by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 28, 2014 | Tax Help
Fight IRS with Former Affordable IRS Agents and Managers who know the system.
Stop being bullied by the IRS, we know how to bully right back.
We know everything they know. We were former IRS agents and managers who were teaching instructors that taught IRS agents their jobs.
We know every single tax strategy possible and know the best possible tax defenses to get you the results that you need for affordable professional fees.
We have been in practice since 1982 in are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.
You have absolutely nothing to lose by calling us today. You will hear the truth about your case and different resolution options.
IRS Tax Levy Releases
If the Internal Revenue Service has sent out an IRS bank levy or a wage garnishment levy contact us today and as a general rule within 24 hours of receiving a documented IRS financial statement we can get your tax levy released and your case settled.
You will need to fill out form 433F and fully document the financial with three months of bank statements, copy of your last pay stub and a copy of all monthly expenses. This is required on almost each and every case.
Owe under $50,000 -Payment Plans
If you owe under $50,000 and wish to make a payment plan with the Internal Revenue Service contact us today and generally we can get your any levy released in your case settled that very day.
Filing Back Tax Returns
If you need to file back tax returns and have little or few tax records, we can prepare your tax returns via reconstructive methods.
We have the ability to pull your income transcripts for up to seven years and prepare your tax return.
If you are going to owe tax we can file your returns and settle your case all at the same time.
IRS Tax Audit
Less than 1% of all taxpayers go through an IRS audit.
If you are one of those taxpayers expecting an individual or business tax audit contact us today and have a former IRS auditor, revenue agent or appellate agent represent you during your IRS tax audit.
We can offer you the very best tax defense possible during an IRS tax audit.
IRS Tax Settlements
If you wish to settle your back tax debt you will need to file an offer in compromise.
On staff is a former IRS revenue officer who both worked the program and taught the program to new IRS employees.
If you call us we can walk you through the program in find out if you are a suitable candidate for a tax settlement/offer in compromise .
We will also walk you through the pre-qualifier tool to find out what is the lowest dollar that you can legally settle for.
Contact us today for a free initial tax consultation and we will have a specific tax expert deal with your individual situation.
We are fast friendly and affordable.
Always do your due diligence before hiring a tax resolution firm or professional tax company.
Check out their BBB score and the professionals on their website.
Knoxville – IRS Taxes Help – *IRS Tax Levy *IRS Tax Audit * Back Tax Returns *IRS Tax Settlement – Affordable – Former IRS Agents
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 28, 2014 | Tax Help
If you are going to fight the IRS, fight them on there level, hire Former IRS agents and managers who know the system.
Get Your Money Back in Your Pocket.
If you have received a IRS paycheck wage garnishment or an IRS bank tax levy contact us today to get immediate tax relief for both situations.
As former IRS agents and managers we issued thousands of paycheck wage garnishment levy’s and IRS bank tax levies when we worked for the IRS and as a result we know the fastest and most expeditious way to get the money back in your pocket.
We can get you immediate releases of paycheck wage garnishments and IRS bank tax levies as soon as we can get your documented financial statement in hand.
As a general rule we can get this relief within 24 hours.
Not only can we stop your paycheck wage garnishment or your IRS bank tax levy we can work out a tax settlement.
If you have to file back tax returns we can get you current with the Internal Revenue Service even if you have little or no tax records.
The Process of Getting your Money Back
How we can immediately get Notices of Bank Levy and Wage Garnishment Released.
As former IRS Agents, Managers and Instructors we have issued thousands of IRS Wage/Garnishment and Bank Levies.
We know exactly how to quickly get them released. We have what it takes.
1. We immediately send a power of attorney to the IRS letting them know we are now your representative. You will never have to speak to them.
2. We will make sure all your tax returns are filed and current. If your tax returns are not up to date, the IRS will refuse to work your case.
This is leverage that they use to get you compliant.
We can pull tax transcripts, file and prepare your tax returns within days, even if you have lost your tax records.
3. The IRS requires a current financial statement.
We will secure a required 433-F (IRS financial statement), verify the income and expenses and work out a settlement agreement.
The IRS will require a closing settlement method for each case.
4. We review with our clients how they want to settle their case. We get them an agreement based on their current financial needs.
IRS Tax Settlement Agreements can be in different forms:
a. Hardship Settlements.
Cases usually go into a 3 year suspended status because of an inability to pay. This is also called currently noncollectable. Your case will go into a hardship status because you do not have the income coming in to meet your current expenses. The IRS will use the National Standards Program to assess hardship.
b. Payment Agreements.
Cases can be closed with agreed upon monthly installment payments to the IRS. We will review the different programs the IRS uses for the lowest possible amount required.
c. Offer in Compromise.
There are three types of OICs:
The IRS may accept an Offer in Compromise based on three grounds:
1. Doubt as to Collectibility – Doubt exists that the taxpayer could ever pay the full amount of tax liability owed within the remainder of the statutory period for collection.
2. Doubt as to Liability – A legitimate doubt exists that the assessed tax liability is correct. Possible reasons to submit a doubt as to liability offer include:
(1) the examiner made a mistake interpreting the law,
(2) the examiner failed to consider the taxpayer’s evidence or
(3) the taxpayer has new evidence.
3. Effective Tax Administration/ Exceptional Circumstances.
There is no doubt that the tax is correct and there is potential to collect the full amount of the tax owed, but an exceptional circumstance exists that would allow the IRS to consider an OIC.
To be eligible for compromise on this basis, a taxpayer must demonstrate that the collection of the tax would create an economic hardship or would be unfair and inequitable.
Stop Paycheck Wage Garnishment, IRS Bank Tax Levy – Affordable -Tax Attorney, Former IRS – Jacksonville
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 28, 2014 | Tax Help
SOUTH FLORIDA WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FAILING TO DISCLOSE INCOME FROM SWISS BANK ACCOUNTS AND AGREES TO $21 MILLION PENALTY
Mary Estelle Curran of Palm Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to filing false tax returns for tax years 2006 and 2007, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced.
According to court documents, Curran, a U.S. citizen, maintained undeclared bank accounts at UBS AG in Switzerland and a bank in Liechtenstein, which she inherited from her husband in 2000.
The accounts at UBS AG were held in the names of nominee foreign entities, including the Flognet Foundation and Norega Investment.
The account earned income each year, which Curran failed to report on her 2001 through 2007 individual income tax returns.
According to the plea agreement, Curran’s conduct caused a tax loss to the government of approximately $667,716.
The value of all undeclared foreign financial accounts owned or controlled by Curran exceeded $42 million in 2007.
In order to resolve her civil liability for failure to report her foreign bank accounts, Curran has agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of 50 percent of the high balance of the accounts, which is $21,666,929.
“The Justice Department continues to pursue those who hide income and assets from the IRS through the use of nominee businesses and offshore bank accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General Keneally. “U.S. taxpayers who fail to come forward in the voluntary disclosure program risk prosecution and substantial fines, as this case demonstrates.”
“U.S. citizens who seek to avoid their tax obligations by hiding income in undeclared bank accounts abroad should by now be fully on notice that they will be held accountable for their actions, both civilly and criminally,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wilfredo A. Ferrer. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to helping the IRS enforce our nation’s tax laws.”
“Offshore accounts can no longer be used to hide from the IRS and avoid paying the fair amount of tax,” said Richard Weber, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation is aggressively pursuing tax cheats – both domestically and internationally. We owe it to every American taxpayer to use all lawful means to identify and prosecute both those who evade their taxes and those who assist them in evading their tax obligations.”
Curran faces a potential maximum prison term of six years. A sentencing date has not been set.
Assistant Attorney General Keneally and U.S. Attorney Ferrer thanked Special Agents of IRS – CI, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Senior Litigation Counsel Mark F. Daly and Trial Attorney Michelle M. Petersen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Lanigan, who prosecuted the case.
The moral of this story is to find IRS before they find you.
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 28, 2014 | Tax Help
Let former IRS agents and managers fight your battle. We know the system!
We are a Florida tax firm that specializes in IRS and state taxpayer defense.
Our firm is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and have been in practice since 1982 right here in the state of Florida
We have over 60 years of direct IRS work experience in the local, district, and regional tax offices of the Internal Revenue Service.
While at Internal Revenue Service we taught tax law.
We know the systems, the protocols, the settlement series, and the best possible tax defense to get you the very best and affordable tax results possible.
Stop Tax Levies
If you want to stop your IRS levy you’ll need to fill out a current financial statement with complete documentation and submit that to the IRS ACS unit or to the revenue officer working your case.
You have to include your pay stub, your last three months bank statements and a list of all current expenses. The Internal Revenue Service will work out a closing strategy to release your levy and take your case off the enforcement computer. A levy will not be released until you call IRS and give them all pertinent information.
Settle Back Taxes
If you want to settle back taxes you can do so through the filing of an offer in compromise or tax debt settlement.
It is wise to walk to the IRS pre-qualifier tool to make sure you are a true candidate to settle your back taxes.
There a lot of planning strategies involved to settle your back tax and if you’re interested call us today we will walk you through the program and give you a free initial tax consultation to see if you are a suitable candidate.
File Back Tax Returns
If you need to to file back tax returns and you have little or no records call us today and we will be able to pull your past tax transcripts and reconstruct your tax returns.
We could not only file your back tax returns we can also work out tax settlement at the same time.
IRS Tax audit representation
Who better to represent your best interests than former IRS agent managers who were former IRS auditors, revenue agents or appeals agent.
If you have received an IRS notice or letter that you will be going through an IRS tax audit, call us today and we will let you know some of the very best tax defenses that you can use.
We are a full-service tax form with all work being conducted in-house by tax attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, and former IRS agents managers and tax instructors.
Taxpayer Defense – Jacksonville *Affordable* Stop Levies, Settle Back Tax, File Back Tax Returns, Tax Audit Representation
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 28, 2014 | Tax Help
I am a former IRS revenue officer who both worked the offer in compromise program and taught the offer in compromise program at the regional training center in Atlanta Georgia.
Tax Fact – 38% of all offers in compromise filed are accepted by the IRS for an average of $.14 on a dollar
In short I am an expert on the offer in compromise.
There are five cardinal rules to get your offer in compromise accepted by the Internal Revenue Service. Please understand even know I’m listing only five, there are other issues that may arise and come up and I would recommend taxpayers who wish to settle their IRS tax debt through an offer in compromise hire professional tax firm unless you have an extremely simple case.
In speaking to IRS agents who are currently working the offer in compromise program they stated to me directly that about 90% of all the offers accepted were submitted through professional firms.Simply because repetition is the mother of success.
The offer in compromise a very specific process.
Unless you have worked hundreds of these cases you do not understand the complexities that are involved in most of the cases.
I recommend anyone wanting to settle their case with the Internal Revenue Service hire a seasoned tax professional whether it’s us or another tax firm. It is well worth your money.
Cardinal rules of the offer in compromise.
1. Walk-through the IRS pre-qualifier tool first – there is an IRS pre-qualify your tool that you can find on our website. Make sure that you are settling for the lowest dollar amount. Walk through the pre-qualifier tool or call us today and we will qualify you for an initial assessment.
2. Make sure all offers are filled out completely – being a former IRS agent I can tell you it is much easier for the IRS agent to reject your offer than accept your offer.
IRS has the right to send your offer in compromise back if it is not filled out correctly. Do not give IRS a reason to reject your offer. As simple as this statement sounds you’d be surprised the number of offers in compromise that come back because they are not filled out correctly.
3. Well-documented forms- many offers get rejected because the forms are not well documented. This is another reason IRS will reject your offer. It is critical that everywhere that you write a number to have it documented with support or information that supports the information you are providing the Internal Revenue Service.
4. Packaging- at the end of the day it’s all about packaging.
IRS wants to see a nice neat package with no loose ends.
The offer must make sense. If there are unusual circumstances or facts that surround your financial condition have them documented with a statement or note that paint the condition of your case.
Paint a picture of your financial condition with the summary statement so the agent has an idea of the true facts of your case. Remember the agent will never meet you they only learn about you through the paperwork and forms you fill out.
5. Be patient, be persistent and appeal if necessary -Because IRS rejects offer so easily, if you think you have an offer that should have been accepted plan to appeal.
As a general rule is easier to get IRS to accept your offer and the appellate process.
Also be patient in hearing from IRS. Right now there are over 7500 cases in the queue that are not being work because of manpower.
Offers in compromise are just stacked up and that’s why it is critical your packaging is filled out correctly so the IRS can easily go ahead and put an accepted stamp on it.
What is The Offer In Compromise
An offer in compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed.
IMPORTANT NOTE : If the liabilities can be fully paid through an installment agreement or other means, the taxpayer will in most cases not be eligible for an OIC.
In order to be eligible for an OIC, the taxpayer must have:
1. filed all tax returns,
2. made all required estimated tax payments for the current year and,
3. made all required federal tax deposits for the current quarter if the taxpayer is a business owner with employees.
In most cases, the IRS will not accept an OIC unless the amount offered by the taxpayer is equal to or greater than the reasonable collection potential .
The RCP is how the IRS measures the taxpayer’s ability to pay.
The RCP includes the value that can be realized from the taxpayer’s assets, such as real property, automobiles, bank accounts, and other property.
In addition to property, the RCP also includes anticipated future income, less certain amounts allowed for basic living expenses. This is why it is helpful to walk to the IRS pre-qualifier tool so you recognize what it takes to get your offer in compromise through
The IRS may accept an OIC based on three grounds.
1. Acceptance is permitted if there is doubt as to liability.
This ground is only met when there is a genuine dispute as to the existence or amount of the correct tax debt under the law.
2. Acceptance is permitted if there is doubt that the amount owed is fully collectible.
Doubt as to collectibility exists in any case where the taxpayer’s assets and income are less than the full amount of the tax liability.
3. Acceptance is permitted based on effective tax administration.
An offer in compromise may be accepted based on effective tax administration when there is no doubt that the tax is legally owed and that the full amount owed can be collected, but requiring payment in full would either create an economic hardship or would be unfair and inequitable because of exceptional circumstances.
These are very difficult offers in compromise to get accepted and when they are they usually get accepted because of medical conditions and those must be very well documented.
How to Submit an Offer in Compromise
When submitting an OIC based on doubt as to collectibility or based on effective tax administration, taxpayers must use the most current version of Form 656, Offer in Compromise, and also submit Form 433-A (OIC) (PDF), Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals, and/or Form 433-B (OIC) (PDF), Collection Information Statement for Businesses.
A taxpayer submitting an OIC based on doubt as to liability must file a Form 656-L (PDF), Offer in Compromise (Doubt as to Liability), instead of Form 656 and Form 433-A (OIC) and/or Form 433-B (OIC). Form 656 can be found in the Offer in Compromise Booklet, Form 656-B (PDF).
Applicable Application Fees
A taxpayer must submit a $186 application fee with the Form 656. Do not combine this fee with any other tax payments.
There are, however, two exceptions to this requirement.
1. No application fee is required if the OIC is based on doubt as to liability.
2. The fee is not required if the taxpayer is an individual (not a corporation, partnership, or other entity) who qualifies for the low-income exception.
This exception applies if the taxpayer’s total monthly income falls at or below 250 percent of the poverty guidelines published by the Department of Health and Human Services. Section 4 of Form 656 contains the Low Income Certification guidelines to assist taxpayers in determining whether they qualify for the low-income exception.
A taxpayer who claims the low-income exception must complete section 4 of Form 656.
Two types of payment plans for offer in compromise
The Lump Sum Offer
Taxpayers may choose to pay the offer amount in a lump sum or in installment payments.
A “lump sum offer” is defined as an offer payable in 5 or fewer installments within 5 or fewer months after the offer is accepted.
If a taxpayer submits a lump sum offer, the taxpayer must include with the Form 656 a nonrefundable payment equal to 20 percent of the offer amount.
This payment is required in addition to the $186 application fee.
The 20 percent payment is “nonrefundable” meaning it will not be returned to the taxpayer even if the offer is rejected or returned to the taxpayer without acceptance. Instead, the 20 percent payment will be applied to the taxpayer’s tax liability.
The taxpayer has a right to specify the particular tax liability to which the IRS will apply the 20 percent payment.
The periodic payment offer
An offer is called a “periodic payment offer” under the tax law if it is payable in 6 or more monthly installments and within 24 months after the offer is accepted.
When submitting a periodic payment offer, the taxpayer must include the first proposed installment payment along with the Form 656.
This payment is required in addition to the $186 application fee.
This amount is nonrefundable, just like the 20 percent payment required for a lump sum offer.
Also, while the IRS is evaluating a periodic payment offer, the taxpayer must continue to make the installment payments provided for under the terms of the offer.
These amounts are also nonrefundable.
These amounts are applied to the tax liabilities and the taxpayer has a right to specify the particular tax liabilities to which the periodic payments will be applied.
Statutory time to collect
Ordinarily, the statutory time within which the IRS may engage in collection activities is suspended during the period that the OIC is under consideration and is further suspended if the OIC is rejected by the IRS and where the taxpayer appeals the rejection to the IRS Office of Appeals within 30 days from the date of the notice of rejection.
If the IRS accepts
If the IRS accepts the taxpayer’s offer, the IRS expects that the taxpayer will have no further delinquencies and will fully comply with the tax laws.
OIC is in default
If the taxpayer does not abide by all the terms and conditions of the OIC, the IRS may determine that the OIC is in default.
For doubt as to collectibility and effective tax administration OICs, the terms and conditions include a requirement that the taxpayer timely file all tax returns and timely pay all taxes for 5 years from the date of acceptance of the OIC.
When an OIC is declared to be in default, the agreement is no longer in effect and the IRS may then collect the amounts originally owed (less payments made), plus interest and penalties.
Additionally, any refunds due within the calendar year in which the offer is accepted will be applied to the tax debt.
Rejection of an Offer in Compromise
If the IRS rejects an OIC, the taxpayer will be notified by mail. The letter will explain the reason that the IRS rejected the offer and will provide detailed instructions on how the taxpayer may appeal the decision to the IRS Office of Appeals.
The appeal must be made within 30 days from the date of the letter.
In some cases, an OIC is returned to the taxpayer, rather than rejected, because the taxpayer has not submitted necessary information, has filed for bankruptcy, has failed to include a required application fee or nonrefundable payment with the offer, or has failed to file tax returns or pay current tax liabilities while the offer is under consideration.
A return is different from a rejection because there is no right to appeal the IRS’s decision to return the offer.
Offer in Compromise – How to Settle Your IRS Tax Debt, Former IRS Settlement Officer
