Do You Owe Money to the IRS?
July 6, 2022
Possible Tax Resolution Strategies to Set Your Mind at Ease
Even for honest taxpayers, the IRS can be extremely frightening. Unlike most other government agencies, the IRS has unbridled power to attach your wages, freeze your bank account and even confiscate your property, and that is enough to send a chill up the spine of any taxpayer.
If you receive a letter from the IRS saying that you owe additional taxes, it is important not to panic. It may be a frightening situation, but there are things you can do to settle your tax debt and get back on the good side of the IRS.
Taxpayers do have options when resolving tax disputes and paying additional taxes due, and simply knowing what those options are can set your mind at ease.
As an expert Tax Resolution Firm, we encourage all readers facing a tax problem, whether it's the feds or the state, to contact us for a free consultation.
Here are three strategies you can use to resolve your tax debt and get on with the rest of your life. Not all of these options will be right for everyone, but it is important to be an informed taxpayer.
1. Review the Amount Owed And Your Tax Return In Question
If the IRS says you owe money, you should not simply assume they are right. The tax agency does make mistakes (a lot), as do tax preparers and ordinary taxpayers.
Whether you filed your taxes on your own or hired someone else to do it for you, it is important to examine your return and compare what you find with what the IRS is claiming. It pays to seek professional help for this tax review, even if you originally filed your own taxes. A professional with IRS experience may be able to uncover errors and inconsistencies you would have missed on your own, and that could end up saving you money.
There is no guarantee this review will eliminate the extra taxes the IRS says you owe, but it never hurts to be sure. There have been many cases in which taxpayers who thought they owed money to the IRS ended up owing nothing - or even being due a refund from the IRS.
2. Set Up a Payment Plan
Getting a notice of additional tax due from the IRS is frightening, especially if you cannot afford to pay what the agency says you owe. Keep in mind, however, that you do not necessarily have to pay the bill all at once.
The IRS is often willing to set up payment plans with taxpayers, and those payment plans could make paying what you owe easier and less stressful. Once again, it is a good idea to seek professional help and guidance here - the IRS can drive a hard bargain, and you do not want to end up with a payment plan you cannot afford and wind up defaulting on it.
If you fall behind on the payment plan you agreed to, you could be subject to additional enforcement action, including the tax agency garnering your paycheck or seizing funds from your bank accounts. Getting the help of a tax resolution professional up front can help you avoid these serious consequences.
3. Explore an Offer in Compromise Settlement
If you are truly unable to pay the money the IRS claims you owe, you may be able to work out a (much) smaller lump sum payment. The IRS may not advertise this program, but they are often willing to work with taxpayers by accepting lesser amounts, especially if those taxpayers have little in the way of equity in assets and a limited income. Sometimes these settlements can be for a fraction of what’s owed, if you qualify. We offer a free, no obligation consultation
to find out if you qualify.
If you plan to explore this last option, it is critical that you work with a tax resolution expert. An offer in compromise can be extremely complicated, with legalese and language that can be difficult to understand. You do not want to make a misstep here, and you want to ensure that you are only paying the lowest amount, allowed by law, in settlement of your tax bill.
Few things are as frightening as getting a letter from the IRS. That official-looking letterhead is bad enough, but what the letter says is even worse. If you receive such a letter, you need to take positive steps right away. Ignoring the situation will make it worse and it won’t go away, and the sooner you start exploring your tax resolution options the better off you will be.
If you want the help of an expert tax resolution professional who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm
and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain all your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
Tax season started in late January, but the IRS’s latest statistics show that many Americans are still waiting to file their taxes. As of February 7, 7.7% fewer tax returns have been received by the agency compared to a similar time frame last year, according to its latest data release. While the IRS expects filing numbers to even out, the IRS.gov website has experienced a 40% decline in visits this year to date over last year. Francine Lipman, CPA, a tax law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, says the reasons could be endless but probably come down to simple procrastination. “Despite all the Super Bowl ads, I don’t believe that tax issues are on people’s radar yet,” adds Lipman. This is surprising considering the political climate, says Jordan Rippy, an accounting professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, who expected to see an uptick in returns filed this year. “Given the general climate surrounding the new administration, I would have expected more anxiety in the general population and a desire to receive refunds more quickly,” she tells Fortune. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reportedly visited the IRS on Thursday to begin analyzing the agency’s operations. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, later posted on X that “if your refund is delayed, they could very well be the reason.” Average tax refunds are higher this year so far The rise in electronic filing is one of the biggest changes to the tax system in the last decade. With over 90% of individual taxpayers now filing their returns online, the process has become easier to handle for many Americans. But taxpayers still miss out on over $7 billion in underclaimed and unclaimed tax credits and deductions each year. In the 2025 tax season to date, tax filers have received a 18.6% increase in their average refund amount ($2,065) compared to this time last year ($1,741). The IRS cautions this isn’t a perfect indicator of the final trend in tax refunds, since it’s early in the season. The agency says most refunds are issued within 21 days. In the final analysis, the average refund last year was around $3,138. Compared to 10 years prior, last year’s average rebate was down nearly 30% on an inflation-adjusted basis. Rippy says she is surprised that average tax refunds have not decreased more as Americans realize they can adjust their withholdings and get more money per paycheck throughout the year. “If you receive a large tax refund, what you've essentially done is given a loan to the government over the last year that you didn't have to give them, and you've done that interest-free,” says Rippy. At the same time, she admits that the fact that many Americans expect a big refund year after year is a good thing, as it’s a form of forced savings. While many end up saving their refund, others use it to pay down debt, make a home improvement, or go on vacation. Need help filing your taxes or having issues with the IRS? Receive your free consultation from Advantage Tax Relief today! https://www.advantagetaxrelief.net/request-form or by calling (630) 773-3200.
If you’re dealing with IRS wage garnishment, it can feel like you're trapped in a difficult situation. The IRS can take a portion of your paycheck to satisfy your tax debt, causing serious financial strain. However, you do not have to face this alone. There are steps you can take to stop garnishment and restore control over your finances. This guide will help you understand what wage garnishment is, why it happens, and what actions you can take to end it. Understanding IRS Wage Garnishment Wage garnishment is a legal tool used by the IRS to collect unpaid taxes. Unlike many other types of debt collection, the IRS does not need a court order to garnish your wages. They will send you a Final Notice of Intent to Levy before initiating garnishment, and if you don't act, they will take a portion of your paycheck to pay off your tax debt. How Wage Garnishment Affects You Wage garnishment can create numerous challenges, including: - Loss of Income: With part of your wages withheld, it can be difficult to meet daily living expenses. - Damage to Your Credit: Unresolved tax debts and garnishments can hurt your credit rating, making it difficult to obtain loans or secure favorable financing terms in the future. - Stress and Emotional Toll: The financial pressure can create stress, affecting your mental health and relationships. Professional Impact: If colleagues find out about the garnishment, it could affect your reputation at work. Steps to Take to Stop IRS Wage Garnishment If you’re facing wage garnishment, take action quickly to put an end to it: 1. Respond to IRS Notices Immediately If you receive any IRS notice about garnishment, it's vital to act quickly. Ignoring it will only escalate the situation. Contact the IRS and request a Collection Due Process hearing where you can address the garnishment. 2. Explore Payment Plans and Agreements The IRS offers various options to settle your debt, such as installment agreements or an Offer in Compromise (OIC). These options allow you to repay your debt over time or settle it for less than what you owe. 3. Apply for Hardship Relief If the garnishment is putting you in financial distress, you may qualify for a hardship exemption, which can temporarily stop the garnishment while you work out a solution. 4. Contest the Tax Debt If you believe the IRS has made a mistake in assessing your tax debt, you have the right to dispute it. During this dispute process, garnishment can be put on hold until the matter is resolved. 5. Seek Professional Help Dealing with the IRS alone can be overwhelming. A skilled tax professional can help you navigate the complex process, negotiate with the IRS, and secure the best possible resolution for your situation. Why You Should Work with Advantage Tax Relief The process of stopping IRS wage garnishment requires specialized knowledge and experience. Advantage Tax Relief, located in Itasca, IL, offers over a decade of experience in tax resolution. Their team of experts knows how to work with the IRS to resolve wage garnishment issues and put together a personalized plan for you. Working with Advantage Tax Relief means having a dedicated partner who understands the nuances of IRS procedures and will advocate on your behalf to reach a favorable resolution. Their team will help you explore all options, including negotiating payment plans, filing for hardship relief, or contesting tax assessments. Take Action Today Don’t let wage garnishment control your life. Contact Advantage Tax Relief in Itasca, IL at 630-773-3200 for a consultation. Their team is ready to guide you through this process, offering the help you need to regain control of your finances and find relief from the IRS.
Share On: