February 2008

February 15, 2008

When Appeals are Possible

You might be having IRS issues, so you should thinking about asking for an appeal of a decision arrived at by the bureau if you disagree with the results of one or more of the following:

  • Tax audit results

  • Penalties assessed
  • Interest accrued
  • Tax lien placement
  • Tax levy placement
  • Asset seizures
  • Offer in Compromise rejections

An Internal Revenue Service missive will tell you that you have the option to appeal the decision if one of the above circumstances applies to you. If you don’t agree with the Internal Revenue Service ruling and you have grounds to appeal, do not affix your signature on the agreement document they sent. You can then request a hearing for your appeal.

Take a closer look. You might have to pay the bureau money and received bill. An appeal wouldn’t be likely in this situation. An appeals hearing isn’t a possibility if you can’t pay what you owe to the bureau.

You have to have just cause for not agreeing with the ruling passed by the IRS. Have documents ready to back you up.

The IRS missive should be read carefully. Tips on how to prepare the appeal, sending the request, the deadline, and other information will be on the notice.

Even if you have filed a request for an appeal, the interest and penalties will not stop being accrued on your bill.

Often informal, appeals by correspondence, telephone, or in person can settle most Internal Revenue Service disagreements.

Your appeal’s timeframe is determined by the type of case you are appealing and the time it takes for the IRS to study the file. After you have filed your request, it takes ninety days before an appeals hearing takes place. In the event that you haven’t heard from the IRS within 90 days, make contact with the IRS office where you sent your appeal to and they should be able to confirm when your appeal was forwarded. The 90-day timeframe for the hearing starts there.

For a more accurate timeframe, it’s best to call the appeals officer. Be warned, as it may take up to a year to resolve an appeal.

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February 13, 2008

You Can Lose Your Assets

The inevitability of asset seizure is high if you have problems with the IRS. The bureau can seize your assets if they demand payment. Meaning, if you owe the IRS a lot of back taxes, you may not have a lot left after they are finished taking your properties.

The assets to be seized are determined by the IRS through these 3 factors:

  1. The property required to pay the tax vs. the tax liability
  2. How convenient it is to take and sell the properties
  3. The properties’ value to the taxpayer in question

The IRS will threaten asset seizure hoping that you will choose to dispose of the assets to pay your back taxes. The assets often targeted by the IRS are:

  • Savings and/or checking accounts in banks
  • Automobiles, yachts, planes, and other vehicles
  • Cash value life insurance
  • Receivables
  • Stocks and bonds
  • Wages
  • Cash for collection
  • Owned buildings, resort homes, and other real estate
  • IRAs, Pensions, and Keoghs
  • Your home

What’s left? The properties that the IRS can’t seize are:

  • Clothing, with the exception of fur coats and other luxury items
  • $6,250 worth of fuel, furniture, personal effections, and provisions
  • Books and tools of trade amounting to $3125
  • Students’ books
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Worker’s compensation
  • Money from charity
  • Job training benefits
  • Mail that was undelivered
  • Child support mandated by the court
  • Deposits made to the Special Treasury fund by members of the armed forces and Public Health Service employees assigned to permanent duty outside the U.S.
  • Some, but not all, disability payments
  • Minimum exemption amount from other income, salary, and wages
  • Public assistance payments from welfare or SSI

    Obviously, it’s best to avoid inevitable asset seizure. What do you do, though, if you have been served a notice from the IRS? Our company can provide you with proper aid throughout the release process. You’ll have to pay your taxes in full, however, or at least, offer an installment agreement with the IRS, file for bankruptcy as evidence of a hardship, or prove that what was taken was too much for what you owed.

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    February 11, 2008

    IRS Audits and You

    The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has given you notice that you’re going to be audited. It’s a huge concern. Now your private finances will be perused.

    Read the IRS notice before you take action. That’s how you will know what the bureau demands. Know the facts, including what period they’re auditing, the kind of audit they are conducting, and what documentation they need from you. Also, take note of your deadline to reply, which is normally thirty days.

    Try not to provide extra information while on audit. These may prompt them to investigate you more. Your goal is to stick to disclosing information on the exact period and documentation being audited.

    The following documents can help you support the information you gave on your tax return:

    • Bank statements
    • Cancelled checks
    • Deductions claimed on the tax return receipts
    • Report of income statement
    • Payment verifications for your mortgage, property tax, donations, etc.

    It may take you awhile to get all documents gathered, especially if you have to get them from other institutions, so don’t wait until before the audit to start getting organized.

    The auditor’s questions should be answered honestly while being audited. Do not talk too much because auditors know how to look for signs of nervousness and lying. Benign sentences, such as Yes, No, I don’t remember, I’ll have to check on that, What exactly do you want to see?, and why would you like to know? are the best responses.

    The documents specified on the IRS letter have to be the only documentation you should provide. Do not take anything else with you. You can just state that certain information is not on hand if questions arise concerning another tax year or about documentation that was not requested on the notice .

    Settle the what you owe and consider your IRS issues over if you agree with the outcome of the audit. If you don’t agree with the outcome, you have a right to request an appeal.

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    February 9, 2008

    Levy Avoidance

    With an IRS levy, the IRS can take control of your assets, including bank accounts, salary, and properties. They’ll take assets needed to cover your tax liability. If you’ve gotten notice of an IRS levy, you are in big trouble.

    You can only get the IRS off your back by settling your taxes in full, including accrued penalties and interest that’s growing every day. The sooner you settle, the better.

    There are options available to get the IRS to release a levy if you can’t pay your tax liability:

    • The statute of limitations ends before the levy is received
    • Convince the IRS that the levy’s release would help pay them
    • An installment agreement is met
    • The levy will bring you extreme financial hardship
    • Part of the assets will be released if the assets seized is more than the taxes owed
    • Filing for bankruptcy
    • Submission of an offer to compromise

    You can prevent your assets from getting taken if you move before an IRS levy is served. If you find that you’re violating the law, do not attempt any of these:

    • Transfer of assets: under some situations, you may sell or give away assets
    • Give evidence that the levy is not economically feasiblel: taking, storing, and selling the asset will cost the IRS more than what it is worth
    • Asset is important for you to work: if you need the asset to perform your job or to get to work
    • Don’t reveal the existence or location of your assets: if properties are located in other states, etc.
    • Store portable assets off home or business premises: cars, boats, luxury vehicles
    • Move bank accounts: a move of self-protection
    • Lease your property: they can’t take what you do not own
    • Put money in retirement accounts: discouraged from taking these
    • Use safety deposit boxes: they’ll have a hard time finding these

    Don’t let an IRS problem destroy your life. IRS levies are to be avoided at all cost. You have to be effective in facing your IRS problems.

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    February 7, 2008

    Debt From Back Tax

    Many taxpayers owe back tax. If you’re one of them, you might be thinking that if you ignore this problem, it’ll go away. You might be scared that if you do something about it, it’ll create even more problems. We know that IRS issues are alarming. It is a serious situation. You must address this immediately so you’re not assessed with even more debt including the added interest and penalty charges. Let our company help you reduce or solve your IRS issues. Waiting another day may be too late. You and your family can start a new chapter in your lives if you start the process now.

    The IRS uses techniques, including written or personal audits, salary garnishments or levies, federal tax liens, seizure of property and bank accounts, and jail to address the issue of back taxes. By understanding them, you can deal with back taxes better.

    Did you know that the IRS is open for negotiation? Negotiate you say? Indeed, you can negotiate with the IRS. You may be able to lessen the back tax you owe by negotiating with the IRS. Lessening the figure to an amount you can afford to pay can get the IRS off your back. Possibilities like salary garnishment release, offer in compromise, currently not collectible status, installment agreement, bank levy release, and innocent spouse relief can also be considered.

    Your back tax can be addressed through these:

    • Prepare your tax forms, W2s, etc.
    • Either by yourself or with the assistance of an accountant, prepare your tax returns
    • Protect refunds that might be waiting for you.
    • Pay your tax debts fully: start a plan to achieve this
    • Reduce your taxes for next year.

    Back taxes can’t be filed electronically, so file it on paper and send it to the IRS as Certified Mail. Send multiple years in separate envelopes. If a deadline is involved, hand delivery of your tax returns is advised. Be sure that your tax returns are acknowledged as received as evidence of filing.

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