by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 3, 2013 | Tax Settlements
Settling your Tax Debt with the IRS – Use Former IRS Agents who know how 1-866-700-1040
I must say it really baffles me. Millions of taxpayers owe money to the Internal Revenue Service and they really do not know where to turn so the first thing they do as they search the web which is a smart thing to do.
The baffling part of this is that many of these taxpayers choose companies talking directly to the salesperson and never to the tax professional that will be working their case.
My advice to any taxpayer who chooses to settle their debt with the Internal Revenue Service is to seek solid tax professional help and that means specifically talking to the person that will be working their case. In doing so a taxpayer will get a real good idea on the exact process that’s going to take place.
And that believe it or not is a very simple process.
IRS will simply can ask for a financial statement from the taxpayer or business that owes money. IRS will want verification of that financial statement. IRS will then proceed to make it a determination on how they will a settle that debt with the taxpayer.
Tips in hiring a Tax Company
If you are wanting to Settle with the IRS on your tax Debt, make sure you understand the program before you give your money to some tax mill.
Many companies advertise “Settle IRS Debt” to the peril of many taxpayers. You can get ripped off.
The Internet is full of companies saying they can settle for pennies on a dollars, settle your IRS debt, fast and quick settlements.
While it is very possible, the odds are stacked up against you.
Many of these companies that advertise pennies on a dollars have a salesperson originally speak to you and size you up.
They charge you a huge fee, take out a commission and then pass it on to a third party company or to the corporate headquarters where a person who will work your case has no idea at all what the salesperson told you.
Check the Internet and the number of complaints these companies have against them.
The IRS put out a warning last year against these tax mills and the Attorney General is actively pursuing to put these companies out of business.
What to look for in hiring a solid tax professional firm for Tax Relief.
1. Check the BBB listing of the company you want to engage.
2. Check to see if there is a tax professional on staff. do they have on staff tax attorneys, CPAs and former IRS agents and/or enrolled agents.
3. See how long the company has been in business. The Better Business Bureau can give you a lot of information about the history of a company.
4. Be sure that the company has not changed their name. Many of these tax resolution companies change their name every two years.
5. Speak to the professional that will work your case. See if they know their business. Ask for credentials.
6. Find out how many IRS cases the person working your case has been involved with. How long have they practiced tax law?
7. Ask how many offers or settlements the company has on their record. Has there been a case like yours?
8. Former IRS Agents. Former IRS Agents know all the rules regulations and latest tax changes. Being a former IRS agent myself my best advice to anybody having an IRS problem is to seek the counsel of the former agent.
9. Do not be fooled by the initial sales approach. Many claims the salesperson makes when first talking to the salesperson are just hype, so beware And use caution
10. Ask about the fee. Professional companies do not charge a results accomplished fee.
11. So remember, experience, history, BBB report and by all means hire former IRS Agents.
12. Be a good student and do your homework. It will save you money in the long run.
Settling your Tax Debt with the IRS – How to choose a Tax Relief Firm
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 2, 2013 | IRS Tax Audit
IRS Tax Audit – Former IRS Agents – Jacksonville, Tampa – Florida Representation 1-866-700-1040
If you are going to undergo an IRS tax audit you cannot have better tax representation than former IRS agents, managers, and IRS tax instructors. Our firm is equipped with former agents at all levels of Internal Revenue Service including the appeals division in where all on unagreed IRS tax audits go.
If you are looking for excellent professional tax representation for an IRS tax audit look no further than in your very state.
Call us today for free tax consultation and we will advise you on the current state of your IRS audit and can offer you the best possible tax defense against the IRS.
Tips for Hiring a Firm for IRS Tax Audit Defense
1. Should you decide to hire professional tax help, I urge everyone, hire a professional tax firm that have multiple tax professionals on staff.
Many times, partners kick around issues so you have at least two people looking at your case.
Also, if your main tax representative is sick or has other issues, there is someone else to pick up the slack.
Professional tax firms usually have one or two tax professionals assigned each case.
2. If you handle your own audit and a revenue agent is working your case, never meet at your business if you can help it. Meet at a neutral site.
If you have the IRS Tax Audit at your place of business, other employees or client/customers many feel something is wrong and start asking a lot of questions.
Keep it private.
Even though this sounds like such a commonsense idea you’d be surprised as a former IRS agent how many people invited me into their homes and businesses.
I was both shocked and amazed.
3. Make sure you contact the IRS Agent or Auditor promptly and meet all deadlines.
IRS Agents many times are graded on how fast cases are closed. If you slow the process up for them, you may by at the wrong end of their wrath. Also from a delay tactic make sure that never appears that you are purposefully or wrongfully trying to avoid closing out the are IRS tax audit.
4. Be completely prepared and organized for the audit.
The IRS audit letter will address issues the IRS is looking at. Make copies of documents and never give the IRS original documents. The more organized you look is a great sign you have done the right things. Have photocopies available for the IRS agent with explanations that cover all possible deductions and expenses.
5. If a tax liability is going to be owed always appeal. Many times the Supervisor does not want to have your case go to appeals and may come back and make an audit adjustment. Also if you are going to owe money it’ll give you an opportunity to go ahead and collection plan your case.
6. If you have lost your records and you are going to go to appeals.
If you have to go to appeals, try to obtain documents or reconstruct tax records where a third party appeal agent may look at and think, ” I will allow this, it makes sense.” Reconstructed records can fly with the IRS. many people believe that since their tax records are unavailable IRS will not allow them during the course of an IRS tax audit.
IRS still uses common sense to handle the tax audit. By reaching out to a professional who can instruct you in IRS tax audit reconstruction can save you a lot of time and money.
7. Bring only documents requested and nothing else. This often times limits the scope of the investigation.
8. Do not bring prior year’s returns. If the IRS finds adjustments to the years they are looking at, they may want to go back further and will let you know.
9. If the audit is taking place at the beginning of a tax year do not file that year’s return. Put it on extension. If you do not, the IRS may pull the year for a tax audit.
10. Hire the most experienced tax firm you can find. Make sure they have Former IRS Agents on staff.
11. Never lie to the IRS, enough said.
IRS Tax Audit – Former IRS Agents – Jacksonville, Tampa – Florida IRS Audit Representation
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 2, 2013 | Tax Help
Choosing a Tax Firm for IRS Levy Help 1-866-700-1040
If you have received an IRS Tax Levy and you are look to choose a tax firm for representation defense here are some key components you should look at before selecting any person or tax firm.
You can avoid many of these problems if you follow this practical common sense advice:
1. Check the Better Business Bureau report on the Company or Tax Firm.
If the company is not “A” plus rated, flee.
Beware, many of these companies change names every couple of years.
2. Find out if there is a professional Tax Attorney or CPA on staff.
In legitimate tax companies, Attorneys and CPA’s usually will not lend their names to scam artists. Beware of companies too that sub their work out to third party firms that are not connected with the company.
3. Check out how long the principles have been practicing tax, tax law or IRS tax representation.
Most solid companies will find their principles have been practicing at least ten years or more.
4. Ask if the company guarantees their work.
If a company is guaranteeing their work, flee again.
No one can guarantee IRS results. If they guarantee your money will be returned if they are not successful, that’s another story.
5. Interview the person that may work your case.
Ask about his or her credentials and IRS work experience.
6. If you cannot walk into the office, Skype the person face to face.
Ask if the person has a video conferencing system. You will get a good feel with a face to face.
7. A lot of Internet companies are lead gen’s. That means they are sales generators for 3 parties who buy there information and many may have bought your name.
8. Ask for typical results based on the same type of case.True tax professionals will generally know what the results should yield. I have reviewed over 15,000 life cases. I generally know how a case will turn out.
At the end of the day it is about work history, credibility, and results.
Choosing a Tax Firm for IRS Levy Help – Be Careful – Former IRS Agents
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 2, 2013 | Tax Help
IRS Tax Examination & State Tax Audit – Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beaches 954-492-0088
We are a local South Florida Tax Firm, since 1982 and A plus rated.
The Internal Revenue Service conducts a tax examination for 1% of all tax returns filed. The more money you make, a greater risk of an IRS tax examination tax audit.
if you make over $1M big ones you have a 12% chance of being audited by the IRS.
Approximately 1.4 million taxpayers get audited by mail correspondence.
If you have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that your tax return is under examination or the Internal Revenue Service has sent you a correspondence tax audit call us today and we will conduct for no cost a complete review to let you know the strategies that can help you move forward without damage by the Internal Revenue Service.
IRS audits can be conducted not only by mail but often also as office audits.
IRS may choose to send a revenue agent to your home or place in of business conduct a field audit.
Is Tax Representation needed, it all depends
Many taxpayers do not know whether tax representation is needed. There is a simple rule of thumb.
If you feel that there’s nothing wrong with your tax return, by all means represent yourself before the Internal Revenue Service. However if you feel there are skeletons in your closet or you took more aggressive positions on tax matters than you should have, you should seek a tax professional to go ahead and represent you for your IRS tax examination tax audit.
What is an IRS Tax Examination Tax Audit?
An IRS audit is a examination of an organization’s or individual’s accounts and financial information to ensure information is being reported correctly, according to the tax laws, to verify the amount of tax reported is accurate.
Check out IRS Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights and Claims for Refund explains the audit process in more detail, that will explain more of the process.
IRS Tax Examination Audit Selection
Selecting a return for audit does not always suggest that an error has been made.
Tax Returns are selected using a variety of methods, including:
a. Random selection and computer screening – sometimes returns are selected based solely on a statistical formula. These audits are generally known as the national research projects.
b.Document matching – when payor records, such as Forms W-2 or Form 1099, don’t match the information reported. Approximately 1.4 million tax returns are audited this way.
c. Related examinations – returns may be selected for audit when they involve issues or transactions with other taxpayers, such as business partners or investors, whose returns were selected for audit. This is a smaller group of those selected for an IRS tax examination.
IRS Tax Examination Audit Methods
An audit may be conducted by mail or through an in-person interview and review of the taxpayer’s records.
The interview may be at an IRS office. This is called a office audit. If it is at the taxpayer’s home, place of business, or accountant’s office it is called a field audit.
The IRS will tell you what records are needed. Audits can result in no changes or changes. Any proposed changes to your return will be explained.
IRS Tax Examination – Audit Notification
Should your account be selected for audit, you will be notified in two ways:
1. By mail, or
2. By telephone
In the case of a telephone contact, the IRS will still send a letter confirming the audit.
PLEASE NOTE : E-mail notification is not used by the IRS.
What are your rights during an IRS Tax Examination Tax Audit
Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, explains your rights as a taxpayer as well as the examination, appeal, collection, and refund processes.
These rights include:
1. A right to professional and courteous treatment by IRS employees.
2. A right to privacy and confidentiality about tax matters.
3. A right to know why the IRS is asking for information, how the IRS will use it and what 4. will happen if the requested information is not provided.
5. A right to representation, by oneself or an authorized representative.
6. A right to appeal disagreements, both within the IRS and before the courts.
IRS Tax Examination Audit Length
The length of each audit varies depending on the type of audit, the complexity of items being reviewed, the availability of information being requested, the availability of both parties for scheduling of meetings and your agreement or disagreement with the findings.
Tax Records Needed
You will be provided with a written request for specific documents needed.
The law requires you to retain records used to prepare your return. Those records generally should be kept for three years from the date the tax return was filed.
The IRS does accept some electronic records. If records are kept electronically, the IRS may request those in lieu of or in addition to other types of records. Contact your auditor to determine what can be accepted to ensure a software program is compatible with the IRS’s.
Audit Determinations
An audit can be concluded in three ways:
No change. An audit in which you have substantiated all of the items being reviewed and results in no changes.
Agreed: an audit where the IRS proposed changes and the taxpayer understands and agrees with the changes.
Disagreed: an audit where the IRS has proposed changes and the taxpayer understands, but disagrees with the changes.
Call us today and speak directly to former IRS agents, managers and tax instructors that taught tax law and tax audit law at the Internal Revenue Service.
We are affordable and free consultations are available.
IRS Tax Examination – Tax Audit – Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beaches
by Fresh Start Tax | Apr 2, 2013 | Tax Help
Tax Levy – IRS Tax Attorneys, Former IRS – IRS Levy Help NOW 1-866-700-1040
If the IRS has set just sent out a bank levy or a wage garnishment to your employer, call us today and get immediate guaranteed relief and get your money back from the Internal Revenue Service.
Do not be ripped off by many companies advertising on the Internet about getting tax levy relief.
Many of these companies that exist are selling your information to a third party who is actually buying your information in hopes to obtain your business.
In selecting or choosing a tax firm for IRS levy relief, make sure they are staffed with tax attorneys, CPAs and former IRS agents to get the very best and optimum results.
There are many good firms to choose from just make sure you interview the person who is going to be doing your work and check on their credentials and that you can verify everything that person saying.
It is also helpful to check the BBB rating of any tax firm you will be retaining.
What is a IRS Tax Levy
A levy is a legal seizure of your property to satisfy a tax debt. IRS must always send you a notice before a tax levy takes place.
IRS tax levies are different from federal tax liens.
A lien is a claim used as security for the tax debt, while a levy actually takes the property to satisfy the tax debt. A tax lien is usually filed in the courthouse closest to your residence. The filing of a federal tax lien can destroy your credit.
If you do not pay your taxes with the IRS or make arrangements to settle your debt the IRS can seize and sell any type of real or personal property that you own or have an interest in.
The most common form of IRS seizures are bank accounts and wages however IRS could seize and sell property that you hold such as your car, boat, or house or could levy property that is yours but is held by someone else retirement accounts, dividends, bank accounts, licenses, rental income, accounts receivables, the cash loan value of your life insurance, or commissions.
IRS can only levy after these three (3) requirements are met:
1. The Internal Revenue Service assessed the tax and sent you a Notice and Demand for Payment;
2. You neglected or refused to pay the tax; and (this can be done verbally by the taxpayers )
3. The Internal Revenue Service sent you a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to A Hearing (levy notice) at least 30 days before the levy.
Service of the Notice by the Internal Revenue Service to Levy
IRS has options.
They may give you this notice in person, leave it at your home or your usual place of business, or send it to your last known address by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
Keep in mind, the IRS May Levy your State Refund.
Tax Levy – IRS Tax Attorneys, Former IRS – IRS Levy Help NOW
