IRS Problems Don’t Just Go Away – Put the Fire Out
The point is that you have to do something. You can't ignore the problem and just go about your business. Your house is on fire and you may not realize it.
The most common “house-fire” we see is that of a self-employed person who hasn't filed tax returns in several years.
When This Person Comes Into the Office, the House Is Already Burning as One or More of The Following Problems Exist:
The IRS has completed certain substitute tax returns that overstate the debt, because several years' returns haven't been filed
The IRS is using these returns to levy the bank account and to file IRS liens.
The IRS has issued levies on vendors and others that may owe the owner money.
The business is weakened or worse, because the owner has lost access to funds in the bank account and lost valuable goodwill with vendors and others
Because the owner waited so long, legal options available are fewer or require making more painful trade-offs
Much of the work needed to try and put the fire out has to be done quickly and without the benefit of necessary information.
These problems all started years before when the owner either didn't withhold enough tax or withheld employee tax and didn't pay it. Instead of making the hard choice to change the business or dump it, he or she sat still and didn't file returns out of fear.
If You Haven't Filed Returns and Are Fearful of What Comes Next so You Aren't Moving on It, You Need to Do Something Now. I Suggest You Do the Following:
Gather your tax records for years you think are un-filed – bank statements, expense documents, etc.
If you have lost your documents – contact your CPA or my office about making a good faith re-creation of the numbers
Gather your current income, budget and asset information
Look closely at your income and budget – become very familiar with both.
Figure out how much tax you should be withholding on a monthly or quarterly basis and start doing it
Some Good New About the Fire:
It is often the case that if the IRS hasn't already filed returns for you, the returns required are limited to the last six year period.
If the IRS has done returns, they are probably incorrect as they don't contain business expenses, deductions etc. and you should be able to create the correct returns and replace the IRS returns. This usually reduces the debt.
Once the Required Returns Are Done, the Fire Can Be Stopped, as Most People Qualify for One or More of The Following Options:
Non-collectible status – which means nothing is paid on the debt while the 10 year clock on collection runs
Settlement of the debt once and for all for less than what is owe
Discharge the debt in bankruptcy
Full pay payment plan
Payment plan that is “partial pay” meaning that the payment isn't large enough to pay the debt off before the statute of limitations clock runs out
Qualify for “innocent spouse” relief