Month: October 2021

“There are tax debt relief companies that will help you settle or reduce tax debt,” said IRS Tax Relief Manager Robert Keeble. “Their goal is to ensure that their clients get the tax debt relief they deserve, while minimizing the tax liability of their client.” Taxation experts agree that using a tax settlement or tax debit plan will often result in a tax settlement or tax debit plan being set up which will result in the client paying less in tax liability and/or interest. “We have helped thousands of individuals settle their tax debts for less than the full amount owed.”

The Internal Revenue Service has established policies and procedures for tax debts and debtors that qualify under the tax laws. Among these qualified taxpayers are: married individuals, taxpayers who are single, taxpayers who don’t meet income or asset requirements, children, and taxpayers with disabilities. Taxation experts agree that there are four categories of taxpayers. Taxpayers may fall into one of these four categories and fall under one of two tax categories based on their priority. Taxpayers are considered “premium taxpayers” if they don’t qualify for one of these two tax debt relief programs; they may be considered “non-priority taxpayers” if they do qualify for one of these programs.

The tax debts that are considered “priority taxes” are those that must be eliminated before any program of tax settlement or tax debit relief will apply. Examples of priority tax debts are tax penalties and interest and may include federal tax liens, tax exempt bonds, mortgages, and state income tax. Another way to categorize tax debts is according to whether they are considered “voluntary” debts or “involuntary” debts. Examples of voluntary debts include delinquent student loans, child support, child custody payments, and tax-free inheritances. Examples of involuntary debts are tax liens and criminal fines. Both types of tax debts generally must be filed by the taxpayer prior to initiating any tax debt relief program.

The taxpayers who do not qualify for any of the tax debt relief programs can choose “confidence agreements,” which are court arrangements in which the IRS agrees not to pursue tax debt relief based on the taxpayer’s current financial circumstances. If the taxpayer doesn’t qualify for a confidence agreement, the IRS can file a tax lien against the delinquent taxpayer’s property, wage garnishment, or bank account. These methods of collection are usually temporary and require a future court order.

If the taxpayer is unable to come up with enough money to pay the tax liability in full, the IRS will offer a compromise. This compromise is generally a lower percentage of the total tax debt owed. To qualify, taxpayers must demonstrate that they would be unable to pay the debt in full even with assistance. Examples of situations where a compromise might be possible include a major life change, an illness, a reduction in income, or a divorce. Click here to learn more about tax debt and settlement.

In some cases, tax debts can be resolved without the help of an attorney by negotiating with the IRS. However, it’s often best to retain an attorney if the tax debt is very large or complex. A qualified tax lawyer can negotiate a reasonable settlement for you that will satisfy your tax debt and leave you financially protected. Tax attorneys can also advise you whether a bankruptcy case is the best choice for you and your tax debts. With a knowledgeable tax lawyer by your side, your credit problems will soon be history!