In 2012, the IRS expanded the Fresh Start Program to allow more taxpayers to apply for tax relief. The main change in the program is that if an IRS agent considers a taxpayer eligible for an Offer In Compromise, the IRS will now make it easier to calculate the taxpayer's future income. The program has not seen any significant changes since 2012. However, the IRS examiners have been able to qualify taxpayers for tax relief at a different rate in recent years. The Fresh Start Tax Program saw record-breaking numbers of qualified applicants in 2020. The increase in Fresh Start tax relief applications and IRS' leniency in approving cases was mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused financial hardship for millions of Americans. Many taxpayers will still be facing financial hardships in 2021. This includes students, parents, small-business owners, and parents. Experts in tax predict that the IRS Fresh Start Program eligibility will remain looser for a while, but it is unlikely that the IRS will relax its strict application requirements for an extended time. To determine if you are eligible for tax debt relief in 2020, check your eligibility for the 2021 IRS Fresh Start Initiative Program.
Without sufficient evidence, the IRS won't accept a request for tax relief through any program in the Fresh Start Initiative. Include as much evidence as you can when you send a request. Documentation is the best way to prove compliance with the IRS Fresh Start Program guidelines. Documentation includes, but isn't limited to, medical statements from doctors, reports from fire departments, reports from insurance companies, statements regarding student loans, and certificates proving the death of family members. Also, we recommend that you include a letter along with your Form-843 explaining your personal situation as well as the reasons why you cannot pay off your outstanding tax debt. You must file all your unfiled or missing tax returns in order to receive tax relief through the Fresh Start Program. Also, your estimated tax payments and current withholdings must also be current. Finally, you must file all of your tax returns for the last six months. A professional tax relief company is the best way for you to stop your request from getting denied. Even if the IRS denies your request, a tax relief agency can help you file an appeal.
Completing the forms is just the beginning. The IRS will ask you for rafts of financial documentation -- pay stubs, bank records, vehicle registrations, and myriad other items. This is an exhaustive, time-consuming process. Some taxpayers wind up submitting box loads of documents to the IRS to support their OIC request.