My firm focuses on helping taxpayers in Portland, Maine with IRS tax problems. One of the keys to resolving their tax issues is understanding the process. From filing a tax return to the final notice of intent to levy, there is a logical sequence of how the IRS collects taxes. This post provides the basic framework. The Framework The process starts when the IRS receives your tax return. Upon receipt, the IRS records a tax assessment against the taxpayer's "account" for the taxes shown on the tax return. If the taxpayer has not paid his or her taxes in full the IRS (5 comments)