SAN DIEGO, Feb. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IRS Tax Relief Associates, a tax relief service firm, summarizes the stages in the IRS collection process as follows:
• An assessment of taxes due is generated when the return is filed (or no return is filed);
• A notice and demand is mailed to the taxpayer, and when the demand for payment is not satisfied, the IRS sends the balance due account to a revenue officer in the field;
• The revenue officer pursues administrative levies, seizures, or judicial collection remedies to collect the deficiency from the taxpayer.
In other words, the IRS collection stages are as follows: We figured out what you owe us (the assessment), we told you to pony up the amounts owed (the notice and demand), and you brushed us off (the failure to pay). Really, it’s about that simple, but if the IRS spoke in plain English like that, then there’d be no need for geeks like us to explain the technical jargon. If you need back tax help and you’re interested, here’s a more detailed analysis of what to expect from the IRS.
1) Assessment of Taxes Due. The first step in the IRS collection process is an assessment of taxes due. That just means the IRS figures out on paper what the taxpayer owes the government.
2) Notice and Demand. Once an assessment has been made, the IRS must send a notice and demand to the taxpayer within 60 days. The notice and demand can be thought of as a bill from the IRS for taxes assessed. The notice is mailed to the taxpayer, with a separate notice mailed to the taxpayer’s spouse if the taxpayer is married. For the IRS, the notice and demand marks the commencement of its collection efforts against the taxpayer. For the taxpayer, it marks the time to get serious about resolving the tax debt, whether it be through professional assistance or self-help.
The IRS may begin to collect assessed taxes as soon as 10 days after notice and demand is served on the taxpayer. In practice though, the notice and demand typically is followed by two or three billing notices from the IRS, but it’s at about this point that the IRS pulls out its heavy artillery –first, in the form of a tax lien.
3) Liens and Levies. Every week we assist our clients with the IRS levy release process. To stop the IRS from seizing your property, bank accounts, and/or garnish your wages, we must assume power of attorney over your dealings with the IRS. We will provide you with an IRS Form 2848 for you to sign. We will assign an agent to your case. He/she will also sign the Form 2848 and then fax it to the IRS. The attorney's next step will be to make contact with the IRS and negotiate with them to stop the levying process. The IRS will usually require that all past income tax returns be filed before they agree to stop the levy or wage garnishment. If you need to file taxes, we can have a highly experienced accountant prepare your tax returns. Once the IRS receives the tax return, the attorney assigned to your will arrange to stop the levying process by negotiating with the IRS agent or Revenue Officer. The result will usually be that you will either be placed on temporary un-collectible status or will agree to an affordable and often temporary pay-plan.
If you have a tax lien, we can negotiate to have it removed within thirty days of the IRS accepting the tax resolution documents. Once you have hired us and have provided us with the appropriate information, we will do the work necessary to complete the resolution documents on your behalf.
There are times when we can negotiate to have the IRS lien (this is usually for situations where you want to refinance your home or another piece of property). Each case is unique and requires a great deal of attention. Contact us for a free evaluation of your tax situation.
Author: Joshua Van Horn
Organization: Tax Relief Associates, LLC
Address: 4231 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92117
Phone: 1-833-827-2728
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b7f7930d-806f-4a91-8d07-9a27dc41cdf7