What to Do If You Receive a Collection Letter from the IRS
October 1, 2022
Follow These Crucial Steps
You open the mailbox, expecting the usual mix of bills and catalogs, but what you find is a collection letter from the IRS. It can feel like you are living in a nightmare that you can’t wake up from when you receive a collection letter from the IRS.
Even worse, that letter includes a demand for payment, which is the last thing you need to deal with. So, what do you do now since you have received the collection letter from the IRS? The steps you take could make all the difference, and here are some key things to do next.
Take a Deep Breath
It is easy to panic when you get a notice from the IRS but getting scared will not get you anywhere. So, slow your racing heart (if you can), take a deep breath, and try to calm your nerves.
You will need to think clearly to take on the IRS, and letting your emotions guide you is the last thing you want to do. You will want to have all your brain cells firing, so stop panicking and carefully think through the following steps.
Read the Notice Carefully
Not every notice from the IRS is terrible news, and some are merely a matter of mismatched paperwork or transposed numbers. Those relatively simple matters should not take much to resolve, and they may not even require you to pay any extra money.
Before you do anything else, take the time to read the notice carefully. Find out precisely what the letter says and what the IRS is proposing. Is the IRS claiming you underreported your income for the past year? Are they saying that you took a deduction you were not entitled to? Is the tax agency challenging your interpretation of a statute? The more you know about what the IRS claims, the easier it will be to defend yourself and, ultimately, save you money and headaches.
Pull Out Your Tax Return and Supporting Documents
As previously stated, some tax notices are merely the result of minor disagreements or inconsequential math errors, but others are more serious. Now that you understand what the IRS is stating, you will want to look at what you claimed when filing your tax return.
You can start by pulling out a copy of the tax return in question, making sure to get the right one based on the contents of the collection letter. Hopefully, you have a copy of the return saved on your computer or in your filing cabinet. If not, you can request one from the IRS or have a professional request it for you.
Now that you have your tax return, you can look it over in comparison to the collection letter, looking for any mismatches or erroneous entries. If the return seems good to you, the next step is to get out all the supporting documents.
Those supporting documents may include 1099 forms from your bank and brokerage accounts, W-2 forms from employers, and anything else you included on your tax return. If you took deductions against your income, you will also want to gather those documents and keep them handy.
Take Prompt Action
One thing is certain when it comes to fighting with the IRS - wasted time is wasted money. The interest and penalty clock starts ticking the moment the supposedly erroneous tax return is filed, and every minute you wait could be more money out of your pocket.
If you wait too long the IRS can, without a court order, garnish 90% of your net pay AND clean out your bank account. They can also seize your home and other assets.
The number one thing to do is act fast, which means finding and reviewing the applicable documents immediately. Once you have everything together, you can take the next and arguably the most critical step.
Find a Suitable Professional
Taking on the IRS is not something you want to do alone. You wouldn’t go to court without a lawyer, and you certainly don’t want to go up against the IRS without expert representation. Even if you are confident filing your taxes and handling your finances, arguing with the IRS is not a DIY activity.
If you hope to limit the damage and reduce the amount, or the proposed amount they are demanding, you will want a professional in your corner. Working with a tax relief specialist could save you a lot of money in the end, along with countless hours of grief and stress. The sooner you seek professional help with your tax problem, the better, so do yourself a favor and do not wait.
IRS problems can affect all aspects of your life. The stress of not filing or paying your taxes could make you lose sleep. If you are looking for tax relief, we can help!
To help ease the stress from your situation, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our tax resolution experts. You don't have to worry about confidentiality or cost because the consultation is free with zero gimmicks or commitments. Schedule an appointment with one of our tax resolution specialists today by clicking here.
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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.
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