Great article about rip off tax firm, falls into the trap of over generalization that all firms are bad for the bulk of article, but that is the media world we live in, drama sells. It is ironic that the Ad for the Today show on the front page of MSNBC is promoting a firm in the Today Show ad that has a challenging record, while this editorial article is posted the same day….perhaps advertising and editorial departments should chat more often.

Love the mention about the advice from attorney from Maryland about the 10-tax rules, nice re-write of our Tax Relief Do’s and Don’ts , let’s compare blog posting dates, hmmm, but at least he is promoting the truth.

Another reminder about the BBB, make sure the company has been in business for more than one year and with the BBB for at least a year. They bad guys appear to have 12 month business plan, open doors, get BBB rating, promote A rating, get clients, rip them off, get bad BBB rating, shut doors, repeat.

The simple rule is if it sounds too good to be true, it is

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2010/04/april-15-can-be-a-day-of-fear-loathing-or-even-downright-panic-and-that-can-work-to-great-advantage-for-companies-anxiou.html#posts

In the last few days, a number of our client’s have reported that they received phishing emails claiming to be from the IRS, one was a CP 2000 notice and the other was an IRS Refund notice. The IRS doesn’t communicate by email to taxpayers. Never open or click on an email claiming to be from the IRS.

Taxpayer ID: They use your email address or business name here-00000103460456US
Tax Type: INCOME TAX
Issue: Unreported/Underreported Income (Fraud Application)
Please review your tax statement on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website (click on the link below

The IRS has more information on other scams on their website.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html

New IRS procedures. This is a positive step by the IRS to help those taxpayers who in the past couldn’t file an OIC.

IRS has directed IRS employees to consider a taxpayer’s current income and potential for future income when negotiating an offer in compromise. Normally, the standard practice is to judge an offer amount on a taxpayer’s earnings in prior years. This new step provides greater flexibility for the unemployed when filing an OIC. There is one potential catch, the IRS may also require that a taxpayer entering into such an offer in compromise agree to pay more if the taxpayer’s financial situation improves significantly. What, when, and how the improvement will be evaluated will be important to learn before moving ahead with an OIC.

Great article. I applaud her for her tenacity and the amount of time and effort she put forth to ultimately win her battle with the IRS. I do wonder where her tax preparer was during the audit, it is possible tax preparer may not have been experienced enough to representing her in the audit. There is also the question what emotional cost did she pay for her time, effort, and worry during the process.

If she had hired a firm to represent her when she first got the audit letter the story would not have been as compelling to read, but the same outcome could have occurred without the drama.

It is something to consider when hiring a firm to prepare tax returns. Will they or can they help if you ever get audited (random audit, or triggered by claims made by ex-spouse, disgruntled ex-employee)?

I recall in a meeting a few years back, where a CPA (medium sized firm) bragged that none of the clients in all their years had been audited. Two things struck me as he talked: First, I hoped that he would be wise enough to never consider representing one of his clients in audit, given his obvious fear of the IRS and lack of experience. Second, was his firm preparing returns with such fear and for their own goals, that their clients were being short changed in the tax preparation?

http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/108550/nurse-outduels-irs-over-mba-tuition?mod=taxes-advice_strategy

Many employers should be very concerned about how they hire contractors yet treat them as employees. The IRS has specific guidelines on how to classify a contractor verses an employee, some employers may have ignored (or are unaware) the guidelines in hopes that the letter or visit will never come. The audit in the past has been stimulated by a complaint from the contractor after they discover how much they owe in SE taxes. The changes in the tax receipts have changed this from a complaint driven process to a hunter process.
We have represented a number of clients who have been audited in this area. In one case the audit occurred after a contract employee claimed that they should have been classified as an employee. The result of the audit was in favor of our client, the contractor in this case was clearly free to set their own hours, work for other companies, and did advertised their trade to other companies.
This article is a good read.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/top-stocks/blog.aspx?post=1563557&_blg=1,1563557

The IRS in an effort to streamline the OIC process or as some claim to cloud the process further made some small changes to the OIC process.  The doubt to liability option will not be included be on the new form nor we dual OIC’s be accepted.  Nothing earth shattering about the changes, the $150 filing fee and OIC offer amount options still exist.  The offer mill firms, firms who crank out bogus and doomed for rejection OIC’s and charge clients in advance for them may have a few more hurdles to overcome convincing the naïve client to sign with them. 

What is an Offer-In-Compromise?
The Offer-In-Compromise program of the Internal Revenue Service allows a taxpayer who owes federal taxes, penalties, and/or interest to pay only a fraction of the total amount owed. It is designed for taxpayers who either: 1) can not afford to pay the taxes, penalties, and interest owed within a reasonable time, or 2) can afford to pay what is owed within a reasonable time, but believe that they either do not owe what the Internal Revenue Service claims or believe that it would be unfair or inequitable to have to pay the taxes, penalties, and interest in full. (more…)

Do not speak to the collection agents of IRS or State before you know your rights! Also do not sign up with a firm that can’t provide you with a clear plan on how to solve your problem.

It is understandable to be afraid when after receiving Levy notice. But don’t let fear be the driving force in deciding how to help solve the problem. The collection agents of IRS and State love it when the taxpayer who has just received the Levy notice calls, they can hear the fear in their voice and they know the taxpayer will tell them more than they should and agree to terms that are to their detriment. The tax collection agent doesn’t care about your financial problems or the reason why you have them! It is their job to collect from you and get onto the next taxpayer.

At the same time, “fast talking sales people from boiler room firms” will tell the caller what they want to hear as long as the agreement is signed and check has clears the bank and often the tax problem isn’t resolved.

Levies can be released quickly provided the taxpayer is in compliance with tax returns. What information is needed to get the Levy Released is dependent on the amount and type of tax liability. Most taxpayers tax liabilities can placed in an affordable Installment Agreement or in Non-Collectable status as a precursor to filing an Offer-In-Compromise. It is important that the taxpayer understand why a tax solution is being negotiated on their behalf and what is the up and downside of the solution.

A common trick by the “boiler room firms” is to file an Offer-In-Compromise or place a taxpayer in an Installment Agreement knowing the taxpayer will be either default or be rejected because the coming year tax liability. These firms do this in order to charge their client’s more for the same service down the road.

When you call us we will provide you a plan on how we will get the Levy Released and put into motion a plan to resolve your tax liability that is in your best interest that is based upon your unique financial circumstances.