How to Get the Best Tax Defense Lawyer?- Read On!
If you owe back taxes or are in the process of appealing your back taxes, then you most likely have been approached by debt collection agencies and other tax departments to settle your debts for a percentage. According to an IRS audit defense lawyer, this is common practice these days when the amount of taxes owing is high and most people are simply unable to pay them. But unfortunately, when tax debt is handled improperly, it can land you in far worse situations, such as criminal prosecution or even lawsuits from the Internal Revenue Service. That’s why it is essential that you retain the services of a qualified tax law attorney to help you get through your problems quickly and legally.
The first thing to do when you receive a visit from a tax collectors or tax attorneys is to ask who they are and what they want. It is important to remember that all tax laws change from year to year so it pays to be vigilant about staying abreast of changes to current tax laws. It is also critical to realize that tax issues are reviewed differently depending on the state where the property in question is located. Be prepared for a visit from a tax law attorney with an updated knowledge of state tax laws so that you can adequately represent yourself.
Once you meet with a tax attorney, be prepared to discuss your tax debt situation. They will most likely have you fill out an application asking for proof that you are unable to pay taxes due to financial hardship. You will then be provided with a list of supporting documents that you will need to support your claims. The purpose of this meeting is not to establish whether you qualify for government assistance, but rather to obtain information that will ultimately help you establish whether you should hire a tax debt attorney to represent you or not.
Liens and interests arise on all kinds of assets – real estate, brokerage accounts, bank accounts, vehicles, automobiles, and more. Among the most common tax lien and interest problems are property taxes, back taxes, government imposed penalties, and delinquent utility bills. In fact, any obligation on a refund that is past due is usually secured by these types of lien and interest payments. Failing to pay taxes and penalties can result in criminal consequences as well as liens and interests being recovered through the collection of taxes and penalties.
If you can’t afford to pay taxes and penalties, or if you believe you may soon become unable to make payment, consider what would happen if you were faced with a tax lien and interest recovery action. You could be faced with jail time, substantial fines, and in some cases, the destruction of your home, car, business, or other property. In addition, the failure to pay taxes can prevent you from obtaining credit or a loan.
Tax debt solutions that rely on interest only payment plans fail to work for many taxpayers because they are not flexible enough to allow them to make adjustments to their financial circumstances. Installment agreements allow taxpayers to work with their tax debts in a manner that allows them to responsibly manage their tax obligations each month. These payment arrangements feature fixed monthly payments that are tied to a particular amount of money that has been agreed upon between the taxpayer and the IRS. The IRS will calculate the taxpayer’s total tax liability based on this amount each month. Taxpayers have the opportunity to add up the total tax liabilities and then make one or more additional payments toward their tax debt. The IRS will then make a determination on the taxpayers’ behalf as to whether or not to approve the proposed installment agreement.