Tax Collection Issues

Why IRS Doesn’t Negotiate Payroll Tax Debt – EVER

IRS, Payroll Taxes, Tax Collection Issues

Business owners with payroll tax debt often ask me why the IRS won’t lift its levy or lien. After all, these clients argue, I just need a bit of free cash to invest back into my business, to make the money to pay what I owe. If the IRS cripples my business with liens or levies, then I can’t make the money to repay them. So, why doesn’t the IRS act more like my business partner, let me continue to operate, and make the money to pay them back Read more »

Hard Truths for Debtors Who Procrastinate

Bankruptcy Procedure, Lawyering, Life Lessons, Pre-Bankruptcy Planning, Tax Collection Issues

Since the fall, I have seen a big uptick in desperate people calling me for tax or bankruptcy help. What kind of desperation? These people have been either on the IRS’s radar, or been having debt problems, for many years and then the crisis hits: the IRS puts a lien on a house, or a creditor gets a default judgment and the sheriff Read more »

IRS’ Right to Take Your Passport

IRS, Tax Collection Issues, Taxes

Congress granted the IRS the power to revoke passports in December 2015. Under this law, if you owe more than $51,000 to the IRS, then you could lose your passport. This program does not inspire confidence: here Read more »

The IRS Can (Almost) NEVER Waive Interest on Late Taxes

IRS, Tax Collection Issues, Taxes

A business-owner client recently claimed an R&D tax credit available to him. The IRS denied his use of the credit, he hired me, we went to Tax Court and ultimately Read more »

Tales From the Tax Troll Trenches: IRS Says Don’t Use US Mail

Tales from the Tax Troll Trenches, Tax Collection Issues, Taxes

As readers of my Newsletter and Blog know, dealing with the IRS daily means I uncover unreasonable policies and bizarre agents at the IRS on a regular basis (and don’t Read more »

Installment Agreement for Tax Debt: Much Harder To Set Up with California’s FTB than the IRS

Tax Collection Issues, Taxes

My website outlines the many ways in which the California tax agencies (Franchise Tax Board, CA Department of Tax & Fee Administration, Employment Development Division) are FAR harder to deal with, and aggressive Read more »

Problems with the IRS? Who are you gonna call?

Audits, IRS, Tax Collection Issues, Tax Litigation, Tax Resolution Services, Taxes

Katie Clunen is a terrific family law attorney in Westlake Village. Tax issues often arise when couples divorce, so Katie and I often need to speak. In this short Vlog, Read more »

The IRS and its Notice of Federal Tax Lien

Tax Collection Issues

When a taxpayer doesn’t pay income taxes, the IRS automatically gets a lien against the taxpayer’s property. That means that legally, the taxpayer can’t sell anything without using the proceeds to pay the IRS. The IRS almost never enforces this “silent lien,” however. It’s silent because no one else knows about it. Read more »

Can You Negotiate Away An IRS Tax Lien?

Tax Collection Issues, Taxes

A tax lien is a relatively passive way for the IRS or California’s Franchise Tax Board to get paid the back taxes you owe. Why passive? Because it can take a long time for the IRS or FTB to get paid. Suppose there’s a lot of equity in your house and owe you the IRS: when the IRS files a notice of tax lien against your house, nothing changes immediately. Read more »

Getting Rid of Tax Debt with Bankruptcy Can Take Time – Lots of It

Bankruptcy Procedure, Pre-Bankruptcy Planning, Tax Collection Issues, Taxes

Clients often arrive in my office, panicking, with big problems such as unpaid student loans, huge tax or business debts, and creditors filing liens. They want their problems to go away immediately – rightly so because the stress is terrible. But, for many clients, the only effective strategy is one that will take time. Often lots of it. Read more »

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