When DIY Finances Won't Do
August 7, 2022
3 Instances When Hiring a Tax Relief Professional is the Only Way to Go
When it comes to your money, there is only one person that truly has your best interests at heart - and that person is looking back at you in the mirror. Handling your own finances and making your own decisions can give you peace of mind and help you avoid a costly mistake.
There is a lot to be said for the do-it-yourself approach to your money, yet the go it alone path does have its limitations, especially when it comes to the IRS and back taxes.
We see clients that have tried to handle their taxes on their own, sometimes raising red flags with the IRS, resulting in audits, or getting hit with a big tax bill they cannot pay. They might set up an installment agreement on their own, but oftentimes, the DIY approach just makes the penalties and interest keep stacking up, placing you in an endless loop of compounding interest, penalties and your tax debt growing every month despite making monthly payments. Many of our clients started out by trying to do this on their own or with their current tax preparer and did not get the results they were hoping for.
Dealing with the IRS takes a very specialized skill set that most tax preparers and even CPA’s don’t possess. Make sure you have a tax resolution specialist on your side.
So, before you end up in that horror story, here are three times when hiring a tax pro or a tax relief firm like ours is the only way to go.
#1 You Just Received a Major Windfall
Even if you know how to handle your finances, receiving a major windfall can throw your plans for a loop. Whether you are the lucky holder of a winning lottery ticket or the recipient of a major inheritance, it pays to seek outside advice.
If you choose the DIY approach and make a mistake, you could end up paying more in taxes than you should, but a high tax bill is not the only danger. Handling your windfall the wrong way could throw off your asset allocation, impact financial aid for your college-bound children and create additional problems down the road.
#2 You Have Existing Tax Problems with the IRS
When you have issues with the IRS, you absolutely cannot afford to go it alone. Attempting to resolve tax issues on your own is unwise in the extreme, and a single slipup could leave you on the hook for even more. I mean, ask yourself if you would go before a judge in court without a lawyer representing you? Probably not. It’s the same here. Representing yourself before the IRS is generally not a good idea. Don’t do it. You most likely will get “creamed”!
If you receive a notice from the IRS, time is of the essence, but you should not let the desire for fast action override the need for professional help and guidance. If you want to resolve your issues fairly without going broke, do yourself a favor and find the right tax resolution firm. Hiring an enrolled agent, CPA or an attorney that is trained in tax relief is the best way to preserve your rights, and you do not want to go it alone.
#3 When You Have Assets You Need to Protect
When you owe taxes, the IRS only cares about one thing, and that is to get paid what they think you owe them.
They will levy your bank account, emptying everything you have in there. If you run a business, that means you won't be able to pay your employees, pay your office rent or keep your lights on, ultimately putting you out of business.
They will also garnish your paycheck leaving you about 10% to 25% of your net pay to live on. Good luck with that.
They can also put a lien on your assets, including real estate, personal property and financial assets. This puts in jeopardy everything you have worked so hard to attain.
Hiring the right tax relief professional can help you avoid such extreme measures taken by the IRS. They will communicate with the IRS on your behalf and can often remove a lien or levy. If you have assets you cannot afford to lose, then hiring a tax relief pro is the only way to go.
The Bottom Line
Even if you are confident in your Do It Yourself (DIY) approach or feel your tax problem isn’t so serious, it never hurts to get a second opinion. If you are doing everything right, that tax resolution specialist’s advice will give you peace of mind. If there are deficiencies in your actions, the advice you get could stop you from making a devastating, and possibly irreversible, mistake. Plus, you may find out that you can settle your back tax liabilities for less than what you owe. Oftentimes, for a fraction of what’s owed!
If you do run into tax trouble, reach out to our tax resolution firm
and we will schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full 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: