| While the IRS is more determined than ever to | | | | Agreement or Contract for Services indicates |
| enforce collection activity for back taxes owed, | | | | that the fees paid include representing you at |
| the IRS Offer in Compromise program can help | | | | Appeals, as your OIC has a good chance of being |
| taxpayers who are experiencing significant financial | | | | rejected by the first IRS employee charged with |
| problems get a fresh start, if they qualify. | | | | evaluating it. |
| However, it is important to note that the IRS | | | | Tax Relief Deadly Sin #4: Misrepresenting your |
| Offer in Compromise acceptance rate is less than | | | | financial position in any way on any document. |
| 23% (less than one in four will be accepted) when | | | | The taxpayer bears the burden of proof to show |
| a taxpayer prepares, submits, and negotiates his | | | | exceptional circumstances exist such that |
| her offer without professional expert | | | | collection of the full amount of IRS back taxes |
| representation. On the other hand, hiring | | | | would create economic hardship or where |
| professional tax help to negotiate a settlement | | | | compelling public policy or equity considerations |
| with the IRS on your behalf can greatly increase | | | | provide sufficient basis for compromise. |
| your chances of qualifying for a tax relief | | | | Attempting to lie, fib, misrepresent, omit, |
| settlement. | | | | equivocate, dissemble, or otherwise tell them an |
| An experienced tax attorney or Certified Tax | | | | untruth will not win you an Offer in Compromise |
| Resolution Specialist (which can only be an | | | | and may even land you bigger trouble than when |
| attorney, CPA or Enrolled Agent) can help you | | | | you started the process. All documents you sign |
| qualify for this program by analyzing your current | | | | are signed "under penalty of perjury." |
| financial situation. | | | | Tax Relief Deadly Sin #5: Failing to meet a |
| While taxpayers may always represent | | | | deadline the IRS or a tax attorney or Certified |
| themselves before the IRS, many taxpayers find | | | | Tax Resolution Specialist gives you. |
| dealing with the IRS frustrating, time-consuming, | | | | If the IRS - or your tax attorney or Certified |
| intimidating or all of the above. Whether you hire | | | | Tax Resolution Specialist - gives you a deadline, |
| professional tax help or go up against the IRS on | | | | you need to honor it. Give yourself a cushion of |
| your own, check out these Seven Deadly Sins of | | | | time to find that old bank statement or fill out |
| Tax Relief that you will want to avoid when | | | | that tax help form. You don't want to have to |
| applying for an Offer in Compromise. | | | | drive 50 miles with a sick kid in the back of your |
| Tax Relief Deadly Sin #1: Failing to file a tax | | | | car to make the midnight FedEx deadline in the |
| return when due, without extensions, during the | | | | nearest big city. |
| offer process. | | | | Tax Relief Deadly Sin #6: Misleading or deceitful |
| The IRS does not make a habit of bailing people | | | | statements, material omissions and non-disclosure |
| out with tax relief for back taxes owed. They | | | | to anyone at the IRS in verbal, written, electronic, |
| want you to know that this is a one-time | | | | or any other format. |
| aberration on your part and that for the rest of | | | | Again, if you don't play by their rules, they won't |
| your life you will file and pay your taxes on time. | | | | play tax relief ball with you at all. Don't fool |
| In order to help convince them of your good | | | | yourself by thinking your rolled up stack of Ben |
| intentions, it is crucial to file all subsequent tax | | | | Franklins is safely tucked away in an old coffee |
| returns on time. | | | | can at the back of the garage or in a numbered |
| Tax Relief Deadly Sin #2: Failing to pay any taxes | | | | Swiss account. The IRS already knows every |
| when due during or after submission of your | | | | money-hiding trick in the book, and they will |
| offer. | | | | uncover all of your financial secrets. |
| See Deadly Sin #1. The IRS won't take you | | | | Tax Relief Deadly Sin #7: Refusing, declining, |
| seriously if you flake on payments during the | | | | avoiding requests for information or documents. |
| Offer in Compromise process. If you are serious | | | | They're going to find out all of your back tax |
| about resolving your tax debt, you need to show | | | | secrets anyway, so you might as well be upfront |
| that you will fully comply with the tax laws | | | | about them. Better to rip off a bandage quickly, |
| without further delinquencies. | | | | as it were, and start the process of resolving |
| It is also important to note that the IRS requires | | | | your tax problems once and for all. |
| future compliance for a period of five (5) years | | | | There are all kinds of complications to getting a |
| from the date of acceptance of the Offer In | | | | successful offer accepted at a low dollar amount, |
| Compromise, or until the offered amount is paid in | | | | and a tax attorney or Certified Tax Resolution |
| full, whichever is longer. Compliance is the timely | | | | Specialist handles all aspects of the process, so |
| filing and paying of all required returns and taxes | | | | you don't have to. In addition to navigating the |
| when due. | | | | IRS process to resolve your back taxes, a tax |
| Tax Relief Deadly Sin #3: Hostility toward anyone | | | | attorney or Certified Tax Resolution Specialist will |
| at the IRS. | | | | look for ways to legitimately further reduce your |
| Remember that old saying, "You catch more flies | | | | tax debt so you aren't obligating yourself to pay a |
| with honey than with vinegar?" No one likes a | | | | penny more than you have to. |
| sycophant, but treating any IRS employees you | | | | When you hire a tax attorney or Certified Tax |
| encounter with courtesy and respect will help | | | | Resolution Specialist to get IRS tax relief, you |
| keep your back tax relief process moving | | | | immediately relieve yourself of the stress of ever |
| smoothly. | | | | having to talk to the IRS again. You also deprive |
| Your experience will not be with the IRS per se. | | | | them of one of their biggest weapons. The IRS |
| Your experience will be with an individual who may | | | | loves it when they get to talk directly to the |
| like or hate giving taxpayers deals. We see this | | | | taxpayer. The IRS wants to get the maximum |
| behavior every day. Remember, you can't pick | | | | payment for back taxes out of you, and will not |
| who you want to evaluate and handle your offer; | | | | treat you as fairly as they will if you have the |
| it is simply the luck of the draw. So it's best to | | | | protective shield of a professional tax attorney or |
| keep your cool during the process. | | | | Certified Tax Resolution Specialist representing |
| And if you are represented by a tax problem | | | | you. |
| resolution specialist, make certain that the Service | | | | |