IRS collection priorities and trends for 2010

What to expect from the IRS collection division in 2010:
1.     More aggressive IRS tax lien filing practices.
IRS Revenue Officers have been instructed to make decisions on the filing of Federal tax liens within 10 days of case assignment.   The IRS hit an all-time low for lien filings in 1999 of 167,000.  That has rebounded [...]

Trust fund recovery penalty: How much time does the IRS have to assess it?

It can be tempting to use payroll tax withholdings as a source of operating capital for your business, especially in troubled times.  But this is dangerous – the IRS can penalize anyone in your business who took part in this decision with personal liabilty for the unpaid taxes.
This is known as the trust fund recovery penalty.  The amount of the [...]

IRS taking too long to decide your offer in compromise? After two years, its accepted.

The IRS is generally known to be prompt in processing offers in compromise.
But the IRS is also known for losing files and not processing claims. Sometimes, things get washed into the big bureacracy.
So, what if the IRS takes its time on your offer, or it slips through the cracks unattended without an answer?  Time can [...]

Who’s afraid of an IRS letter? 5 reasons not to be.

A funny thing happened to me on the way to my mailbox today.  There was a letter from the IRS.  Sure, I get plenty of IRS mail everyday – I am an IRS defense attorney.   But this one had my name on it.
I put myself in my clients’ shoes.  I understood their fears.
Deep down, [...]