Faq

What we do

Frequently Asked Questions:​
What does your company do?
We are versed in negotiating with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and your local state department on tax bills. We work with income tax, employee withholding taxes, unemployment taxes, sales taxes, meals taxes, excise taxes, etc.

We take over communications with your Revenue Officer or collection agent in order to free up your time so you can focus on your business and family. Negotiating a manageable payment plan or settlement with the taxing authorities can be a lengthy and time consuming process. If you want someone to take the job seriously and stay in communications with you throughout every step, you have come to the right place.

We will take the time to get to know you and your financial circumstances so that we can help set you up for success. Remember that the government is out to collect as much as they can; they have their own best interests at heart.

If you are looking for help in making sure your taxpayer rights are being met and that you aren’t biting off more than you can chew, you should call us for a free consultation. We can find out where you are at in the collections process and discuss the best course of action to take for you personally.​

I have other companies promising to get rid of all my penalties and promising that they can settle my debt for less. Can you do that?
It always depends on your particular circumstances. There are many options out there for resolving your balance, but you should always be wary of people or companies that promise large savings without knowing your specific circumstances first.
There are a lot of options out there when it comes to resolving your tax debt and what you qualify for will most likely be very different than what your friend or neighbor qualifies for.

There any many factors that come in to play when determining what type of resolution you qualify for, from the assets you own, whether or not you are self-employed, or the circumstances surrounding how your tax balance accrued in the first place.

If you haven’t reviewed this information with the company promising you large savings, chances are, they are making you false promises. You can always call us for a free consultation where we can review your circumstances and better outline what options you do have available.

What are some options that I might have?

There are many different types of resolutions we offer and have experience with, but every option depends on your specific circumstances. The most common resolution strategy is an Installment Agreement paired with a request for a Penalty Abatement. But, if you have limited assets and a fixed income, you may qualify for an Offer in Compromise. To learn more about the services we offer, and see a detailed explanation of each, please visit our Services page.

What is the difference between a lien and a levy?
A lien is filed by the IRS or your state department any time there is a balance due of a certain amount outstanding. These are filed to protect the governments interest as it secures collateral for repayment of the debt. For example, if you own your home, decide to sell, and have $25,000 in equity that you stand to collect, the lien ensures that the government is paid through the proceeds of the sale. Tax liens attach to any assets that you own, will affect your credit history, and are public record. If you are looking to sell or refinance property and your tax lien is affecting you, call us to see how we can help in your situation.

A levy means that the IRS is attempting to seize funds that you have available to pay towards your tax balance. Most often, levies are issued to bank accounts to forcefully take what you have in your account. Levies can also be issued to wages or regular funding sources you have, such as your accounts receivable or rental income. In some cases, levies can also be issued to 401(k) accounts. The IRS and most state departments all have different rules when it comes to how levies are treated. For example, when the IRS issues a levy, you have 21 days to work towards a release of the levy in order to try to obtain your funds back before they are sent to the IRS. In general, the IRS will also only take what you have available in your account. However, some state departments have continuous levies that can capture all future deposits you make up to the amount of your tax bill. If you have received a notice of levy, you are likely in the advanced stages of collections and should contact us to see how we can help release your levy and/or stop future levies from happening.​

I have been told that I might be assessed with the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. What is that?

If you have been hearing about Trust Fund investigations and the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty, you likely own a business and are being considered someone who was responsible for withholding taxes from your employee’s paychecks.  Even if your business is a corporation or limited liability company, the IRS can hold a corporate officer or partner personally responsible for the taxes that were withheld from your employees paychecks and not turned over to the IRS.  This means that they can assess a penalty equal to the amount of tax withheld from your employees to you personally, under your social security number.  At that time, the IRS can then start to collect against your personal income and assets.  The IRS treats this type of tax very seriously, but there are always options available to you.  However, be aware that most of your options are very time sensitive.  If you are being investigated for the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty, or getting notices at your personal residence and not just your business, you should seek help right away.  

I have already been working with my collection agent to resolve my tax bill. Why should I get help?

Keep in mind that the person you are working with has one job: to collect the debt you owe as quickly as they can. For this reason, you aren’t likely being given all of the options that you have available to you. You might end up agreeing to something that will not benefit you, your family, or your business in the future. It is best to know all of your options so that you can make the best financial decision available to you under your circumstances. It is not uncommon for taxing agents to take advantage of the fact that most people do not have experience in negotiating some of the better resolution options that are out there. So, it is usually best to have someone who can fight to get you the best resolution option available to you.​

When should I hire someone?

As soon as possible! Many people wait until things start to get out of control or less manageable for them before hiring anyone. This can be a mistake because the further things progress into collections, the fewer options you may have available to you. The sooner you can get help in resolving your debt, the better. Not only will more doors be open to you as far as types of resolutions you have available, but we may also be able to sooner avoid levy action, lien filings, and civil penalty assessments.