Currently Non Collectible Status is not the same as the other Fresh Start programs. This status is more of a "status" than a source of Fresh Start relief. If the taxpayer is in default of paying their taxes, the IRS can place them in Currently Non-Collectible Statute. The status does not remove tax debt. However, it does stop all collection activities. These include bank levies, wage garnishments tax liens and threats letters from the IRS. Currently non-collectible status allows a taxpayer peace of mind to get Fresh Start tax relief without the IRS going after them. To be eligible for the Currently Non-Collectible status, you must meet the IRS Fresh Start Program eligibility requirements, which we will discuss below. The IRS strongly recommends that you consult a tax professional prior to requesting this status. The IRS will not allow you to apply to the IRS Fresh Start Initiative Program alone. They will instead try to get you to accept terms that make sense for them. Once your Currently Collectible Status is over, the IRS may attempt to get you to agree to terms that are more favorable for them. The IRS will then continue their collection efforts, including phone calls and letters warning of penalties. A tax relief organization can help keep you in Currently Non Collectible Status as long and can also help to plan for your exit from Non-Collectible Status.
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.
Penalty Abatement refers to the IRS's term for reducing or wiping out a penalty. Penalty Abatement is a type of tax relief called Fresh Start. The IRS will not apply Penalty Abatement unless there is a good reason. Penalty Abatement can be requested at any level of IRS collections. This includes visiting a federal IRS campus or through an automated collection system. You also have the option to speak with staff at local IRS offices. A local IRS office cannot grant Penalty Abatements of more than $100. The Penalty Abatement request is free.