The IRS recently announced that it will be launching a system to allow “tax professionals” to apply online for tax payment agreements or tax installment agreements for their clients. IRS Online Pro’s & Cons While this is a step in the right direction, it does present yet another opportunity to consider whether the IRS should…
Category: IRS Debts
IRS Debts
Tax debts owed to the IRS, including unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest. Give us a call to see how we can help, (713) 909-4906.
Deposits vs. Payments: How to Pay the IRS
Paying taxes is an essential part of being a responsible citizen. The IRS has specific rules and procedures for taxpayers to follow when submitting their tax payments. However, many taxpayers may not be aware that there is a difference between making a payment and a deposit when paying the IRS. The two are not the…
New Offer in Compromise Legislation
As discussed in a previous post, Congress has been toying with making changes to the IRS offer-in-compromise program. These changes were eventually included in the “Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act,” which President Bush signed into law on May 17, 2006. The new rules apply to offers in compromise filed 60 days after the date…
Prisoner Entitled to Convenient CDP Hearing
There are quite a few rights taxpayers have, that are disregarded by the IRS, and there is no remedy when it happens. As noted in Butti v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2008-82, the IRS collection due process hearing can be one of those circumstances. The case involves a collection due process hearing, which is a legal…
Can the IRS Re-Assess Tax to Fix Its Own Error?
When a taxpayer makes an error on their tax return or fails to make timely payments to the IRS, it can result in additional tax, penalties, and even interest owed. This can be the case even if the taxpayer is just one day late or if the applicable tax laws are unclear or highly complex.…
Can the IRS be Efficient and Effective at the Same Time?
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is responsible for assessing and collecting taxes, enforcing tax laws, and helping taxpayers comply with our laws. There are a number of varying policies and circumstances that the IRS has to get involved in while administering the tax system. This can put the IRS in odd positions. There can be…
Tax Aspect of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection Act
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (“BAPCPA”) was enacted by Congress to address the perceived bankruptcy abuses. The law made significant changes to the bankruptcy code, including new eligibility requirements, mandatory credit counseling, and the creation of the means test. While BAPCPA was primarily aimed at addressing bankruptcy-related issues, it also had significant…
Audit Reveals Deficiencies in IRS CDP Hearing Procedures
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”) recently released a report on the IRS Office of Appeals program for its Collection Due Process (“CDP”) hearings. CDP hearings are an administrative procedure that allows taxpayers to appeal the filing of a lien or a notice of intent to levy by the IRS. The government audit…
IRS Can Force Business to Shut Down
There is something about the human condition where we expect reason to prevail. We expect that if given the opportunity to explain, reasonable parties who take contrary positions will agree. This is not always the case, and it is often not the case when it comes to the IRS. For example, many businesses that owe…
IRS Cannot Reject Payment Plan That is Too High
In the context of tax debt, the IRS offers taxpayers the option of submitting installment agreement requests to pay off their debts over time. However, the IRS also calculates a taxpayer’s “reasonable collection potential” to determine the amount that the taxpayer can reasonably pay toward their tax debt. If the IRS determines that the proposed…