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Category Archives: Offer in Compromise

IRS Offer in Compromise – A Review of Eligibility Guidelines

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We get a number of calls inquiring about the IRS Offer in Compromise Program. While an IRS Offer in Compromise is a very effective tax settlement option for a very well defined group of taxpayers, it is definitely not the optimum solution for anyone with an unresolved tax debt. The acceptance criteria for an Offer in Compromise are very specific, the application process is lengthy and the rejection rate can be high. Amazingly the IRS can also take up to two years from the date it receives the initial application to accept or reject an Offer in Compromise. With this timeframe in mind, it is often advantageous to enlist professional help when considering this tax settlement option. An experienced tax settlement professional will be able to determine whether the taxpayer meets the strict IRS qualification criteria and, following that determination, will ensure that the Offer in Compromise application is submitted according to published IRS guidelines. Utilizing a qualified CPA or tax professional can drastically reduce the rejection rate because the preliminary work to qualify you as an applicant and to appropriately complete the forms is done for you.

Not sure if you qualify? The primary components necessary to obtain a successful Offer in Compromise tax settlement are outlined below:

  • The taxpayer must meet one of the three eligibility criteria specified by the IRS. Those three criteria are

1) doubt as to whether the taxpayer is liable for the tax debt

2) doubt as to whether the taxpayer has the means to pay the tax debt

3) a determination that settling the tax debt would promote effective tax resolution.

Since the Offer in Compromise allows a taxpayer to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount owed, the IRS only accepts applications that adhere strictly to theses acceptance criteria.

  • The taxpayer’s eligibility must be adequately documented. Sufficient documentation to support one of the three eligibility criteria is required. This documentation may include tax returns and other financial records, disability claims and records of medical treatment and hospitalization, among other things
  • The total amount of the tax debt must be accurate. This means that the taxpayer must be current in submitting tax returns. All previously submitted returns must be checked for accuracy and refiled when necessary.
  • The Offer in Compromise application must have been submitted according to specific IRS guidelines. All of the necessary forms included with the application must be complete and all required fees and supporting documentation must be included.

Once an Offer in Compromise application is submitted, the IRS will begin its review process. During this time additional information and supporting documentation will be requested when necessary. The review process usually takes anywhere from six to twelve months but can take a maximum of two years. If the application is not officially accepted or rejected within two years, the IRS is required to accept the offer.

If you have an unresolved tax debt, visit us today at www.professionaltaxresolution.com for more information about our customized tax settlement assistance. With over 16 years of experience working with the IRS, our experienced professionals will help you determine which available tax settlement option best meets your specific needs. Contact us by phone at (877) 889-6527 or by email at info@protaxres.com to learn more about our services and to receive a free, no obligation consultation

 

IRS Tax Settlement Help – Tax Debt Tips From a Qualified Tax Professional

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The help of a qualified professional can be an invaluable asset when attempting to resolve a tax debt issue. However, finding the right person for the job can be a difficult task in itself. Many companies that advertise tax settlement help are made up of salespeople and marketing agents who know very little about negotiating with the IRS. Tax law is complex and negotiating with the IRS can be challenging so it is important to find a tax professional who is experienced in providing tax settlement help. To insure that an individual has the knowledge and experience to provide the help you are looking for, it is a good idea to verify their current licensure with the state certification agency and to check their standing with the Better Business Bureau. Hiring a tax professional with verifiable credentials is really the only way that you can be sure of the qualifications of the person you are hiring.

By the time a taxpayer contacts us, they have frequently made numerous unsuccessful attempts to resolve their tax debt by negotiating directly with the IRS. While IRS employees are usually very competent, it is important to remember that it is the job of an IRS agent to collect the taxes you owe. In addition, the IRS is divided into many unconnected departments with very specific functions, so there is a good chance that the agent who happens to receive your call actually does not know how to provide the tax settlement help you are seeking. At Professional Tax Resolution, we work with the IRS on a daily basis. Since we are very familiar with their policies and procedures, we know how to communicate with them effectively and will negotiate with them on your behalf to provide the tax settlement help you need.

If you are a person who has put off seeking tax settlement help, it is important to realize that procrastination can result in some very unpleasant consequences. Tax debt balances continue to accrue penalties and interest until the balance is either paid in full or a tax settlement is reached. This being the case, it is not uncommon for penalties and interest to make up more than half of the total balance that a taxpayer owes. In addition, if a tax debt is ignored long enough, the IRS will initiate some form of enforced collection activity such as a tax lien, a tax levy or a wage garnishment. Any one of these actions usually results in serious damage to the taxpayer’s credit rating. An experienced tax professional will often be able to stop such enforced collection actions and will negotiate on the taxpayer’s behalf to arrive resolve their tax debt using the settlement option that best fits that taxpayer’s specific situation. The available tax settlement alternatives include the waiver of penalties and interest and partial payment settlement options where the IRS accepts an amount that is significantly less than the amount actually owed.
If you are in need of tax settlement help, probably the most important decision you will make is the selection of a qualified tax professional. The CPAs and Enrolled Agents at Professional Tax Resolution have many years of experience providing tax settlement help. We encourage our customers to check our memberships, reviews and affiliations for verification of our credentials and our past successes. For more information about the tax settlement services we can provide, visit us today at www.professionaltaxresolution.com. Contact us by phone at (877) 889-6527 or by email at info@protaxres.com to receive a free, no obligation consultation

An Alternative to an Offer in Compromise – Partial Payment Installment Plan.

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The Partial Payment Installment Agreement allows a taxpayer to settle an outstanding tax liability for less than the full amount owed. Although it achieves much the same end result as the more popular Offer in Compromise, it is less well know and less frequently used.  In spite of certain drawbacks, the Partial Payment Installment Agreement represents another viable tax resolution alternative for those taxpayers who are unable to pay the full balance of their tax debt.

The Partial Payment Installment Agreement was implemented in 2005 to accommodate taxpayers with limited financial resources who had an outstanding federal tax debt. At that time, legislation amended the Federal Internal Revenue Code to allow the IRS to enter into an installment agreement for either full or partial payment of a tax debt. Before this legislation was passed, the IRS only accepted installment agreements for payment of the full balance of an outstanding tax liability.  This meant that the only option for settling a tax debt for less than the full amount owed was the Offer in Compromise. Since the Offer in Compromise has very strict eligibility criteria and is very difficult to obtain, many taxpayers who were unable to pay the full balance of their tax debt were left with no viable tax relief option prior to the passing of these amendments.

As with the Offer in Compromise, any taxpayer submitting an application for a Partial Payment Installment Agreement has to submit a complete and accurate set of financial records for careful review by the IRS. Because a Partial Payment Installment Agreement settles a tax debt for less than the full amount owed, an application is only accepted when the taxpayer in question can document that they are unable to pay the full amount of the debt. In addition, any taxpayer who is granted a Partial Payment Installment Agreement is subject to a complete financial review every two years. If the review indicates that the taxpayer’s financial situation has improved, the installment payments may be increased or the agreement may be terminated altogether.

If you need Tax Settlement Help Call and talk to a CPA today.

We offer free, no obligation consultations. Toll-Free (877) 889-6527

Professional Tax Resolution, Inc. is a tax settlement firm with over 15 years of experience helping clients resolve tax debt issues. Unlike many CPA firms, tax debt resolution is our entire business.  Our services include, but are not limited to, filing back returns, amending returns, setting up Installment Agreements, submitting Offers in Compromise, filing petitions for Innocent Spouse Relief, removing tax liens and levies, stopping wage garnishments and audit representation. No matter what the tax debt issue, our goal is to provide the best tax settlement option available. Our process will always begin at the source of the problem and follow the solution through to a complete resolution.

 Read our Reviews on the Better Business Bureau, Merchant Circle, Yelp, and others.  We will never make false claims or promises we can’t keep. 

 

Payment Installment Options for an IRS Offer in Compromise

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The IRS Offer in Compromise tax settlement option allows a taxpayer with an outstanding tax liability to settle the debt for less than the full amount owed. Although the Offer in Compromise has very specific acceptance criteria and may be difficult to obtain, it is a very attractive tax debt settlement option for those taxpayers who do qualify.

The IRS has made the Offer in Compromise a particularly attractive and popular tax settlement choice by offering three different payment plans. The flexibility makes this tax settlement choice attractive to taxpayers who have varying financial situations. Each of the payment options (outlined below) includes an initial payment to be followed by scheduled installment payments.

• The Lump Sum Cash Payment Plan requires an initial payment which must be equal to 20% of the Offer in Compromise tax settlement amount. The balance of the negotiated tax relief amount must be paid in five or fewer installments scheduled regularly from the date the compromise offer is accepted. (sapns2.com)

• The Short Term Periodic Payment Plan requires an initial payment to be followed by regularly scheduled installments that begin while the offer is being negotiated. The balance must be paid off within 24 months from the time the IRS receives the Offer in Compromise application.

• The Deferred Periodic Payment Plan requires an initial payment to be followed by regularly scheduled installments that begin while the offer is being negotiated. The balance must be paid off in more 24 months from the time the IRS receives the Offer in Compromise application but before the ten year statutory period for collection is up.

Hence, the IRS Offer in Compromise is not a one stop shop. The versatility of the available payment plan options accounts for some of its popularity and make it an attractive tax debt settlement choice for a wide range of taxpayers.

At Professional Tax Resolution we make sure that you take advantage of the best tax resolution option available. We carefully analyze the tax debt and financial situation of each of our clients and only recommend filing an Offer in Compromise when we believe it will be accepted. If we determine that you meet the candidacy requirements for an Offer in Compromise, we will work with you to prepare the offer and to submit all of the required documentation. We will also represent you before the IRS or State Tax Agency until the process is complete.

Click the “Learn More Link” or Call Toll-Free (877) 889-6527 to have one of our CPA’s provide a free, no obligation consultation regarding your eligibility for an Offer in Compromise.

Make the IRS an Offer They Can’t Refuse, and Reduce Your Tax Debt with This Tax Settlement Option.

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Chances are, you have heard the claims that your federal taxes can be settled for “pennies on the dollar” Sounds too good to be true, right? Although many of the companies advertising these claims are a scam, the IRS does have the authority to settle, or “compromise,” on tax debts, accepting less than the full amount owed. This settlement type is called Offers in Compromise, and it is just one of a few different options.  While only a select group of taxpayer’s qualify for this program, with the tough economic times we’ve all been through the past several years, the chances of qualifying are better than ever. If you can answer yes to any of the three questions below, it’s worth getting expert advice on how to make an Offer in Compromise.

Is your home underwater and your income less than your expenses? We’ve all seen our home’s value drop dramatically during this economic recession. It is possible you have negative equity or maybe you’ve lost your home altogether. Perhaps you lost your job as well, or are making far less than you were in the past. With more people in these types of situations than ever before, the IRS figures they will not be able to collect the full amount owed by you. That makes you a good candidate to make an Offer in Compromise.

Is it possible the government is wrong? Mistakes do happen. IRS examiners work under tremendous pressure. Perhaps yours misinterpreted the law, or maybe the examiner got the law right, but got the facts wrong. Maybe you have new evidence that would have affected the calculation of your tax liability. It makes sense to have an independent third party examine your records to determine if the IRS might doubt the accuracy of your tax liability and thus accept an Offer in Compromise.

Is the tax correct, but unfair? The IRS has the authority to reduce tax debt when collecting it would create economic hardship, or simply be unreasonable. The IRS gives an example of a couple with assets to satisfy their tax debts, but with an ill child requiring long term care. The couple’s assets and income are necessary to provide for the child. An Offer in Compromise is a legitimate consideration.

An Offer in Compromise is a negotiation. The taxpayer makes an offer, including a lump sum payment or payments over time. The IRS might accept the offer, reject it, or make a counter offer.

Contact one of our licensed tax experts at Professional Tax Resolution to find out if you qualify for an offer in compromise, or one of the other settlement options and see what we can do for you.