by Fresh Start Tax | May 14, 2019 | Tax Help
Expert IRS Tax Audit Defense + Protect Yourself + Affordable Let Former IRS Agents be your best Tax Defense. Since 1982, Affordable + A Plus Rated BBB
You go to your mailbox and there it is, a nasty gram!
Everyone fears the dreaded letter from the IRS. You open it up and it is some of the worst news possible, ” you have been selected for a tax audit for years……….
There are ways you can protect yourself from a IRS Tax Audit.
As Former IRS Agents, Managers and Instructors we have discovered ways for the average taxpayer to keep themselves from a IRS tax audit.
When you retain our firm you’ll never have to speak to IRS.
As former IRS agents, managers and teaching instructors we know all the IRS systems, and the methodologies, and the best way to settle your tax case for the lowest amount possible.
When dealing with the IRS the key making sure we can provide the very best tax defense, make sure the IRS will not dig into other years and if you’re going to owe money, work out a plan or a settlement at the same time.
How to Protect Yourself From An IRS Audit
1. Have your tax return prepared by a reliable tax return preparer. If your preparer promises large refunds without asking to see the proper records for deductions and credits, you know that you will be audited after the return has been filed.
When your tax return preparer deducts items that should have not been deducted, you’re the one who will be audited and you will be required to pay the additional tax, interest and penalties.
If the IRS believes that your tax return preparer is incompetent or deducts large non-existent deductions, all of the returns prepared by that return preparer will more likely be selected for audit.
You do not want a tax return preparer who promises you the largest refund, but a tax return preparer who will compute the correct tax. It is recommended that you hire a tax return preparer who knows the tax law and who deducts items on the tax return that you can properly document.
Don’t forget you are ultimately responsible for the additional tax, interest and penalties.
2. File all your required tax returns by the due date. If you haven’t filed your tax returns, the IRS will eventually audit on you.
By not filing your tax returns timely, the IRS will assess the failure to file penalty at 5% per month up to 25% of the tax. If the IRS determines that your failure to file was attributable to fraud, the penalty will be 15% per month up to 75% of the tax.
Thus, you are always better off filing the tax return by the due date, even if you don’t have the funds to pay the tax because you will not be assessed the failure to file penalties.
3. Report all of your income shown on the Form 1099’s that you have received. Even if you don’t receive a 1099, you still have to report all of your income. If you file your tax return without reporting all of your income, you are risking an audit.
If the IRS audits your tax return and finds omitted income, you will be assessed tax on the omitted income plus interest on the tax computed from the due date of the tax return to the date that the tax is paid.
Then, the IRS will apply the 20% accuracy related penalty or the 75% fraud penalty on the additional tax plus the interest on the penalties computed from the due date of the tax return to the date that it is paid.
4. Don’t deduct an office in a home. To qualify for an office in a home deduction, you must use the office for work and it must be your primary place of business. Most taxpayer’s abuse this deduction.
Unless, your office in the home is your primary place of business, don’t take this deduction.
Further, let’s say that you properly documented that you used 15% of your residence for business, when you sell the residence, the IRS will correctly argue that 15% of the gain from the sale is taxable income. This will create unintentional tax liability on your part. Unless you have a compelling reason to take this deduction, stay away from it.
5. Don’t deduct a large Sch C loss, unless you truly have a loss. A large Sch C loss means that your business deductions exceeded your income from the activity.
The IRS will be questioning you on the source of the funds to pay for those excess deductions. You will need to document sources of the non-taxable income to pay for that loss. If you sold assets to fund the loss, you will need to document those sales.
The possible sources of the non-table income would include loans, gifts and inheritances. These sources will have to be documented to the IRS, if requested by them.
The documentation would include copies of checks, closing papers, gift tax returns of the person who made the gifts and estate tax returns for inherited funds.
6. Don’t deduct a loss from a business activity that the IRS can classify as a hobby loss, unless you have the documentation for that loss.
If you deduct a loss from a horse racing, dog racing, car racing, a boat chartering activity or any other activity that is fun; the IRS will ask you to prove that the activity is engaged for profit.
Thus, you should have a separate bank account for these activities and a business plan on how you expect to make a profit from the activity. You will need to show valid business projections.
7. When you deduct donations of property to a charitable organization, you need to have the required documentation that will always include a valid appraisal. Only deduct what you actually donated to the charitable organizations and can verify with copies of cancelled checks.
8. When you deduct a casualty loss, you need the proper documentation for the deduction. The documentation will always include an appraisal of the property before and after the casualty.
The amount reimbursed by insurance for the casualty. You will also need to prove your adjusted basis in the property before the casualty.
If you have a theft loss, make sure that you report the theft to the police and obtain a police report for the incident.
9. You should always be prepared for an audit by having in your possession all of the documents needed to verify the items shown on your tax return even before it is ever audited.
You do not want to search for the verification after your tax return has been selected for audit by the IRS.
10. If you are selected for a tax audit, call Fresh Start Tax LLC to ensure the best possible results.
Protect yourself from a IRS tax audit.
Have Fresh Start Tax LLC prepare your next tax return.
Expert, Affordable, Local + Florida Sales Tax Audit Defense + Hallandale, Pembroke Park, Hollywood, Dania, Oakland Park, Ft.Lauderdale + Broward County
by Fresh Start Tax | May 14, 2019 | Tax Help
We are affordable Florida Sale Tax Experts, former agents who know the law, the system, and get you results.
We have worked thousands of cases since 1982 and we are former government agents, managers and supervisors.
Call us for a free initial tax consultation you’ll never have to worry. You will never speak to the government.
Do not be bullied by Florida Sales Tax division. Know Your Rights.
Has your company has been issued a Notice of Intent to Audit Books and Records from the State of Florida?
Hire Former Florida Sales and Use Tax Auditors completely resolve your case.
We are a local South Florida tax firm.
We can have the auditor come to our professional offices thus avoiding a State of Florida Auditor from taking up your space, your employee’s time, snooping around your business and asking questions to your employees.
Have Former State Tax auditors who know the systems, know the protocol and know settlement protocols resolve your sales and use tax matter.
We have practiced in South Florida since 1982 and we are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.
Conduct the Florida Sales Tax Audit at our location and not yours
You should never have any tax auditor show up and audit at your location.
Factors that can trigger a Florida business to become a target of a Florida sales tax audit
The state of Florida Department of revenue audits taxpayers for various reasons.
The list below could have triggered your Florida sales tax audit.
1. Do you purchase supplies for your business from out-of-state vendors or through the Internet?
2. Did you sell goods at retail, or wholesale products which you manufacture,
3. Did you sell services in Florida, can you be sure you are collecting the appropriate amount of sales tax on the sale of your goods or services?
4. If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions you might be targeted by the State of Florida for a sales and use tax audit.
State of Florida targets all business you may have been randomly selected
The state of Florida Sales Tax Audits targets different businesses, different industries and different geographical boundaries to make sure they have a very balanced approach to the sales tax audits in the state of Florida.
State of Florida Sales Tax must ensure total coverage for the entire state therefore all industries and businesses are included in sales tax audits.
No industries are excluded. The state of Florida keeps a sharp eye on all industry, new industries in potential targets of abuse.
When the state of Florida sales tax division finds widespread industry abuse they will put a lot of their time and resources into correction.
As a general rule that could mean convictions, heavy penalties, fines and certainly media and newspaper publicity.
They do this to get the attention of the public and mainly to help control industry abuses.
As a general rule when the state or federal agency puts out a number of press releases it is attempting to let the public know there plan a future attack.
It also should be noted that the state of Florida sales and use tax division conducts random audits as well as targeted audits.
Other factors that have to be considered for Florida Sales Tax Audits:
1. industries presently selected as targets
2. prior audit history
3. amount of exempt sales being claimed
4. Amount of total sales being reported
5. ratio of exempt sales to total sales
6. location of the business
7. adverse information from customers or employees
Most of these factors are obvious but the state of Florida sales tax audit division is always coming up with more programming targeting the industries where revenue success is obvious.
Companies with a history of prior audits where there was significant recovery will definitely get audited again.
Larger companies with high amounts of sales and those reporting high amounts of exempt sales are also targeted.
You should also be aware that Florida sales tax audits occur many times when ex- spouses and former employees turn and companies, individuals, and corporations that have been tax cheats over the years purely for retribution.
Florida’s voluntary disclosure program ( VDP )
Florida’s voluntary disclosure program allows a taxpayer to report previously unpaid or underpaid tax liabilities for any tax administered by the Department of Revenue. It is the taxpayer’s opportunity to voluntarily pay these taxes without being penalized.
Who is eligible for VDP?
Anyone who has any tax liability for a tax administered by the Florida Department of Revenue and who has not been previously contacted by the Department concerning the liability.
Disclosures relating to delinquencies or deficiencies that are obvious and would routinely generate a billing if not otherwise self-disclosed are not eligible for the program.
What are the benefits to the taxpayer?
When the tax and interest liabilities have been paid, all penalties will be waived unless tax has been collected and not remitted. In those instances, a five percent penalty will be imposed, unless reasonable cause is presented.
How far back will the Department look?
Three years immediately preceding the postmark date of the voluntary disclosure request. Failure to take advantage of this program could result in the Department holding the taxpayer liable for the applicable (longer) limitation periods of the relevant taxes.
Have you been contacted by the criminal division?
If you have been contacted by a State of Florida criminal investigator it is in your best interest to contact one of our attorneys or lawyers.
Professional Tax Representation
Enrolled Agents, Former Sales Tax Agents, State of Florida
Full Service Accounting Tax Firm,
We taught Tax Law in the IRS Regional Training Center
Former IRS Agents, Managers and Instructors with over 60 years experience in the local, district and regional IRS offices.
Highest Rating by the Better Business Bureau “A” Plus
Fast, affordable, and economical
Licensed and certified to practice in all 50 States
Nationally Recognized Veteran /Published Former IRS Agent
Nationally Recognized Published EZINE Tax Expert
As heard on GRACE Net Radio.com – Monthly Radio Show-Business Weekly
Former Sales Tax Auditor of 16 years
FLORIDA Sales Tax Audits – Attorneys, Lawyers, Former Agents
Areas of Professional Tax Practice:
Same Day IRS Tax Representation
Offers in Compromise or IRS Tax Debt Settlements
Immediate Release of IRS Bank Levies or IRS Wage Garnishments
Tax Relief from a IRS Bill, Letter or Notice of “Intent to Levy”
IRS Tax Audits
IRS Hardships Cases or Unable to Pay
Payment Plans, Installment Agreements, Structured agreements
Abatement of Penalties and Interest
State Sales Tax Cases
Payroll / Trust Fund Penalty Cases / 6672
Filing Late, Back, Unfiled Tax Returns
Tax Return Reconstruction
Consulting, Services, Representation
INCOME, BUSINESS TAX CONSULTANTS
bookkeeping and accounting services
Tax Court
Florida Sales Tax Defense
by Fresh Start Tax | May 13, 2019 | Tax Help
We are the Affordable professional tax firm, since 1982. If you owe business tax debt, call us for a free tax consultation.
We have over 65 years of direct IRS work experience in the local, district, and regional tax offices of the Internal Revenue Service.
We have worked as IRS managers, IRS supervisors and IRS teaching instructors .
Back Business Tax Debt & Tax Returns & Tax Filings
Any time you owe back business tax debt the IRS will conduct a full compliance check. A full compliance check means that IRS will pull your working individual history and your business history to see what taxes are owed and what tax returns remain Unfiled.
The Internal Revenue Service will work both cases at the same time.
Back Payroll taxes are a concern for Internal Revenue Service because e taxes are actually trust fund taxes, that is, a company holds e taxes for the benefit of the government.
When e taxes are not paid a red flag is raised and IRS makes every possible effort to collect e payroll taxes and go after the responsible individuals whose job it was to collect and turn over e back taxes.
IRS we use every avenue of enforced collections to do so. I should know, I am a former revenue officer who used to work cases and I know the very best tax defense.
We can go ahead and file all your Unfiled payroll tax returns and settle your debt all at the same time.
It is critical that you understand that you do not want IRS the filing your tax delinquent tax returns for you. 6020b will become a problem!
Under 6020 B of the Internal Revenue Code, the IRS has the right to prepare your back payroll tax returns if you do not voluntarily file them. this will be nothing but trouble for you.
IRS can set up a personal assessment against you and collect the tax as though you owe individual income taxes. Yes you can be held personally responsible for the back payroll taxes. You can be subject to tax levies and tax liens.
Personal Responsibility for Payroll Taxes, BEWARE.
If the IRS has found you a responsible person for the trust fund penalty, call us today for free initial tax consultation and we will walk you through the process of resolving this tax at once and for all.
As former IRS agents we set up trust fund penalties against responsible persons for corporate or businesses that owed back payroll taxes.
If a company can no longer pay their back payroll taxes, the Internal Revenue Service has the right under 6672 to set up the trust fund debt against those who are held responsible. This is called the trust fund penalty.
Who Can Be Responsible for the Trust Fund Taxes, code section 6672. Can it Be You?
IRS will take a look at anybody that had any control of the business.Such as:
An officer or an employee of a corporation;
A member or employee of a partnership;
A corporate director or shareholder or member;
A member of a board of trustees of a nonprofit organization, or anyone deemed to be responsible;
Other persons with authority and who had control over funds to direct their disbursement;
Those who consultation and with full knowledge chose not to pay the payroll tax liability.
You’ll know if you are one of e persons because you will receive IRS form 2751 & 1153 indicating a proposed notice of assessment against you.
There are various examinations available.
As soon as we review your case we can instantly tell you ways to help resolve your problem.
Being former IRS agents and managers we know every possible solution to remedy this tax debt. We can resolve and possibly reduce your tax obligation.
There are various examinations you have for delinquent tax relief:
The basic examinations include:
1. trust fund appeals, the possibility of an offer in compromise, doubt to liability,
2.hardships, or currently not collectible,
3. payments plan, and
4. the offer in compromise, if you are a qualified and suitable candidate.
5. bankruptcy is another option.
The Process of Getting IRS Tax Debt Relief on Trust Fund Tax Debt, 6672 penalty
We need to look to find out if you were truly responsible under 6672 of the IRS code. many time IRS ram rods e penalties to people who truly were not responsible for trust fund taxes.
I’ve worked so many cases and being a former IRS agent IRS just tries to set e penalties up against everybody and many people do not have proper representation to fight IRS.
We will carefully review your case to find out if you were truly responsible for the trust fund penalty.
We will conduct a review to find out if there is any way that we can appeal to change the assessment of this trust fund tax.
If we feel we would’ve to beat this assessment through the appellate process we can go ahead and file an offer in compromise as to doubt as to liability and appeal this assessment.
If you are responsible for the tax, IRS will take a current financial statement and make a determination based on the collectivity of the tax.
How the Internal Revenue Service will work your case if you owe back payroll IRS tax debt.
IRS will require a 433A or 433F, an individual financial statement.
Many times the IRS uses 433F, depending were the cases in the system. Cases worked in the ACS system uses shorter version of the financial statement.
If the case is worked in the local office the revenue officer will use form 433.A
That financial statement will need to be fully documented along with bank statements, copies of checks and monthly expenses.
We will walk you through the process of how the IRS will work your case in the collection action that can possibly taken.
Will also review with you the IRS national standards program on all cases for those who owe back taxes.
Once IRS reviews your current financial statement they will make a determination and generally put you in one of two categories with the option of filing an offer in compromise.
IRS will generally close your case by:
1.IRS determines on 40% of the cases that taxpayers are put into hardship which means they can’t pay the tax at this time. Sometimes it is called currently not collectible. Cases that are an issue at currently not collectible or hardship stay in there for a period of 2 to 3 years and come back out to the field at a later time.
2. 6.5 million people enter monthly payment plans and pay a certain amount based on their current documented financial statement.
Other taxpayers file an offer in compromise to settle their case for pennies on the dollar. The offer in compromise requires a lot of skill and expertise to have accepted by the Internal Revenue Service.
Call us today for free initial tax consultation. Hear the truth!
We are a full-service firm with a specialty in expertise in all IRS matters.
We have over 200 years professional tax experience and can fully resolve any IRS problem especially if you owe business tax debt and wish to settle with the Internal Revenue Service.
We can prepare all back tax filings and resolve your individual, business, or corporate tax problem.
Owe IRS Back Tax Debt + Settlement Options, Owe Back Payroll Taxes, File Back Payroll Taxes * former irs + Hallandale, Pembroke Park, Hollywood, Dania, Oakland Park, Ft.Lauderdale
by Fresh Start Tax | May 13, 2019 | Tax Help
As AFFORDABLE former IRS agents and managers, we know the systems to solve IRS problems. Since 1982 A+ rated BBB, we are one of the highest rated IRS professional tax firms.
We are staffed with former IRS agents, managers, and teaching instructors. We have over 200 years of professional fact experience.
We know every methodology every secret and every option that can be made known to a taxpayer to help resolve their IRS situation.
Let our 100 years of combined IRS experience be your best friend and solve your IRS problem.
We have worked thousands of cases since 1982 and we are true experts when it comes to back tax filing settlements and any federal or state representation.
We can file all your back taxes reach attached settlement if possible or necessary and you will never have to speak to the IRS.
By using us you will:
Learn which money-saving IRS tax relief programs are for you,
Stop garnishments, levies, liens & seizures immediately,
We will handle all IRS correspondence and you will never have to speak to them,
If you have payroll taxes we can ensure we can keep your practice open so IRS does not interfere with your life,
If you receive any IRS notices her letter a simple power of attorney with an exit strategy can keep IRS out of your life.
No cost, no obligation strategy session & consultation with true tax professionals with over 200 years of direct IRS tax experience.
What are your options for settling tax debt and problems with the IRS?
The Internal Revenue Service must have a nationwide standard so all cases are worked equally in the same way and they show no favoritism to anybody.
This system that IRS uses very simple, they take a current financial statement using one of two forms.
IRS also has national, regional and localized standards that they use that they allow taxpayers for necessary living expenses.
If a taxpayer exceeds those necessary living expenses it will create a payment agreement with the IRS.
If the taxpayer has assets the service will ask taxpayer to liquidate their assets to pay off the debt.
The key to representation is knowing how to prepare the financial statement to get the result that you are looking for. The preparation of that financial statement is key to everything.
IRS not only wants to see the financial statement they also want to look at 3 to 6 months worth of bank statements, copies of all bills, copies of all current expenses, and a copy of pay stubs. If you own a business, they’re going to want to see an income statement as well.
IRS will examine your back tax return to make sure it’s consistent with your current year’s information
IRS make sure four things line up together.
Income from your tax return, bank statement deposits, cost-of-living, in your financial statement. If there’s any inconsistencies you can be sure the IRS agent will be digging through.
After IRS reviews your financial statement there are one of three general categories that IRS will determine how IRS will close your case.
IRS may look at your current financial statement and determine that you are currently not collectible and will place your case and that suspense file called a hardship in which the case will stay there for two or three years and come back out for review. Please keep in mind penalties and interest will run during that period of time.
You may be eligible to settle your debt through the offer in compromise program which is sometimes called the penny on the dollar program.
IRS has a pre-qualifier tool and I would not suggest any taxpayer file an offer in compromise unless you walk through the pre-qualifier tool or call us.
Filing Back Tax Returns, a must!
IRS will not work with any taxpayer who is not filed their back tax returns. When IRS works a case , they conduct a full compliance check, what that means is they make sure all back tax returns are filed and in the year IRS is looking at they want to make sure you have made estimated tax payments or have current withholding.
We can file your back tax returns with or without records.
Call us today for a free initial tax consultation we will walk you through the process of reviewing all your tax options for settling your IRS tax debt so we can solve your IRS problem.
We have worked thousands of cases since 1982 we are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and we are true professionals forgive you options for settling your tax debt with IRS.
If you need to pay back taxes and find out what your options are such as installment settlements or hardships call us today and speak to true IRS agents.
IRS Tax Problems + Owe Debt + File Tax Returns, Payroll Problems, Payment Plans, Notices/Letters, Audits + Hallandale, Pembroke Park, Hollywood, Dania, Oakland Park, Ft.Lauderdale
by Fresh Start Tax | May 13, 2019 | Tax Help
We are a team of former IRS agents, managers and teaching instructors. Our offices specialize around IRS tax debt relief and filing taxes. Local Firm, Since 1982.
You will never have to speak to the Internal Revenue Service.
We handle anything from a basic IRS notice, letter dealing with the service center, the agent of the local office going to appeals, and pre-trial work.
We can solve any IRS tax debt problem you have an offer you immediate tax relief. We can prepare any unfiled or back tax returns work out a payment schedule go over settlement options with you and make sure you get the best deal available through the Internal Revenue Service because we know the system.
We have over 200 years professional tax experience in over 100 combined years of working directly for the Internal Revenue Service. We worked out of the local South Florida Tax Offices.
If you have any back IRS issues contact us today and we can tell you exactly how to solve your problem.
We are former IRS agents, managers and teaching instructors and know all the methodologies, settlement theories and negotiation strategies to resolve any tax debt that may be facing you.
. We are one of the best and highest rated national tax relief firms with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. rttee
Our principal has been on FOXBusiness news ABC and your own NBC and CBS station.
Since 1982 we have been resolving tax debt issues for thousands of clients. we can solve any IRS tax matter or issue and review with you carefully weigh possible to solve an IRS problem.
We have worked thousands of cases and we have been former IRS agents, managers, supervisors and teaching instructors.
Within five minutes of hearing about your current situation, we can give you an exact remedy to end your IRS tax problem file your back tax returns and settle your back tax problems.
Many of the taxpayers who call us need to file back tax returns and their variety of reasons why taxpayers have not who have not filed.
The reason makes no difference.
The bottom line is, sooner or later you have to file back tax returns. We have a very easy and simple process to file all your back tax returns and settle your debt all at the same time.
Filing your back tax returns with IRS
With or without records we can complete all your tax returns due to our enormous amount of experience we have in filing back tax returns.
Since 1982, we are one of the country’s oldest tax firms in dealing with back tax issues and settling tax debt.
Settling Back IRS Tax Debt
There are different ways to settle IRS tax debt and there are generally three programs that the taxpayer can qualify for.
The first is a hardship or currently non-collectible program.
There are good news and bad news about this program. After IRS takes a current documented financial statement, IRS may determine you are not collectible at the current time. IRS will suspend your case for a period of 1 to 3 years and put a freeze on it.
The good news is IRS’s off your back for a couple of years and the bad news is penalties and interest still run on it. With that said, your case will come out for financial review in a couple of years later.
The second program is the installment agreement or monthly payment. After IRS takes a current financial statement they will determine how much money they expect from you on a monthly basis.
The third way to sell your debt is to qualify for an offer in compromise, this is where you can settle your debt for pennies on the dollar.
After a review of your current financial statement, we will let you know which of the program to qualify for and start to remove IRS out of your life.
Call us today for free initial tax consultation and we will walk you through the process and tell you how many years you have to file and let you know the different tax strategies based on your current financial conditions.Bad
You will never have to speak to the Internal Revenue Service. We handle all the communication. Feel free to call us by voice or Skype us directly. We are a full-service firm with all work being done in-house.
Don’t settle for less than IRS experience.
If you have any tax problems whatsoever and need to resolve your IRS tax debt or file back taxes, struggling with IRS notices or letters, call us today for a free initial tax consultation.
IRS Tax Debt Problems Relief + Unfiled Tax Returns, Payments, Settlement, Options + Former Local Agents, Expert Representation + Las Olas, Hillsboro Beach, Sea Ranch Lakes, Lighthouse Point + Broward County
by Fresh Start Tax | May 13, 2019 | Tax Help
I am a former IRS agent and teaching instructor of the offer in compromise.
I both worked the offers in compromise and accepted offers in compromise for the Internal Revenue Service.
FACTS:
IRS works around 70,000 offers a year and accepts approximately 32,000 offers in compromise for average settlement of $9500 per offer.
These figures are misleading because this is the national average.
The acceptance of an offer in compromise depends solely on the financial statement, documentation, and the collectibility that the United States government feels they can collect over the life of the statute from a taxpayer.
Offers in compromise are time-consuming and more complex than people think.
The Internal Revenue Service actually audits the financial statement. IRS spends a lot of due diligence on offers in compromise and one of the reasons for that is all excepted offers in compromise become public record for 18 months at certain regional tax offices for public inspection.
If you are contemplating filing an offer in compromise you must learn the standards, and the rules before submitting it. I also caution all taxpayers to walk through the prequalifier tool to make sure they are a qualified candidate.
One of the cardinal rules for the offer in compromise is that you must offer to Internal Revenue Service your total liquidity in your assets. Real estate is discounted by 20%.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me I will review your offer for free and make recommendations
Beginning with Offer applications received on or after March 27, 2017:
The IRS will return any newly filed Offer in Compromise application if you have not filed all required tax returns. Any application fee included with the OIC will also be returned. Any initial payment required with the returned application will be applied to reduce your balance due. This policy does not apply to current year tax returns if there is a valid extension on file.
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.
IRS will consider your unique set of facts and circumstances:
Ability to pay;
Income;
Expenses; and
Asset equity.
IRS 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.
Make sure you are eligible.
Before IRS 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. Use the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier to confirm your eligibility and prepare a preliminary proposal.
Submit your offer
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).
Your completed offer package 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;
$186 application fee (non-refundable); and
Initial payment (non-refundable) for each Form 656.
Select a payment option
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. If your offer is accepted, you will receive written confirmation. Any remaining balance due on the offer is paid 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. See your application package for details.
Understand the process
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.
If your offer is accepted
You must meet all the Offer Terms listed in Section 7 of Form 656, including filing all required tax returns and making all payments;
Any refunds due within the calendar year in which your offer is accepted will be applied to your tax debt;
Federal tax liens are not released until your offer terms are satisfied; and
Certain offer information is available for public review by requesting a copy of a public inspection file.
If your offer is rejected
You may appeal a rejection within 30 days using Request for Appeal of Offer in Compromise, Form 13711 (PDF).
The online self-help tool may provide additional assistance on appealing your rejected offer.
