The tax code is REALLY complicated. So many Americans end up in a situation where we owe more to the IRS than we can afford to pay. Lots of people end up with big debts to the IRS. Now we’re in a really tough situation – because the IRS is the world’s most powerful collection agency. They can do some scary things like seize your home or bank accounts, garnish your wages, and a bunch of other things that no other collection agency can do. Your options often look something like this: pay the amount in full, or, pay it back over time with interest and penalties.
The IRS says it will accept compromise offers if the offered amount is higher than we can collect in a reasonable period of time.
For taxpayers who are unable to pay their full balance, but cannot pay it in full, Installment Agreements can be used. They can also pay the balance over time. If the monthly payment proposal is sufficient, the IRS has expanded the options for Installment Agreements to eliminate the requirement for financial statements or substantiation for balances up to $250,000. In order to limit Federal Tax Lien determinations by the IRS for taxpayers who owe only for tax year 2019, the IRS modified the Installment Agreement procedures.
Confirm your eligibility and prepare a proposal with the Offer In Compromise Pre-Qualifier.
However, the IRS offers tax relief options for taxpayers at all levels of the financial spectrum. This means that you are likely to be eligible for some form of relief depending on your particular financial situation. A tax professional can help you determine which relief options are available to you.
We offer a free review of tax cases and more information about how to apply for the IRS Fresh Start Program.
Once you've done the calculation, IRS will ask you for your available assets. They also want to see a year or more of your income relative to acceptable expenditures. The IRS can ask you to pay for debts you have taken out or expenses you have incurred that exceed your assets.
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We understand what you are thinking. This Fresh Start Program sounds too good to be true. The good news? The IRS program is completely legitimate.
There is another more rarely used ground: "doubt as to liability." Taxpayers who want to pursue this must file Form 656-L. This offer is based on a claim that there is doubt as to whether the tax liability assessed is correct. This is an unusual and more difficult avenue to pursue.
Nearly all families with kids qualify. Some income limitations apply. For example, only couples making less than $150,000 and single parents (also called Head of Household) making less than $112,500 will qualify for the additional 2021 Child Tax Credit amounts. Families with high incomes may receive a smaller credit or may not qualify for any credit at all. For more detail on the phase-outs for higher income families, see “How much will I receive in Child Tax Credit payments?”
You may also be eligible for Fresh Start if your business owes tax. These requirements will apply to you:
While you wait for the IRS decision on whether to make you an offer of compromise, you can still make payments.
Additional tools that the IRS offers to taxpayers who owe income taxes include Installment Agreements and Payment Plans.
The IRS will accept offers that are equal to the maximum amount it can pay within a reasonable timeline.
If the taxpayer cannot accept an offer in compromise based a theory involving Doubt about Liability and Doubt regarding Collectability then Effective Tax Administration (or ETA), might be available. The taxpayer must show that collection of tax liability would lead to economic hardship, or where compelling equity or public policy considerations by taxpayers are sufficient in order to allow for less than total payment.
Chuck Rettig, IRS Commissioner said that the IRS is aware of many taxpayers' challenges and that it is working hard to assist those who are having difficulty paying their taxes. This next phase of our efforts, following up on our People First Initiative earlier in the year, will assist with further taxpayer relief.
To help struggling taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS issued Notice 2022-36 PDF, which provides penalty relief to most people and businesses who file certain 2019 or 2020 returns late. The IRS is also taking an additional step to help those who paid these penalties already. To qualify for this relief, eligible tax returns must be filed on or before September 30, 2022. See this IRS news release for more information on this relief.
“OICs are the bread and butter of late-night radio ads,” Stearns said. “The ads say: ‘If you owe $10,000, call us. Do you want a fresh start? ‘Fresh start’ is code for Offer in Compromise.”
If you were unable to comply due to circumstances beyond our control, you could qualify for penalty relief.
An IRS Fresh Start Program in Compromise (or OIC) is an agreement that allows taxpayers to reduce their tax debt by paying less than what they owe. This is the best Fresh Start tax relief through the Fresh Start Initiative. An Offer in Compromise can be the best way to reduce your tax debt via the Fresh Start Program. However, there are some conditions. This option is only available to taxpayers in difficult economic circumstances who do not have the financial resources necessary to fully pay their federal tax debt. An OIC is a strict requirement. This means that not all taxpayers who owe thousands to the IRS are eligible for the program. If you have a tax relief company certified, your chances of getting an Offer in Compromise are greatly increased. The IRS will not bully or manipulate tax experts into making a less than optimal solution. To ensure you avoid scams in tax relief, please refer to the "How to Avoid Tax Relief Scams". These companies promise an OIC without having examined your tax situation and prepared the required forms for the IRS. Only the IRS can approve an Offer in Compromise. The best tax relief company will communicate their process clearly, be experienced in negotiations with the IRS, get results for their clients, as well as center their strategies around your financial needs.