Contacting the IRS: What You Don't Know Could Cost You

When Contacting the IRS for Tax Help, What Youhave to pay.
Don't Know About Resolving Back Taxes and IRSSo if you get that scary letter from the IRS, you don't
Problems Could Really Hurt You!have to feel alone because a tax attorney or Certified
While IRS Commissioner, Douglas Shulman, hasTax Resolution Specialist can help you and go to bat
pledged that IRS agents will have more flexibility towith the IRS on your behalf! Know that if you try to
reach tax settlements with taxpayers who have fallenrepresent yourself before the IRS, you will end up in a
on hard times and owe back taxes, it's important tolosing battle. Plus expert tax help from a tax attorney
remember that "Revenue " is the IRS's middle name.or Certified Tax Resolution Specialist can help you
With the IRS, making things "easy" means separatingensure you don't pay a penny more to the IRS than
taxpayers from their money with as little friction aswhat you owe.
possible. What is good for the IRS generally isn't goodFor any back taxes under $10,000, you can pick up the
for you. Additionally, while you may owe some backphone and give the IRS a quick call and they'll set you
taxes, your tax liability may not be as much as the IRSup on a small monthly payment plan for $100-$115
believes. It is important to consult with a tax attorneymonth. You will not have to fully disclose your financial
or Certified Tax Resolution Specialist to go over yourinformation (where you work, how much is in your
case before you contact the IRS because everythingbank…etc.) to be able to be set up with a reasonable
you say to that friendly government agent "can andpayment plan unless you owe more than $10,000.
will be used against you." Confiding your tax woes toNegotiating Your Back Taxes and IRS Debt
the IRS is not a good idea – it would be likeMost tax attorneys and Certified Tax Resolution
confessing your sins to a prosecutor without yourSpecialists will tell you, the best way to reduce your
defense attorney present.back taxes and IRS debt is to negotiate an Offer in
But if you are determined to contact the IRS for taxCompromise, which will address the principle tax debt
help, you need to be smart unless you want increaseowed and potentially reduce or eliminate the penalties
your audit risk and/or tax liability. It isn't just "what youand interest.  And while IRS Commissioner Douglas
don't know can hurt you," it is what the IRS agentsShulman recently testified that IRS employees will now
themselves don't know that can really hurt you.have additional flexibility when considering offers in
The IRS Will Give You Bad Tax Advice 43% Of Thecompromise from taxpayers facing economic troubles
Time(including the recently unemployed), it is a safe bet that
If you have collection-related matters, bank levies, taxthe IRS will continue to reject the vast majority of
liens, your wages are being garnished or you're beingOffers in Compromise
audited, instead of calling a tax attorney or CertifiedThe one way to really increase your chances that the
Tax Resolution Specialist, your first impulse might be toIRS will accept your Offer in Compromise is to consult
call the IRS itself to seek clarification on your back taxwith a tax attorney or a Certified Tax Resolution
issue. Unfortunately, while the IRS might tell you whySpecialist to see if you qualify for this type or IRS tax
they are going after you, they have a horrible trackrelief. A tax attorney or Certified Tax Resolution
record for giving out tax relief advice on how toSpecialist knows not just every line of the tax code,
resolve back taxes and IRS problems.but also what kind of deals the IRS will and will not
The IRS offers 10 reasons you should visit itsaccept.  
Taxpayer's Assistance Centers "for goodFinancial disclosure is also key in qualifying for tax
old-fashioned face-to-face assistance from the Internalsettlements -  and people need expert tax attorney
Revenue Service. No recorded menus. No hold music."or Certified Tax Resolution Specialist tax help with this.
Sounds great! But there's one big reason not to.Proving financial hardship is still no easy task no matter
Without a tax attorney or Certified Tax Resolutionhow much flexibility the IRS is pledging. Distressed
Specialist on your side, you have an even greatertaxpayers who want to take advantage of this unique
chance of making your back taxes situation worse.opportunity to resolve their IRS debt will be required to
It's important to keep in mind that when you work withprovide full financial disclosure – and if they plan to
the IRS, their agents, unlike tax attorneys or Certifieddo this alone without expert representation, they could
Tax Resolution Specialists, often don't have the properend up owing the IRS more money in additional
training to provide you with the tax help that you need.accruing penalties and interest than when they started
When you make that call to the IRS 1-800 help linethe process.
number, you're essentially putting your financial fate inAnd keep in mind that even if you do not qualify for
the hands of someone that doesn't have thethe Offer in Compromise, there are other tax relief
knowledge or experience to deal with your taxoptions available such as an  IRS Installment
situation. It is the job of a tax attorney or a CertifiedAgreement, where you can work out a payment plan
Tax Resolution Specialist to make sure that IRSwith the IRS that eliminates the tax debt over time.
representatives adhere to their own rules.This is similar to a monthly car payment — a large
My best advice, if you do end up on the phone withenough payment to pay off a significant debt over
the IRS, is to take down the rep's name and theirtime but not so large that it will adversely affect your
extension number so you have a record of wholifestyle.
you're talking to. A lot of them don't give you theirThe IRS Will NEVER Refer You To the People Who
name, and they don't want to give you their badgeCan Help You The Most
number. Those are the people you'll really have toWhile the IRS has a strict policy of not referring
watch out for.taxpayers to tax resolution firms, there are reputable
How to Ensure You Don't Pay A Penny More to thetax relief companies with proven track records for
IRS Than What You Oweserving taxpayers and putting their best interests first.
Fortunately, there is a way to greatly increase yourExpert and credible tax relief firms hold the IRS
odds of a favorable resolution. Tax attorneys oraccountable to following their own rules and regulations
Certified Tax Resolution Specialists are dedicated to(the tax code has swollen to about 70,000 pages!)
fighting for you when they go to battle with the IRS.during the tax resolution process, while simultaneously
And the money you spend on tax attorney or Certifiedhelping Americans understand their taxpayer rights and
Tax Resolution Specialist fees will be saved manyensuring they are not obligating themselves to pay a
times over in the taxes and penalties that you do notpenny more than what they have to.