IRS levies on Social Security benefits - enforced collection on those who can least afford it

I have seen an increase in calls to my office from retirees who have received an IRS levy on their Social Security benefits.  In most every case, the levy (1) relates to conduct from self-employment when they were younger, and that conduct has long ago ended and (2) creates a substantial hardship for the retiree, [...]

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 [...]

IRS by the numbers

IRS enforced collection activity continues to heat up.  Compromise settlements are down by 70% while bad debt accounts continue to accumulate.  Here are the numbers:
1.     779,000 taxpayer accounts were assigned to the IRS collection queue.
2.     The number of offers in compromises accepted by the IRS declined by 70% from 2001 (38,643) to 2007 (11,618).
3.     [...]

What do all of these different IRS collection letters mean?

IRS collection letters often look similar, and all seem intimidating. But they are not.
I get calls from my clients all the time who have received IRS collection letters and are in a state of anxiety. I ask them to read me what the heading of the letter says, and fax a copy over so I [...]

How do soaring restaurant costs translate into a IRS collection problem?

This week, the New York Times reported that the cost of a 30-pound sack of rice has doubled, and a 15-pound bag of flour has almost tripled for restaurants.  An article yesterday in The Cincinnati Enquirer had pasta up 130 percent, eggs up 73 percent.  Flour is up 87 percent just in the first three months [...]