OUR PROMISE
At Leverage Tax Services, we understand that each tax situation is unique. In resolving your tax issue, we understand that a one-size-fits-all program is not an option. We will inform our clients of the best possible program for their needs. We are highly ethical, and our goal is to protect our clients from the non-scrupulous.
Levy or Garnishment Release
A bank levy and/or wage garnishment can cause an inability to pay your rent or mortgage, cause payments to be returned to creditors as non-sufficient funds, or cause other severe hardships. These types of seizures can jeopardize your job or future work with customers. A single person can be left with as little as $179.00 per week as a W-2 employee, and an independent contractor can be left with zero.
Levies are time sensitive, and it is imperative that immediate action is taken to attempt to release the levy. While, we can never guarantee a levy release, our experienced tax defense attorneys have released thousands of levies. Frequently, these levies can be released in as little as 24 hours. Call us for immediate action.
Installment Agreement
If you are unable to pay your IRS tax debt in full, but do have an ability to pay, the IRS has many options. For example, if you owe less than $50,000.00, you may be eligible for a six-year payment plan. This program is often referred to as a Fresh Start. Entering a payment plan that will full pay the balance due within 72 months typically does not require the filing of federal tax liens. However, in some cases, the liens have already been filed. See Federal Tax Liens for additional information.
When you owe over $50,000.00, the options for repayment become limited. When a balance exceeds $50,000.00, the IRS typically wants your entire disposable income. Disposable income is the household income that is remaining each month after you pay your bills.
Our tax professionals specialize in determining the program that best fits your situation. Call us today, so our highly skilled tax professionals can negotiate a payment that you can afford.
Partial-Payment Installment Agreements
Many taxpayers are not in a hardship, but also cannot afford the 72-month repayment plan discussed in the Installment Agreement section. The IRS has a program that allows taxpayers to pay an amount less than the 72-month repayment amount. This option is based on an ability to pay. Disclosure of financial information is usually required. As the name implies, many taxpayers will only pay part of their tax debt before the collection statutes expire.
If you feel you cannot afford to pay the IRS in full, give our tax attorneys a call, so we can find a program that fits your needs.
Tax Settlements
Also known as an Offer in Compromise, this program allows a taxpayer to offer to settle with the IRS for less than the total amount due. Usually, the IRS will accept an offer that represents the most the IRS can possibly expect to collect from the taxpayer on the balance due. The taxpayer’s financial is highly scrutinized. The offer amount is based on disposable and available assets.
The Offer in Compromise is not for everyone. Call our tax defense attorneys today to find out if the Offer is the best option for your situation.
State Tax Services
Our experienced tax attorneys work with every state agency in the United States. We specialize in both individual and business tax liabilities. Many states are limited in the repayment options that they can offer to taxpayers. States are usually required to file tax liens if the balance is not paid in full within a short period of time.
In addition, state agencies can be much more aggressive with their collection efforts. For example, some states will send out bank levies every 45 days, some states will garnish employee wages up to 100 percent, and some will close down a business for failure to remain current with required tax deposits or payments. Often states assign the tax debt to third-party collectors.
Our tax debt attorneys have been working with state agencies and third-party collectors for years and have successfully assisted both businesses and individuals with state tax debt.
Tax Preparation, including Amending Prior Returns
Common causes of IRS liability include non-filed returns and incorrectly filed returns. When a return is not filed, the IRS will often prepare it for the taxpayer without considering dependents, filing status, deductions, etc. These IRS-filed returns, referred to as Substitute for Returns, many times, result in an inflated tax liability. Should Substitute for Returns exist, reconsideration returns can be prepared, and the balance may be lowered.
Tax preparation can be difficult. Often, an amended return is needed to correct a previously filed return. Amended returns are prepared for various reasons. For example, income could be missing, a change in filing status may be necessary or desirable, a dependent may need to be added or removed, a schedule may be missing or various other reasons.
We have experienced tax preparers standing by to complete missing returns, reconsideration returns and amended returns. Call today.
Revenue Officer Defense
Revenue Officers are field collectors for the IRS. Revenue Officers aggressively attempt to collect the balance due in the shortest time possible. These agents required complete financials (reported on Form 433A and/or 433B) and complete compliance. Revenue Officers operate under strict deadlines and proceed with collection action immediately when deadlines are missed.
Our experienced tax defense attorneys work with Revenue Officers every day to ensure that the Revenue Officers follow proper collection protocol and negotiate the best possible outcome for the taxpayer.
Innocent Spouse Relief
Do you owe money to the IRS through no fault of your own? In the age of computers and electronic filing, many people find that they owe the IRS because their husband or wife filed a return that either had a balance due, had under-reported income, or had expenses that were overstated, but none of these items were discussed or disclosed to the spouse who was uninvolved in the filing of the return.
Our team of tax professionals has successfully achieved innocent spouse relief for our clients in numerous cases. We are knowledgeable with innocent spouse, equitable relief and separation of liability. Do you believe you are an innocent spouse? Call us today for a free consultation.
Hardship Negotiation
Often, our clients are unable to pay their past-due IRS tax liability. However, until the account is resolved, the IRS can pursue wage garnishments, bank levies and other forms of asset seizure. Many people qualify for a hardship status with the IRS. This means that the taxpayer is relieved from making payments to the IRS during the period of hardship.
Our tax attorneys negotiate hardship statuses for our clients every day. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t pay your tax liability, our tax attorneys can help. Call today to see if we can provide you with tax debt relief.
Federal Tax Lien Withdrawal
Federal Tax Liens can harm your credit, which can make it difficult to buy a car, rent an apartment, buy a home, and can affect your ability to pass an employment background check. While, liens are not easily removed or withdrawn, it is possible in certain cases. A lien withdrawal can be requested once your balance is below $25,000.00, if certain criteria are met. The IRS will also consider a lien withdrawal if the lien was not filed in accordance with IRS procedures, if a withdrawal will make possible the collection of tax, or if the withdrawal is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the IRS.
There are also options to assist with the sale of a home while a tax lien is present. If tax liens are affecting you, call us today for a free consultation.
Payroll Tax
Businesses often find themselves owing payroll taxes. Failure to make payroll tax payments can cause a small balance to escalate quickly into a balance that is unmanageable. Balances that exceed $25,000.00 are frequently assigned to a Revenue Officer (see below), which results in aggressive collection action.
Payroll taxes are called trust fund taxes. Employers collect withholdings from their employees and hold the money in trust until it is sent in to the IRS and/or state agency. The failure to send these taxes in to the applicable agency is viewed as a form of theft and can result in, not only aggressive collection efforts, but also 100% penalties (see Trust Fund Recover Penalties).
Our tax attorneys are highly skilled in working with businesses to resolve payroll tax liabilities, which often involve negotiating with Revenue Officers and the management of Trust Fund Recovery Penalties.
Trust Fund Recovery Penalties (100% penalty)
When a business owner owes past due payroll taxes, there is a high probability that Trust Fund Recovery Penalties will be assessed to the person or people responsible for making payroll tax payments. These are civil penalties and the liability is placed on the social security number for the responsible party or parties. The penalties can equal 100% of the assessed tax and can be assessed to multiple people at the same time. Should the client have the ability to pay the total payroll tax balance within a specified number of months, the 100% penalty may not be assessed.