Paying taxes is a funny thing. It is something that no one likes to do, but at the same time, no one really likes being labeled as a tax evader. If you are worried about becoming the very thing you hate, there are some things you can do once you start to receive letters from the IRS. Remember, the more indifference and the more anger you show, the less likely you will be able to get the aid you must. Here are a few commonsense tips for any would-be IRS tax evaders out there.
Be Nice
As silly as it may sound, simply being nice can go a long way when it comes to getting a handle on your tax load. Simply saying please and thank you isn’t going to wipe away what you owe, but it will keep all of your options open, including some options that may not be existing to everyone else. Let’s face it, getting audited and ending up with a huge tax bill is a terrible thing, but being rude and disrespectful on the phone and through connection is only going to make things worse.
Act Fast
In the same vein, you want to act fast as soon as you get contacted by the IRS. You can’t imagine the IRS to cut you a treaty if you be aware of of] three months of mailings and phone calls, to only then talk to them and beg for forgiveness. Find out what these mailings mean in plain language and find out what all of your options are. Talking to the IRS about your problems is never easy and it can even be downright awkward, but if you want to resolve things, this is the way to go. IRS tax evaders often have too big of an attitude problem when it comes to their tax bill and that only makes things worse.
Compromise
When you hear the words “IRS” and “compromise” in the same sentence, it often catches people off guard. Yes, think it or not, the IRS is more than agreable to compromise when it comes to the total amount of debt you owe. Think of this new bargaining style as being similar to what most recognition card companies do. They realize that getting some money is better than getting nothing and if they are disposed to compromise, there is a well again chance that they will get more, not less, of their total debt.
Lump Sums
One final bargaining chip that IRS tax evaders have going for them is the ability to pay a single lump sum payment that is a sure percentage of their total debt. This is, obviously, the most desirable outcome for the IRS and it can be the top ddoable one for you, too, since it immediately puts this whole sordid rxperience to rest. Depending on how charitable the IRS is feeling, you can guess to pay anywhere between 65-90 percent of your total debt. Maybe, if you’re nice, you’ll get an even superior transaction.
Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for over a decade. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.