Offer in Compromise – Tax Debt Settlements – Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beaches – Affordable

by Fresh Start Tax | Jul 16, 2013 | Offer in Compromise

We are a local South Florida tax firm that specializes in IRS tax settlements called the offer in compromise.
We are an A+ rated professional tax firm located right here in your own home community of South Florida.
On staff are former IRS agents, managers and tax instructors that actually worked the offer in compromise program as former employees of the IRS.
We know all the tax protocols in the settlement formulas to get your offer in compromise approved by the internal revenue service if you are a qualified and suitable candidate.
We have worked hundreds and hundreds of offer in compromise cases both in private practice and as employees of the Internal Revenue Service.
As a result of our years of experience at the IRS we are experts in the offer in compromise.
There are many good tax firms that specialize in offer in compromise nationwide and we believe we are one of the finest firms because of our expertise and experience in IRS tax settlements.
While at the Internal Revenue Service we taught the offer in compromise program to new IRS agents.
 
What is a 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.
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:
 

• filed all tax returns,
•  made all required estimated tax payments for the current year, and
• 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.
 
The IRS may accept an OIC based on three grounds.
 

• First, acceptance is permitted if there is doubt as to liability. This ground is only met when genuine doubt exists under applicable law that the IRS has correctly determined the amount owed.

• Second, acceptance is permitted if there is doubt that the amount owed is fully collectible. This means that 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.

• Third, acceptance is permitted based on effective tax administration. An offer 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.

 
When submitting an OIC based on doubt as to collectibility or based on effective tax administration taxpayers must use the most current version of all Forms. Those forms are:
 
Those required forms are:
 

• 656 (PDF), 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).

 
Required Application Fees
In general, a taxpayer must submit a $150 application fee with the Form 656. Do not combine this fee with any other tax payments.
There are, however, two exceptions to this requirement.
No application fee is required if the OIC is based on doubt as to liability.
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.
Taxpayers may choose to pay the offer amount in a lump sum or in installment payments.
A Lump Sum Offer
A “lump sum offer” is defined as an offer payable in 5 or fewer installments and within 24 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 $150 application fee.
The 20 percent amount is called “nonrefundable” because it cannot be returned to the taxpayer even if the offer is rejected or returned to the taxpayer without acceptance. The 20 percent amount 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 amount.
Periodic payment offer
The 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 $150 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. Should you stop payments you have by manual  defaulted of the offer.
These amounts are also nonrefundable. You absolutely want to make sure you qualify for your offer in compromise.
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.
The statutory time period  gets extended when you file an offer in compromise.

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 the taxpayer’s offer, the IRS expects that the taxpayer will have no further delinquencies and will fully comply with the tax laws. 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. The taxpayers federal tax lien also will get released.
Offers for Collectibility and effective tax administration
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, 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.
Rejected offers in compromise
If the IRS rejects an OIC, then 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. You absolutely cannot miss this 30 days date and we suggest that you send it in by certified mail.
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.
Call us today for a free initial tax consultation and we can walk you through the process of an offer in compromise.
We the we are the affordable tax experts located right here in South Florida in your own home community.
 

Offer in Compromise – Affordable Tax Settlements – Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beaches

IRS Tax Debt Reduction, IRS Settlements & Tax Resolution Experts, Former IRS

by Fresh Start Tax | Jul 9, 2013 | Offer in Compromise

If you are looking to resolve your IRS debt through a IRS tax debt reduction program, contact us today and we can go over with you all the IRS settlement and tax resolution procedures.
We are true experts in tax debt reduction and tax settlements.
We are comprised of tax attorneys, certified public accountants and former IRS agents and managers with over 60 years of working directly for the Internal Revenue Service in the local, district, and regional tax offices of the IRS.
While Internal Revenue Service we not only taught tax law but we also thought the offer in compromise program or the IRS settlement program.
As a result of our years of experience at the Internal Revenue Service we know all the tax procedures, the debt reduction principles and every possible avenue to get a quick and affordable tax solution.
For those of you who are wishing to settle your debt with the Internal Revenue Service you will have to file an offer in compromise.
Approximately 38% of all offers in compromise filed are accepted by the Internal Revenue Service.
There are very specific policies that govern the IRS settlement and the tax reduction program called the offer in compromise.
You will also find on our site a pre-qualifier tool that you can walk through by yourself to find out if you are an eligible and qualified candidate for the program.
 
What is an offer in compromise
 
An offer in compromise allows you to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you owe.
It may be a legitimate option if you can’t pay your full tax liability, or doing so creates a financial hardship.
The Internal Revenue Service will consider your unique set of facts and circumstances. They mainly will consider your:

•     Ability to pay;

•     Income;

•     Expenses; and

•     Asset equity.

 
The Internal Revenue Service will generally approve an offer in compromise when the amount offered represents the most we can expect to collect within a reasonable period of time.
The Offer in Compromise program is not for everyone.
If you hire a tax professional other than Fresh Start Tax llc to help you file an offer, be sure to check his or her qualifications.
 
Make sure you are eligible for a IRS tax debt reduction, IRS Settlement
Before  the Internal Revenue Service can consider your offer, you must be current with all filing and payment requirements.
You are not eligible if you are in an open bankruptcy proceeding.
 
Submit your offer in compromise or tax debt reduction forms
You’ll find step-by-step instructions and all the forms for submitting an offer in the Offer in Compromise Booklet, Form 656-B (PDF). You can find these forms on the fresh start tax website.
 
Your completed offer package must will include:

•     Form 433-A (OIC) (individuals) or
•    433-B (OIC) (businesses) and all required documentation as specified on the forms;

•     Form 656(s) – individual and business tax debt (Corporation/ LLC/ Partnership) must be submitted on separate Form 656;

•     $150 application fee (non-refundable); and

•     Initial payment (non-refundable) for each Form 656.

 
 
Select a payment option for a IRS Tax Debt Reduction or IRS Settlement

Your initial payment will vary based on your offer and the payment option you choose:

•     Lump Sum Cash: Submit an initial payment of 20 percent of the total offer amount with your application. Wait for written acceptance, then pay the remaining balance of the offer in five or fewer payments.

•     Periodic Payment: Submit your initial payment with your application. Continue to pay the remaining balance in monthly installments while the IRS considers your offer. If accepted, continue to pay monthly until it is paid in full.

If you meet the Low Income Certification guidelines, you do not have to send the application fee or the initial payment and you will not need to make monthly installments during the evaluation of your offer.
Understand the process for a IRS Tax Debt Reduction or a IRS Settlement
While your offer is being evaluated:

•     Your non-refundable payments and fees will be applied to the tax liability (you may designate payments to a specific tax year and tax debt);

•     A Notice of Federal Tax Lien may be filed;

•     Other collection activities are suspended;

•     The legal assessment and collection period is extended;

•     Make all required payments associated with your offer;

•     You are not required to make payments on an existing installment agreement; and

•     Your offer is automatically accepted if the IRS does not make a determination within two years of the IRS receipt date.

 
Contact us today to learn more about the IRS tax debt reduction called the offer in compromise.
We are one of the nations premier firms for IRS tax settlements. We are tax resolution experts. We are affordable and experience.
 
IRS Tax Debt Reduction, IRS Settlements & Tax Resolution Experts, Former IRS
 
We have over 206 years professional tax experience in over 60 years of working directly for the Internal Revenue Service. We are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and have been practicing since 1982