| As soon as we're able to use reason and logic in our | | | | IRS website. And thus began the enlightenment to the |
| thinking, we're taught that it's never a good solution to | | | | errors of my previous ways. |
| run from our problems. The best advice teaches us to | | | | My simple goal was to negotiate a payment plan that I |
| face our problems headlong through resolution. This | | | | could live with because the ones that the attorneys |
| policy is especially important when facing your | | | | worked out for me were not feasible, given my |
| creditors, especially the IRS. In today's economic | | | | financial situation, unless I sold most of my property |
| climate, creditors are busy beating down doors trying | | | | and bought a tent. The first agent I talked to, although |
| to get clients to make good on delinquent balances. | | | | polite and well intentioned, wasn't much help in lowering |
| The IRS is one of the largest common creditors to | | | | my payments. Albeit discouraged with the outcome of |
| millions of people so this article is going to provide | | | | the conversation, I was pleasantly surprised at how |
| some sound advice on dealing with the IRS for past | | | | eager the IRS was to talk to me and try to work |
| due tax liabilities. | | | | things out. The call ended without much change in my |
| For every person telling you to face your debt | | | | repayment plan. Then I learned my next valuable |
| problems head on, there are 100 lawyers trying to | | | | lesson in dealing with the IRS. |
| convince you to fight the IRS to get a reduced | | | | After contemplating the call for a few minutes, it |
| obligation. You must resist these vultures and stop | | | | occurred to me that the agent I got when I called was, |
| trying to get out of your obligations and responsibilities. | | | | of course, random. There must be thousands of these |
| However you found yourself in a hole with the IRS, it's | | | | agents that handle all the calls coming in from |
| likely that you're solely responsible for the situation. | | | | taxpayers. And I wondered if they were given any |
| Don't follow any mis-guided, self motivated advice of | | | | flexibility in dealing with the calls. I didn't think about this |
| running and hiding behind trees and around corners. | | | | too long and simply picked up the phone and dialed the |
| The good news is that the IRS is not nearly the beast | | | | 800 number again. Of course I got a different agent |
| they've been made out to be. That myth, image, and | | | | and proceeded to explain the same thing I did to the |
| misperception is largely the responsibility of legal | | | | previous agent. |
| ambulance chasers scaring you away from dealing | | | | She was even more polite and when I explained my |
| with the IRS directly and adding exorbitant fees to | | | | financial situation, she went a few rounds with her |
| your already intolerable debt. | | | | calculator and came up with a monthly payment that |
| I speak from vast experience. I've had to deal with the | | | | was roughly half of my current plan. I almost fell off |
| IRS for unpaid tax obligations several years of my | | | | my chair. She still had to get her supervisor to approve |
| business life. All my own doing. The IRS didn't tax me | | | | the lower payment and put me on hold for a few |
| any differently than the next guy in my situation. I | | | | minutes. When she returned, and I quote, she said "well, |
| naively and arrogantly disregarded some of the debt I | | | | my supervisor is in a better mood than me" and told |
| was piling up until it caught up with me. I did all the | | | | me the lower payment had been approved. I was |
| wrong things at first. I hired attorneys, tax consultants, | | | | numb. |
| and one of the largest IRS debt negotiation firms in the | | | | So, you see, people are people and rules are only |
| US. You've seen their commercials all over your TV. | | | | guidelines. Even when it comes to the ugly IRS beast. |
| When all the attorneys and tax consultants were | | | | They're busy chasing the taxpayers hiding behind trees |
| finished, my tax debt was larger and I had added | | | | and around corners. Can you imagine how many |
| thousands of dollars to my debt in legal fees. Not to | | | | people call THEM to work out a plan before they have |
| mention my reputation with the IRS probably tainted as | | | | to garnish wages or place levies? Be one of them. |
| being another irresponsible citizen taking advantage of | | | | You'll feel better about yourself and you'll reduce the |
| all the conveniences taxes fund and trying to avoid | | | | stress of running from your problems. And after you |
| paying his fair share. I finally said enough. It was time to | | | | work it out with the IRS, start on your list of other |
| take the proverbial bull by the horns and take control | | | | creditors. They're likely to reduce your liability if you |
| of the situation myself. I fired everyone, picked up the | | | | work out a plan with them, especially the credit card |
| phone, and started with the 800 number listed on the | | | | companies. |