7 Tips for Negotiating With The IRS

By Bonnie Lee
Published January 27, 201, FOXBusiness.com

From time to time every taxpayer will have to go head to toe with the IRS. Whether you are setting up an installment agreement, facing the auditor from hell, resolving a misunderstanding, or dealing with collectors on the phone or worse yet, on your doorstep, you would be well advised to heed the following suggestions.

1. You get more flies with honey. Dealing with bureaucracy can be very frustrating, but park your bad attitude and anger at the door. Take a deep breath, demonstrate a cooperative attitude, and proceed in an orderly fashion to resolving your issue. In my 28 years of dealing with the IRS, I have found that most IRS personnel are compassionate humans that bend over backward to find ways to resolve issues and help taxpayers. Of course you are going to run into that power-hungry, condescending, surly agent from time to time, but if you do, you can always trade up to a more understanding and respectful model by asking for the manager.

2.Use IRS lingo. When you use IRS lingo the agent you are speaking with will find you knowledgeable and may treat you with a little more respect. Here is some verbiage you may find useful:

Ask for penalties to be “abated” rather than removed. Tell them, if it’s the case, that your failure to (pay or file or comply with a document request) was due to “reasonable cause.” Use this term if you didn’t just flake and have a good reason, which could include such things as unemployment, losing your records, losing your home, health problems, etc.

If you can’t pay a tax bill because you are suffering financial reversals, you can ask to be deemed “currently not collectible.” If you are granted this status, they will leave you alone for an entire year while you get it together.

If you feel a spouse or former spouse should be responsible for a tax matter, ask to be treated as an “innocent spouse.” There are certain criteria to this status; do some research or discuss the issues with your tax pro.

If defending business deductions during an audit, the term “ordinary and necessary” business expense will help–but only if that’s really the case.

3. Don’t talk too much. IRS agents are trained to draw as much information from you as possible. Answer questions truthfully, but keep your answers short, succinct and to the point. There is no need to elaborate or discuss your personal life or disclose too much. This will only lead to misunderstandings and maybe even investigations.

4. Always tell the truth. Lies have a way of uncovering themselves. Once you are caught in a lie, you will always be suspect. And when you are suspect, you lose the cooperation you would normally receive. Don’t hide assets, don’t run for cover. There are many ways to resolve tax problems using a straightforward and honest approach. Lies may lead to jail time.

5. Only make promises you can keep. This is especially true when it comes to paying your liability. If an IRS agent asks you if you can pay $200 per month on a tax balance and you know you can only afford $100, tell him so. Indicate that you will try to pay extra when you can, but you are not going to set yourself up for failure by promising more than you are able. Throw that in with the fact, (if it’s the case), that you have always timely filed and paid liabilities in the past and now you need a break. Note that this will not work if their analysis of your financial situation indicates you can pay more.

6. Go to them before they come at you. If you are unable to keep a promise you make, tell the IRS immediately. The agency is usually so happy with the cooperation it will likely grant you the extensions you need. The collections department notes your file whenever you or your representative calls.

7. Stop the Interview. If at any time during an audit or a phone conversation you feel intimidated, disrespected, or out of your depth, simply say so and end the interview. Tell the IRS that you will be seeking representation and will get back with them soon. This will give you a chance to take a deep breath and discuss the matter with your tax pro. If you felt disrespected, you can always request a different auditor. Or if it was a matter of a surly customer service rep you were speaking with on the phone, you can hang up and call again in hopes of getting someone kinder or a little more understanding.

IRS Tax Levies: What You Need To Know

William Freudenthal owed the IRS some money. Quite a bit of money, actually – just over $16,000. And Freudenthal hadn’t been exactly timely about paying his tax obligation. He’d ignored notice after notice from the IRS. Finally, the IRS took action. They were going to seize some of Freudenthal’s assets – namely his classic 1965 Chevy Chevelle – to settle the debt.

This was not news that Freudenthal took well. His wife wasn’t exactly thrilled, either, and as you can imagine, the couple had an argument. Events escalated tragically, and Freudenthal struck his wife. The blow killed her.

Now, William Freudenthal is in prison. His wife is dead and his life is wrecked – and the real tragedy here is that the situation was completely avoidable. It didn’t have to end that way. Freudenthal, like every other American taxpayer, was entitled to the protections and procedures that are built into the tax code.

What is a Tax Levy?

A tax levy is the procedure the IRS uses to get money from taxpayers after they’ve exhausted every other avenue available to them. If you won’t voluntarily turn over the money to pay your tax obligation, the IRS will come and get it.

Let’s say you have some outstanding tax debt on the books – taxes that you were supposed to pay, but just didn’t, for whatever reason. The IRS will send you several notices, reminding you that you need to pay your taxes. If it remains unpaid, the IRS will eventually send you a Final Notice of Intent To Levy. This is your final warning to pay your taxes. If you don’t, the IRS is going to seize some of your assets to settle the debt.

What Type of Assets Can The IRS Seize?

The IRS has been given a great deal of latitude in their mission to collect revenue for the government. They can seize many different types of assets, including money from your bank account, real estate, vehicles, or personal property. The IRS can also garnish your paycheck, taking their share of your earnings before you even see it! This is known as a wage levy.

What Should You Do If You Receive A Final Notice of Intent To Levy From The IRS?

If you have received a Final Notice of Intent to Levy from the IRS, you have 30 days to respond. During those thirty days, the best thing you can do is find an expert tax problem solver. You are entitled to file a Collection Due Process Appeal in response to the Final Notice of Intent to Levy. However, it must be filed within 30 days of the date of the Final Notice. This appeal stops the IRS collections process and sends your case to the IRS Appeals Office. At that point, your tax accountant will work with the IRS to find a reasonable solution to your tax problems.

What If More Than 30 Days Have Gone By?

If it’s been more than 30 days since you received the Final Notice of Intent to Levy from the IRS, don’t despair! You still have options. With the assistance of your tax accountant, you can still file a Collection Due Process Appeal. At this point, the IRS collection efforts don’t stop automatically. However, your tax accountant will be working with the IRS to prevent the seizure of your assets.

If a levy has already happened, you still have options. A Collection Appeal, also known as a CAP, can be filed. In order to release the levy, you will have to meet certain conditions. Your tax accountant will let you know what these are, but they generally include filing any outstanding or unfiled tax returns, and submitting a Collection Information Statement along with a proposal of how you plan to resolve your outstanding tax debts. This could include an Installment Agreement, being placed as Currently Uncollectable Status, settling through an Offer In Compromise, or additional time to raise the funds to full pay the outstanding tax liabilities.

What Type of Resolution Can There Be For My Tax Problems?

The IRS has a single goal. They are mandated to collect as much tax revenue as possible, and they are becoming more diligent about this mission with every passing day. However, an experienced tax professional can often work with the IRS to find a resolution you can live with – and that stops the IRS from seizing your bank accounts, property, or classic cars!
Installment Agreements are a common resolution, as are Offers In Compromise to settle the tax debt for a fraction of the original amount owed. If you have to full pay your outstanding tax liabilities, a great tax problem solver will work to see if there is reasonable cause to abate any interest and penalties, which can save you thousands of dollars.

Solving Your Tax Problems

William Freudenthal learned the hard way that the one thing you don’t want to do in this situation is ignore the IRS. The IRS moves slowly, but it doesn’t stop – once they have you in their sights, they’re going to pursue you until the tax debt is settled. Having an expert tax problem solver on your side can help you get the debt resolved and the threats of levies and seizures behind you. Don’t lose everything. Get help for your tax problems!

American Tax Relief Shut Down by Federal Trade Commision

American Tax Relief Shut Down by Federal Trade Commision

TAX MASTERS NO HELP FOR TAX PROBLEMS – ABC NEWS

ABC News expose on Tax Masters

Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne Owe Back Taxes

By Josh Board • Mon, Apr 11th, 2011
Sandiego.com

With tax day around the corner, no better time then now to have a story about the latest singer to run into tax problems. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne could lose their US home if they don’t pay the $2 million tax debt on it.

They’re one of the wealthiest couples in the UK, and aside from Ozzy’s music career, Sharon has had success with the Osbourne’s reality show, being a judge on the X Factor and America’s Got Talent, and now a panelist on The Talk. Sharon was also the first of the Osbourne clan to run into tax problems, when in 2009 she was slapped with a $23,000 tax bill to the State of California for payments going back to 2007.

TMZ has reported that daughter Kelly was hit with a tax lien of $34,000 last month.

Over the last few years, Ozzy and Sharon have accumulated a bit of debt. Documents filed by tax authorities state that “John” and Sharon Osbourne, ‘self-employed’, owe $718,948 in tax from 2008, and $1,024,175 from 2009.

Sharon did what most celebrities would do in this situation. She fired off a message on Twitter last Saturday. It said: You can’t rely on anyone but yourself. You have to be on top of your own business affairs. My fault. Lesson learned.

The most famous tax problem celebrity is Willie Nelson, who was hit with a $16.7 million tax bill in 1990. That stemmed from him not paying taxes between ’78 and ’82, and owing $6.5 mil. An additional $10.2 million was tacked on in penalties and interest. The IRS froze his accounts and auctioned off items in his personal position. Many of his fans bought those items, only to return them back to Nelson. Eventually, the IRS claimed Nelson owed $30 million, but that they’d settle for $17 million. This got Nelson poking fun of that in various commercials, and even releasing the album IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories?

Releasing a record like that was nothing new. Marvin Gaye released an album called Here, My Dear, when he owed money on alimony payments.

When John Cleese played Spreckels Theatre here in 2009, he was calling it The Alimony Tour. His third wife got a $13 million divorce settlement, and he had to pay her a million a year in alimony. Perhaps he should’ve known better before marrying wife #3, but the comedic actor and Monty Python member does have a law degree – and is smart enough never to have run afoul of the IRS.

The Isley Brothers lead singer Ronald declared bankruptcy in 1997 after the IRS seized his property, including a yacht. He’s currently serving a 37-month sentence for tax evasion and failing to file a tax return.

Mr. Vegas, Wayne Newton, filed for bankruptcy in the early ‘90s with $20 million of debt. He got back into financial trouble in 2005, when the IRS claimed he owed them almost $2 million in back taxes.

Another singer that had a big Vegas show – Toni Braxton – filed for Chapter 7 a second time, late last year. She had well over $10 million in unpaid debts to numerous creditors, one of which was the IRS.

Wesley Snipes was recently given a sentence for years of failure to pay taxes. What a lot of people don’t realize is, the IRS is really good about working on payment plans with people, and the interest isn’t outrageous. Snipes was given jail time for continuing to run afoul of the tax laws. He made $40 million since 1999 (thanks mostly to the Blade films) and between 1999 and 2004, he never filed taxes. In 2006, he even tried to get a $7 million refund.

What a lot of people don’t realize is, if you don’t file, the IRS does a Substitute ForReturn for you. This doesn’t work so well for the rich and famous, as the IRS isn’t writing off all the things those folks probably would for deductions.

These days the IRS has more sophisticated resources and incentives (hundreds of billions owed to the federal government) for tracking down non-filers.

I’m guessing the Osbourne’s are in no real danger of losing anything they own. The IRS would have no problem believing they could pay back anything they owe from future earnings, and wouldn’t make them sell houses or personal items, the way David Crosby had to sell a yacht for a million bucks when he ran into financial problems.

Ozzy’s son Jack Osbourne has a production company (Jacko Productions) that has a documentary on Ozzy that is supposed to hit the theatres later this year. One of the things covered is all the craziness his dad was involved in over the years. We assume Jack has learned from the things that almost killed his father, and made him the punchline to many jokes.

Let’s hope Jack doesn’t also follow in the family footsteps and run into problems with the IRS in the future. Let’s also hope Ozzy doesn’t bite the head off an IRS agent.

Lots of Big Stars Are in Big Trouble With the Tax Man

By Lindsay Carlton
Published March 21, 2011|FoxNews.com

March 26, 2010: Al Pacino poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Despite their high-priced tax attorneys and mega-millions, big stars can find themselves in big trouble come tax time.

Take Hollywood director Martin Scorsese. He was recently nailed with a $2.85 million bill for unpaid taxes. Scorsese was charged for past-due tax and related interest penalties. Although Scorsese’s spokeswoman Leslee Dart says the entire amount is now paid in full and that he has no current IRS debts, sources say the Oscar-winning director’s tax woes are due to his dealings with celebrity accountant Kenneth Starr. Starr was jailed for seven and a half years for a $33 million ponzi scheme, and has duped other superstars in his corrupt plots. He scammed Hollywood heavyweights such as Uma Thurman, Lauren Bacall and Al Pacino, to name a few.

Pacino allegedly failed to pay taxes for two years, a bill for $169,143 in 2008 and $19,140 in 2009, totaling $188,283. Anyone who would stiff this “Godfather” star out of $200,000 might be sleeping with the fishes too, but luckily for Al Pacino, the IRS doesn’t handle their business the same way the mob does. Pacino poured the blame on Starr, his business manager and close friend for years. The money hungry financier apparently used a lot of his fraudulent earnings to play sugar-daddy to his younger wife, ex-pole dancer Diane Passage, who enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. “Managers can be very helpful, but many are not skilled in the area of tax planning and some are outright greedy when given control of celebrities finance,” said Ray Lucia, a certified financial planner.

A spokesperson for Pacino said the “Scarface” actor is working to resolve the situation as soon as possible with a new financial manager.

Another Hollywood cash cow who skipped his IRS bill is Jennifer Lopez’s husband, Marc Anthony. The Latin crooner owes $3.4 million for unpaid taxes on his Long Island mansion. Anthony has a history of running from the tax man. In 2007 he failed to pay taxes on his $15 million income over a five-year-period and ended up paying $2.5 million in back taxes. One might assume that such a power couple would have a better handle on their finances, but some tax attorneys aren’t surprised. “They live in a world where everyone gives them more and more leeway and slack — and they slowly develop an attitude of being above it all,” said Doug Burns, a federal prosecutor who has prosecuted dozens of tax fraud cases.

One pop star even sang a song about paying bills, the aptly titled “Bills Bills Bills,” but then forgot to fork up the cash herself. Former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland owes $98,634 in back taxes. The government filed a lien against her on Nov. 8, according to the Detroit News. The songstress hasn’t had much success since splitting from the Beyonce Knowles-led girl group. She also recently parted ways with her long-time manager and Beyonce’s father, Matthew Knowles. “Celebs who are attending to other details in their lives may brush taxes aside for later, but by then it’s too late,” said CelebTV.com host Kelli Zink.

“Survivor” winner Richard Hatch has had his fair share of tax trouble. The reality star spent three years in jail for failing to pay taxes on the $1 million prize money he won on the hit show. Hatch is heading back to the slammer for not settling a tax bill that is now reportedly up to $2 million. Hatch is currently starring in Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” show. Although the episodes of the series have already been filmed, he will miss the live finale in May while he finishes his sentence behind bars. Along with his prison term, Hatch will remain under supervision for 26 months, and 25 percent of his wages will be garnished to pay back the IRS.

Joe Francis, founder of “Girls Gone Wild,” also spent some time behind bars for his tax tribulations and says the IRS targets celebrities every year around tax day. To avoid glitches in your taxes, Francis recommends Hollywood newcomers hire reputable business managers and get references from their other clients. “Good financial managers are helpful, ones like Bernie Madoff are awful. I was young, I was making a lot of money,” Francis said. “You trust people like lawyers and accountants. I didn’t even sign my own tax return. I didn’t even question it.”

Oprah Hates Writing Checks to the IRS

Chicago (January 21, 2011)
By Michael Cohn
accountingtoday.com

Oprah Winfrey told Piers Morgan that the most difficult check she has to write each year is for the Internal Revenue Service, and she usually needs some tequila from her accountants when she signs it.

Winfrey admitted to Morgan during the debut episode Monday evening of the CNN talk show he is taking over from Larry King that she only signs checks for amounts over $100,000 nowadays. Winfrey launched her new cable TV network, the Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN, earlier this month. But she still has “several hundred” checks to sign for over $100,000.

“It would knock your socks off,” she told Morgan. “Millions are going out.”

Morgan asked if that was painful. “The most pain I feel — and my accountants will tell you this — is every time I write a check to the IRS, it’s a ceremony. For years they came in with wine. Now they come in with tequila. It’s a tequila-signing ceremony.”

Morgan asked her what was the most painful check she ever had to write to the IRS, but Winfrey cannily ducked the question, teasing Morgan, “You’re good. You think I’m going to give you the number. No, no, no, no, no.”

Morgan noted that Forbes magazine estimates that Winfrey is worth $2.7 billion, and asked if the figure was accurate. She responded, “I knew you were going to go there sooner or later. I’m not sitting around counting it.” However, she added that she knows how much she’s worth “because I already had counted it.”

Morgan followed up by asking Winfrey about her philanthropic endeavors, which include the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a school she runs in South Africa for economically disadvantaged young women. Morgan noted that Winfrey reportedly has given away over $300 million to various charities, and Winfrey corrected him, saying she knew it was more than that amount.

He asked if she knew how much she has given away, and she replied, “No, I really don’t, but I know it’s more than $300 million. I have this school and it’s ongoing and I’m responsible for all of these girls and them getting an education, and I pay for every single thing and I think that the charitable work that you do — and when I’m gone everything that I have is going to go to charity because I don’t have children and I believe that that’s what you should do, that that’s how you should live your life. To whom much is given, much should be given back. To me, the money, it’s certainly a wonderful thing, but it is in direct proportion to how you’re able to bless yourself and how you bless others with it.”

Asked whether money can buy happiness, Winfrey responded, “It can certainly pave the way for it.”

Are You Part of the “IRS Tax Lien Explosion”?

Reading this article can leave the typical taxpayer feeling a little nervous. If you’ve already had trouble with the IRS, or are currently trying to resolve tax problems, that article, which charts the dramatic increase in IRS tax liens, might make you very nervous indeed!

The IRS Is Stepping Up Tax Enforcement Efforts

Earlier this month, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olsen released her annual report to Congress. The Advocate expressed continuing concern that the IRS’s increasing use of hard-core enforcement actions, particularly tax liens, is inflicting unnecessary harm on financially struggling taxpayers.

Over the past seven years, the IRS has filed more than five million tax liens. 1.1 million liens were filed in 2009! The impact of these liens is tremendous. The individual tax payer will have their credit negatively impacted, making it harder for them to borrow money to buy a house, car, or fund a child’s education. A tax lien can affect a taxpayer’s employability. Not every company is willing to hire someone who’s had trouble with the IRS.

What To Do About Your IRS Tax Lien

If you have received a notice from the IRS about a potential or impending federal tax lien, don’t panic! There is hope for your situation. Begin by realizing you need to get help right away! Resolving tax problems requires expert, experienced assistance. Don’t try to go it alone!

There are many routes to settling old tax debt and eliminating federal tax liens. Don’t trust anyone who claims to know the solutions to your tax problem before they understand your unique circumstances! Every tax problem is different. You want a qualified tax professional to work with you to discover the best way to resolve your tax issues.

Preparing for Tax Season 2011: What To Do If You Have Outstanding Tax Problems

It’s that time of year again, when newspapers and websites are full of information about what you need to do to get ready for the upcoming tax season.  There’s lots of websites that offer free tax preparation, agencies that coordinate volunteer tax preparers and do-it-yourself guides that promise to reduce even the most complex return into a quick and easy refund check.

It sounds like good advice – but is it good for you?

The answer is a qualified “It depends!”  Many of the resources you’ll find listed in articles like these are great for taxpayers who have simple returns and are current with their tax obligations. However, if you’re currently embroiled in negotiations with the IRS or have tax issues that you haven’t addressed, you need professional assistance.

Finding Help For Your Tax Problems

The best way to help yourself resolve your tax problems is to work with a qualified tax professional.  You have to be honest with these people and let them know the full magnitude of what they’re dealing with.  Don’t withhold information for fear that the tax professional might ‘judge you’ – there’s nothing that they haven’t heard before!

Often times, people think that their tax problem is so unique and one of a kind that nothing could be done to resolve it.  Nothing can be further from the truth! Every tax problem has a solution.  You just need to work with someone who knows how to find it!

This year, the deadline for filing your 2010 federal tax return is April 18th.  That means you have just over one hundred days to get ready to send your return and any payment due to the IRS.  You also have one hundred days to start addressing your outstanding tax issues. Don’t wait until the last minute — there’s nothing harder to find than a tax expert with a free moment on April 15th!  You deserve expert assistance with your tax problems.

Bankrupt Woman Saves Over $37,000 In IRS Audit

Lisa had suffered greatly as a result of personal problems, including both a divorce and a personal bankruptcy. She lost everything she owned – including her home. Fortunately, bankruptcy gave her a fresh start and a new lease on life . . . or so she thought! Just when she thought her troubles were over, the IRS came into her life, claiming she owed over $38,000 due to unreported income. As a result of her previous tax preparer’s mistakes in preparing her return, the IRS was demanding over $38,000 that she did not have and was threatening to levy her bank accounts and wages. She was terrified of what would happen. Our firm negotiated a reduction of over $37,000 in her tax bill by invoking a little known tax law relating to taxpayers discharged in bankruptcy. As a result, Lisa paid only $800 in tax. She was relieved beyond words.