Welcome to First Response Resolution, LLC’s official blog! We are a specialty tax firm practicing right here near Medford in Southern Oregon. The focus of my practice is solving tax problems for individuals and businesses, IRS Representation of taxpayers, and representing taxpayers before their individual State Departments of Revenue. These services are referred to in many ways such as Tax Problem Resolution, Tax Relief Services, Tax Resolution, IRS Resolution, Tax Controversy, etc. Think of our firm as your Financial First Responders who specialize in saving troubled taxpayers. We help people who are struggling with tax problems get their lives back on track so they can focus on what matters most to them.
The IRS Offer in Compromise Program is the focus of our next couple of blog posts! Many of you have likely seen or heard the advertisements on TV and the Radio that promote settling your tax debts for “Pennies on the Dollar”. Large national tax resolution firms spend an awful lot of money on their advertising to convince taxpayers that they can resolve their tax problems by making an offer to the IRS for much less than they owe, and some taxpayers do in fact qualify for this option. Unfortunately, taxpayers are often taken advantage of by these same companies who treat everyone as though they qualify for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) and charge them upwards of $10,000 to prepare and file their offer, even when they should know the offer will not be accepted. When the offer is rejected, the taxpayer often finds themselves in a position where they still owe their large liability, but now they are $10,000 lighter on available resources, and they just gave the IRS much longer to collect the tax owed.
The IRS has warned taxpayers about these “OIC Mills” and the community of competent and honest tax practitioners end up consulting with these taxpayers who now have no idea how to resolve their issue and can no longer afford to pay for IRS Representation. An Offer in Compromise can be a life changing option for those who qualify. Believe it or not, the Offer in Compromise is NOT always the most advantageous approach to solving tax problems, even when the taxpayer DOES qualify! There are a lot of factors to consider, such as the requirement to remain in tax compliance for 5 years following the acceptance of the offer, the extension of the Collection Statute, the ability to actually pay the amount offered if accepted, etc. In the next couple of posts, we will walk through the basics of the Offer process, the pros and cons of submitting an Offer to the IRS, and what you should expect when seeking tax problem resolution services so that you are armed with the knowledge needed to ensure your representative achieves the best possible outcome in your circumstances.
Essentially, the Offer in Compromise process allows a taxpayer to settle their tax debts and pay only what they can afford, instead of what they owe, based upon a calculation of their Reasonable Collection Potential (RCP). This is determined by comparing future income against the taxpayer’s expenses that the IRS considers to be allowable on a monthly basis and then applying the amount determined to be available for collection each month to the time remaining on the Collection Statute. There are certain expenses that are allowable based on either National or Local Standards, and then there are other expenses that can be negotiated as allowable under certain circumstances, but those expenses need to be proven by substantiating documentation. Hiring a competent representative who knows how to present the argument to the IRS can make a huge difference in determining what expenses the IRS will allow in determining a taxpayer’s RCP. Stay tuned for more insights into the Offer in Compromise process!
The IRS and taxes in general can be complicated and intimidating. If you have received IRS Notices regarding back taxes owed and are facing potential Tax Liens and Levies, it is well advised to seek competent representation when dealing with the IRS. Most people would not go to court and face litigation without an attorney, and it is in your best interest to engage a qualified representative to deal with the IRS on your behalf. If you or someone you know is in the midst of an IRS issue, contact me at either 541-293-8449, by email at zach@firstresponseirs.com, or through our website. We specialize in solving tax problems! We know how to defend taxpayer rights and will thoroughly investigate and evaluate your specific situation and consider ALL OPTIONS available to you. All discussions are kept strictly confidential, and we offer no obligation initial consultations of up to one hour.
Is your agency interested in having me speak to your team of realtors in person or over Zoom at one of your weekly sales meetings free of charge? I have a presentation developed to address the following:
- Taxation and your clients,
- Tax tips for saving on your own tax returns, and
- Tax Problem Solutions.
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