IRS steps it up on pursuit of unpaid employment taxes

In tough economic times, hard-working entrepreneurs protect their business by first paying the vendors, suppliers and employees that are necessary to operations, and delaying payment to the IRS.   This is because the vendors and employees are at the door, waiting for payment, and there can be no tomorrow without them. The IRS is more distant.  The [...]

5 things to always do when talking to the IRS.

1.     Be courteous and respectful.  You will get nowhere with an angry or condescending attitude, and will just give the IRS reason to come down harder on you.  When your head is in the mouth of the bear, say nice bear.
2.     Abide by deadlines, or call for more time if one can’t be met.  Don’t [...]

Where do Tax Court judges get their experience from?

Tax Court judges have experience either as former government lawyers or in the private sector at law firms. Of the thirty-two Tax Court judges, thirteen previously worked for the government as IRS lawyers; four were employed by the Department of Justice’s Tax Division.  
The remaining judges have legal experience in the private sector (with the [...]

Agreements to repay IRS debts under $25,000 can be simple and straightforward.

I often have new clients come in who owe the IRS under $25,000 and have the ability to repay the debt with monthly installment agreements.  If we determine they can repay the debt within 60 months, we secure from the IRS a repayment that is called a “streamlined installment agreement.”  The Internal Revenue Manual makes these [...]