a message on your cell phone. The IRS does not use phone calls as a primary means of communication. If you are not in current negotiations with the IRS, the tax agency will never call you.

6 – The communication comes via email. If you owe money to the IRS or the agency has questions about your return, they will contact you via U.S. mail. Notices of tax due that come in the form of email are always scams – and the emails themselves often harbor dangerous viruses and other malware.

Now that you know how to spot an IRS collection scam, what happens if the communication is real? What should you do if you do receive an old-fashioned snail mail notice saying you owe additional taxes? Here are some key steps to take if that dreaded letter shows up in your mailbox.

Contact A Tax Resolution Professional

If you owe back taxes to the IRS, there are some definite benefits to hiring a tax resolution service. These companies exist for a reason, and they can provide a way out for taxpayers who feel overwhelmed by the whole process.

Negotiating with the IRS on your own can be intimidating, and the tax agency may not offer you the best terms. Tax resolution firms are used to dealing with the IRS, and more often than not they can get you a better deal.

Verify Their Contact Information or Contact the IRS Directly

While it is uncommon, some scammer is using the U.S. mail to perpetrate their schemes. Before you write a check, contact the IRS and make sure the communication is legitimate.

You should look up the IRS phone number at their website irs.gov, instead of simply calling the phone number in the letter you received. If the letter is a scam, the phone number provided will send you to the perpetrators of the fraud. If you want to know the truth, contact the IRS directly.

Think About How Much You Can Afford to Pay

Paying a huge tax bill is sure to be a burden, even for middle and upper-class taxpayers. If you know you cannot afford to pay the entire amount due, think about how much you can pay, either in monthly installments or all at once.

The tax agency is often willing to work with taxpayers to pay off the amount they owe, and payment plans are common. If you plan to go this route, it pays to seek professional help – an experienced tax resolution expert can help you work out a compromise or payment plan you can afford.

Take Interest and Penalties into Account

If you receive a notice of additional taxes due, time is of the essence. Once that notice goes out, the clock starts ticking, and interest and penalties can add up fast.

The sooner you act, the sooner you can start to settle your obligation, so you can set your mind at ease and get on with the rest of your life. No one likes to owe money to the IRS, and simply being contacted can be enough to set your heart pounding. If you do find yourself in such a situation, it pays to act fast – and seek the help of an experienced tax settlement professional.

If you want an expert tax resolution professional 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. Contact Me – Ron Friedman, CPA CTRS.

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

Do You Owe Money to the IRS? Possible Tax Resolution Strategies to Set Your Mind at Ease

July 13, 2019

Even for honest taxpayers, the IRS can be extremely frightening. Unlike most other government agencies, the IRS has the power to attach your wages, freeze your bank account and even confiscate your property, and that is enough to send a chill up the spine of any taxpayer. If you receive a letter from the … Read More…

If you receive a letter from the IRS saying that you owe additional taxes, it is important not to panic. It may be a frightening situation, but there are things you can do to settle your tax debt and get back on the good side of the IRS.

Taxpayers do have options when resolving tax disputes and paying additional taxes due, and simply knowing what those options are can set your mind at ease.

As an expert Tax Resolution Firm, we encourage all readers facing a tax problem to contact us for a free consultation Contact Me – Ron Friedman, CPA CTRS.

Regardless, it’s important to an educated taxpayer so here are three strategies you can use to resolve your tax debt and get on with the rest of your life. Not all of these options will be right for everyone, but it is important to be an informed taxpayer. The IRS may be frightening, but they can be surprisingly reasonable – if you know what to say and how to approach the situation.

Review the Amount Owed And Your Tax Return In Question

If the IRS says you owe money, you should not simply assume they are right. The tax agency does make mistakes, as do tax preparers and ordinary taxpayers.

Whether you filed your taxes on your own or hired someone else to do it for you, it is important to examine your return and compare what you find with what the IRS is claiming. It pays to seek professional help for this tax review, even if you originally filed your own taxes. A professional with IRS experience may be able to uncover errors and inconsistencies you would have missed on your own, and that could end up saving you money.

There is no guarantee this review will eliminate the extra taxes the IRS says you owe, but it never hurts to be sure. There have been many cases in which taxpayers who thought they owed money to the IRS ended up owing nothing – or even being due a refund from the IRS.

Set Up a Payment Plan

Getting a notice of additional tax due from the IRS is frightening, especially if you cannot afford to pay what the agency says you owe. Keep in mind, however, that you do not necessarily have to pay the bill all at once.

The IRS is often willing to set up payment plans with taxpayers, and those payment plans could make paying what you owe easier and less stressful. Once again, it is a good idea to seek professional help and guidance here – the IRS can drive a hard bargain, and you do not want to end up with a payment plan you cannot afford.

If you fall behind on the payment plan you agreed to, you could be subject to additional enforcement action, including the tax agency garnering your paycheck or even freezing your bank accounts. Getting the help of a tax resolution professional up front can help you avoid these serious consequences.

Explore an Offer in Compromise Settlement

If you are truly unable to pay the money the IRS claims you owe, you may be able to work out a smaller payment. The IRS may not advertise this program, but the tax agency is often willing to work with taxpayers by accepting lesser amounts, especially if those taxpayers have few assets and a limited income. Sometimes these can be for a fraction of what’s owed, if you qualify. We offer a free no obligation consultation to find out if you qualify Contact Me – Ron Friedman CPA CTRS

If you plan to explore this last option, it is critical that you work with a tax resolution expert. These compromise offers can be extremely complicated, with legalese and language that can be difficult to understand. You do not want to make a misstep here, and you want to ensure that paying the compromise account will result in a complete settlement of your tax bill.

Few things are as frightening as getting a letter from the IRS. That official-looking letterhead is bad enough, but what the letter says is even worse. If you receive such a letter, you need to take positive steps right away. Ignoring the situation will not make it go away, and the sooner you start exploring your tax resolution options the better off you will be.

If you want the help of an expert tax resolution professional 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. Contact Me – Ron Friedman CPA CTRS.

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

Great news for taxpayers with large IRS debts?

October 4, 2016

If you owe the Internal Revenue Service money and want them off your back, there may be some more good news in store for you. In addition to the Offer in Compromise Program, the Service announced they are now expanding the Installment Agreement requests to include assessed balances of tax, interest and penalties between $50,000 … Read More…

If you owe the Internal Revenue Service money and want them off your back, there may be some more good news in store for you. In addition to the Offer in Compromise Program, the Service announced they are now expanding the Installment Agreement requests to include assessed balances of tax, interest and penalties between $50,000 and $100,000. During this trial period, more taxpayers will qualify to have their installment agreement processed in a streamlined manner.

The criterion under testing is this: Individual taxpayers with an assessed balance of tax, penalty and interest between $50,000 and $100,000 may experience accelerated processing of their installment agreement request. This will occur if the proposed monthly payment is the greater of the total assessed balance divided by 84 – or – the amount necessary to fully satisfy the liability by the Collection Statute Expiration Date (that’s the last day the IRS is legally allowed to collect back taxes).

An installment agreement is a payment plan for taxpayers who owe money to the Internal Revenue Service. The Installment Agreement is a program that allows taxpayers to pay their tax debts in monthly installments, especially if they are experiencing economic difficulties and, cannot pay the balance in one lump sum.

Is this good news? Perhaps. Is it easy to get into an agreement you can live with? Depends. The first requirement that must be met to secure an Installment Agreement is compliance, filing ALL of your tax returns and being up to date with all of your current tax obligations. Secondly, you may have to demonstrate to the Internal Revenue Service that you really can’t afford to pay that much. To do that, you may need to fill out one or more forms and submit them to the Internal Revenue Service. Then wait for an answer.

Or, you could consult with a Tax Resolution Specialist who knows the ins and outs of how the IRS works. The IRS can be a very scary place for many taxpayers. That’s why it’s crucial for you to do your homework and find a qualified IRS tax relief professional like Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro. All of these options require IRS forms, documentation and situational analysis. At Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro, we’ve proven our expertise and have gotten taxpayers payment arrangements that fit YOUR budget and not the IRS’s.

We encourage you to contact us for your FREE no-obligation confidential consultation.

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

IRS Launches Debt Collection Program with Private Collectors

September 26, 2016

The IRS announced today it will launch private collection of certain overdue federal tax debts next spring and has selected several contractors to implement the problem. See full announcement. Here are ten things you should know about this new program: First, the private collector usually will contact the taxpayer by letter. If the taxpayer’s last … Read More…

The IRS announced today it will launch private collection of certain overdue federal tax debts next spring and has selected several contractors to implement the problem. See full announcement.

Here are ten things you should know about this new program:

First, the private collector usually will contact the taxpayer by letter.
If the taxpayer’s last known address is incorrect, the private collector searches for the correct address. Next, the private collector will telephone the taxpayer to request full payment.
If the taxpayer cannot pay in full right away, the private collector offers an installment deal for up to five years.
If the taxpayer is unable to pay even over five years, the collector asks for taxpayer financial information to see what sort of deal the taxpayer should get. There are controls on financial data, but there is considerable worry about having taxpayer data in private hands.
Private collectors cannot accept payments. Do not pay them directly!
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to private collectors. This is the same law that applies to collectors in other circumstances.
There are many reports required under the law. Congress and the Treasury Department are trying to determine if private collection is efficient and how well it works.
In some cases, the IRS is actually required to use private collectors, where:
- The tax bill is not being collected because of a lack of IRS resources or the IRS’ inability to locate the taxpayer.
- More than 1/3 of the statute of limitations has expired, and no IRS employee has been assigned to collect it; and
- The tax bill has been assigned for collection, but more than a year has passed without any interaction.
Some tax bills cannot go to private collectors, as where:
- There is a pending or active offer-in-compromise or installment agreement;
- It is an innocent spouse case;
- The taxpayer is deceased, under age 18, in a designated combat zone, or is a victim of identity theft;
- The taxpayer is under IRS audit, in litigation, criminal investigation, or levy; or
- The taxpayer has gone to IRS Appeals.
If you have a large tax debt, you might also have trouble traveling, since the IRS power to revoke passports was also signed into law. It is also part of the FAST Act. We think of passports as being needed only for international travel, but some people may find that passports are also required for domestic travel in 2016.

Overall, the IRS can still be scary for many taxpayers. That’s why it’s crucial for you to do your homework and find a qualified IRS tax relief professional like Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro. All tax resolution matters require IRS forms, documentation and situational analysis. At Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro, we’ve proven our expertise and have gotten taxpayers to settle their debts in a convenient and affordable manner.

We encourage you to contact us for your FREE no-obligation confidential consultation.

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

How To Get IRS Off My Back

March 10, 2016

Owe IRS money and need to get the IRS off your back? We’re experts at the IRS Fresh Start Program and make it easy for taxpayers to avoid liens and pay back-taxes. First, it’s critical to understand that the IRS will not go away on their own. Ignoring your tax problem will force the IRS … Read More…

Owe IRS money and need to get the IRS off your back? We’re experts at the IRS Fresh Start Program and make it easy for taxpayers to avoid liens and pay back-taxes.

First, it’s critical to understand that the IRS will not go away on their own.

Ignoring your tax problem will force the IRS to use tough tactics like wage garnishments, levies, liens and seizures and even jail-time.

We know the IRS is like any other lender and is primarily interested in collecting what they can from taxpayers, even small amounts. Therefore, they are always open to feasible solutions, specifically those outlined in the IRS Fresh Start Program.

However, it’s just as important to make sure you have a trust-worthy, reliable tax resolution professional when dealing with the IRS. Proper representation is vital in presenting your case accurately and thoroughly to the IRS. As a matter of fact, our clients never even have to meet with the IRS.

Here are 4 critical steps and options to get the IRS off your back:

IRS Money Owed

Review your return completely to confirm you actually owe what the IRS has stated. It’s very easy for inexperienced tax accountants or do-it-yourselfers to record the same income twice or forget an important deduction.

IRS Tax Liens

The IRS Fresh Start Program outlines an increase in the amount that taxpayers can owe before the IRS typically files a Notice of Tax Lien. The amount is now $10,000. So, if you owe less and meet certain requirements, you may qualify under this program. Or, if you pay a minimum of your tax debt through a Direct Deduct Installment Agreement, you may be eligible to have your lien notice withdrawn.

IRS Installment Agreements

Access to Installment Agreements have now been streamlined, thanks to the IRS Fresh Start Program. taxpayers who owe up to $50,000 can now pay via monthly direct debit payments for up to six years. For those who owe more than $50,000 or need more than six years to pay will need to show financial statements and complete multiple IRS forms.

Offers in Compromise

The IRS Fresh Start Program has also been expanded to Offers in Compromise agreements that enable taxpayers to settle their IRS tax debt for less than what they owe. In general the IRS will accept an offer that represents the most they can get within a reasonable timeframe. The IRS will not accept an offer if they feel the taxpayer can pay the amount owed in full as a lump sum or payment plan.

Overall, the IRS can still be scary for many taxpayers. That’s why it’s crucial for you to do your homework and find a qualified IRS tax relief professional like Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro. All of these options require IRS forms, documentation and situational analysis. At Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro, we’ve proven our expertise and have gotten taxpayers to settle for pennies on the dollar.

We encourage you to contact us for your FREE no-obligation confidential consultation.

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

Source: IRS.com IRS.gov

Here are 4 critical steps and options to get the IRS off your back:

IRS Money Owed

IRS Tax Liens

IRS Installment Agreements

Offers in Compromise