You owe taxes to the IRS, but your spouse does not. Naturally, you want to protect their finances from being drawn into your tax problem. The last thing you want is the IRS prying into your significant other’s financial affairs. They married you, not the IRS. Your tax problem begins and ends with you. No one else should be forced to pay for your mistakes. Fortunately, strategies can be put in place to not only keep your better half’s finances away from the IRS. Here are five steps to protect your spouse’s finances from the IRS: 1. File your tax returns separately. You ... Read More
How to avoid IRS Form 433A financial disclosures
A local IRS collection agent, known as a Revenue Officer, has contacted you, possibly with a surprise visit to your home or work. The Revenue Officer has been assigned your IRS debt for collection, and is about to launch a full investigation into your finances. Or, maybe you are getting up the nerve to give the IRS Automated Collection Service a call, prepared to discuss your debt and make payment arrangements. Either way, at the core, the IRS wants to know how they can get paid. They will want the following information: Where you bank, and how much is in the account. Name of ... Read More
IRS allowable living expenses: Collection guidelines you need to know
You want to repay the IRS, and have a number in mind of what you can afford monthly, but will the IRS accept it? Well, maybe. It all depends on how your monthly living expenses match up to IRS budgeting guidelines. The IRS calls these budgeting guidelines "allowable living expenses" (also referred to as "collection financial standards"). Allowable living expenses can be rigid, as the IRS has their own standards for your living expenses - they will need you to budget in an effort to increase the amount you can repay them. That's right: the IRS will not necessarily accept your ... Read More
Become fluent in the language of IRS collection agents
An IRS collection agent throws a word or phrase your way, and you have no idea what he is talking about. As they say, it is all Greek to you. And too much is at stake to bluff your way through it. A wrong move or misunderstanding could result in a levy on your bank account, wages, or seizure of assets. How can you negotiate yourself out of trouble with the IRS if you don't understand the language of IRS collection agents? To even the playing field, here are the 10 of the most important terms you should know when you owe back taxes to the IRS: 1. IRS Revenue Officer. This ... Read More
Why was my offer in compromise rejected by the IRS?
You just received a letter from the IRS notifying you that they are rejecting your offer in compromise. Enclosed with your letter are the IRS calculations, detailing why your offer was rejected. The IRS might as well be speaking a foreign language - what do all their calculations mean? And do you have a good reason to appeal the rejection? One reason the IRS rejects an offer in compromise is because they think that you can pay them in full from your future income. The IRS defines your future income as the amount you earn, less your necessary living expenses. The IRS has schedules of ... Read More