10 Ways to Settle Your IRS Tax Debts For Less Than What You Owe

February 23, 2020Blog

10 Ways to Settle Your IRS Tax Debt

Do you Find dealing with the IRS frustrating, Intimidating and Time-consuming? You’re not alone.

While taxpayers may always represent themselves in front of the IRS, many turn to professional tax help (specialized IRS Tax attorneys, CPAs, and Certified Tax Resolution Specialists) in order to maximize their chances of winning a tax settlement while minimizing their contact with the IRS agents. Owing to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) money is intimidating to most people. The IRS has the power to garnish your wages, seize your assets and place a lien on your property in order to obtain the money that you owe them. However, these actions can be prevented by communicating promptly with the IRS about your situation. The IRS is usually willing to work with taxpayers, and there are several options available so that you may resolve your debt issues.

As a creditor, the Internal Revenue Service carries the weight of the federal government behind it. In addition to having extensive methods to collect on the outstanding tax debt, the IRS also can be extremely patient. As long as the IRS knows it is going to get paid someday, it can wait until you are in a better financial position to pay. Of course, the longer you take to pay your tax debt, the more you will owe.

1. Installment Agreement:

A monthly payment plan for paying off the IRS. If you think you are a victim of a fraudulent investment scheme (“Ponzi” Scheme), where you have lost all or most of your investment, you may be eligible to take advantage the United States Tax Code (law) to recoup 30% to 40% of your losses. This highly technical and complex process can help you reduce taxes paid in previous years resulting in refund with interest.

2. Partial payment installment agreement:

A fairly new debt management program where you have a long term payment plan to pay off the IRS at a reduced dollar amount. Much like a monthly credit card payment, IRS payment plans allow you to pay off your unpaid back taxes in installments instead of all at once. A well-qualified tax debt attorney or Certified Tax Resolution Specialist will negotiate the lowest possible monthly payment for your needs.

3. Offer in Compromise:

A program where you can settle your tax debts for less than what you owe. Requires making a lump sum or short term payment plan to pay off the IRS at a reduced dollar amount. If you owe the IRS more than you can afford to pay, this could be the plan for you. Essentially, an Offer in Compromise gives you the opportunity to pay a small amount as full and final payment. If you qualify for the Offer in Compromise program, you can save thousands of dollars in taxes, penalties, and interest.

4. Not currently collectible:

A program where the IRS voluntarily agrees not to collect on the tax debt for a year or so. Currently Not Collectible means that a taxpayer has no ability to pay his or her tax debts. The IRS can declare a taxpayer “currently not collectible,” after the IRS receives evidence that a taxpayer has no ability to pay. This is a useful tool because you can file for a collection appeal to stop an IRS levy, lien, seizure or the denial or termination of an installment agreement. The collection appeal gives you the opportunity to explain how you think the situation could be solved without the IRS levy or seizure.

5. Lower Your Debt With Credit Card Debt Settlement:

There are two methods of credit card debt consolidation: through a credit card debt settlement company or on your own. Credit card debt settlement companies should be avoided. They collect your payments for months before making a settlement offer – if they make an offer at all. Meanwhile, you continue receiving collection calls and negative payment marks on your credit report. You’ll get better and faster results settling debts on your own. Final credit card debt settlement agreements should be in writing. Either draft an agreement of your own or have your credit card company send you an agreement. Make sure you and someone from your credit card company have both signed the agreement before you send payment.

6. File bankruptcy:

Income tax debts may be eligible for discharge under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. Filing for bankruptcy is one of five ways to Tax Debt Relief, but you should consider bankruptcy only if you meet the requirements for discharging your taxes. Chapter 7 provides for a full discharge of allowable debts. Chapter 13 provides a payment plan to repay some debts, with the remainder of debts discharged

There’s no “secret sauce” in paying off tax debts. These are the only five ways of getting out from under the IRS’ aggressive debt collection tactics. If a tax pro promises you that you can save “pennies on the dollar” through an offer in compromise, that person is probably more interested in selling you something you don’t need instead of focusing on your unique financial situation and determining what the best course of action is for you.

7. Release Wage Garnishments.

When you owe Uncle Sam money, the IRS can levy your wages, salary, or federal payments until the levy is released, your tax debt has been fully paid off, or the time expires for legally collecting the tax. There’s room here to bargain for a release or modification to the garnishment if you don’t have enough money to survive with the levy.

8. Stop the IRS from Levying Your Bank Account.

The IRS can issue a bank levy to take your cash in savings and checking accounts to collect back taxes. When the IRS levies a bank account, the bank is required to remove whatever amount is available in your account that day (up to the amount of the IRS levy ) and send it to the IRS in 21 days unless notified otherwise by the IRS. Part of the process of resolving your IRS debt is to obtain a release of the levy from the IRS.

9. Innocent Spouse Relief.

If you happen to inherit your spouse’s IRS tax problems, you have an escape route. If you can prove that your circumstances fit within the IRS guidelines for innocent spouse tax relief, you may not be subject to the taxes caused by your spouse or ex-spouse.

10. Pay Attention to the Expiration of the Statute of Limitations.

The IRS has 10 years from the date of an assessment (usually close to the filing date) to collect all taxes, penalties, and interest from you. An expert tax attorney, tax CPA or tax resolution specialist can help resolve your back taxes and IRS problems by just by advising and strategizing with you to wait out the 10-year expiration date.

This is a useful tool because you can file for a collection appeal to stop an IRS levy, lien, seizure or the denial or termination of an installment agreement. The collection appeal gives you the opportunity to explain how you think the situation could be solved without the IRS levy or seizure.