IRS Federal Tax Lien

IRS Problem Solvers: Solutions To Tax problems by Mike Habib EA

October 14, 2010 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS Problem Solvers is who you need If you have tax problems, we can help. Millions of American taxpayers are stressed by their tax problems because it’s hard to address it with the IRS on their own. Our firm specializes in tax problem resolution, we represent taxpayers with unpaid back taxes, unfiled tax returns, and we represent the audited taxpayer before all administrative levels of the IRS. Mike Habib is an expert IRS problem solver.

Tax problems are usually complex matters and should be handled by a specialized tax firm, the principal of our firm, Mike Habib is an IRS problem solver, he provides solutions to tax problems and will explain your options and protect your rights. Most taxpayers ignore their tax problems by doing nothing assuming that it will go away by itself, not knowing that the only sure thing about tax problems is that they do not go away!

When do you need an expert IRS problem solver? If you owe back taxes, or have unfiled tax returns, the IRS will send you notices that are hard to understand, but they are serious! I consider the IRS the largest and most aggressive collection agency in the world! You do not want to ignore them anymore, as there are many options to resolve your tax matters and get peace of mind. You should also be informed that the IRS can garnish your wages, levy your bank account, levy your pensions, your savings, your property and even your social security checks.

Tax Relief – Get tax debt relief today

June 19, 2010 | Mike Habib, EA

Tax Relief – Get tax debt relief today

Reasonable Cause/Good Faith Defense: Even if the taxpayer did not have substantial authority for a position and failed to make adequate disclosure, the substantial understatement penalty does not apply if the taxpayer had reasonable cause for the tax underpayment and acted in good faith [IRC Sec. 6664(c); Reg. 1.6664-4]. This defense is applied on a “facts and circumstances” basis [Reg. 1.6664-4(b)]. However, the key factor seems to be whether the taxpayer made a reasonably energetic attempt to determine the correct tax liability. For example, an honest misunderstanding of fact or law, an isolated computational error, reliance on professional tax advice, or reliance on information returns all indicate reasonable cause/good faith. However, if the taxpayer should have known better, the defense will not apply.

Observation: According to IRM 20.1.5.6, the most important factor in determining whether the taxpayer has reasonable cause and acted in good faith is the extent of the taxpayer’s effort to report the proper tax liability. For example, reliance on erroneous information reported on an information return indicates reasonable cause and good faith, provided the taxpayer did not know or have reason to know that the information was incorrect. Similarly, an isolated computational or transcription error may indicate reasonable cause and good faith. Other factors to consider are the taxpayer’s experience, knowledge, sophistication, education, mental and physical condition, and reliance on the advice of a tax advisor.

IRS Tax Lien

May 7, 2010 | Mike Habib, EA

Tax Lien – How to handle an IRS federal tax Lien

A tax lien is a civil action filed in court of the county where a person resides or a business operates by a government agency particularly the Internal Revenue Service. IRS is seeking a legal claim – attachment against that person’s or business’ property or money owing to taxes. In normal situation, once the claim is proved, the court will then make an order of attachment or lien against the said property or money and published on public records. But in the case of the IRS, because of its federal power and the quasi-judicial status, it need not go to court for this process and issues directly a tax lien on the tax payer’s property. This means that it announces to the world that you owe the IRS taxes for which the property is being secured. The property that maybe subject of the tax lien can either be real which is most preferred, or personal. Once there is a tax lien on record, it becomes difficult or impossible for a taxpayer to dispose of the same and it will likewise affect the taxpayer’s credit standing. For example, the taxpayer cannot sell a parcel of land or a car subject of the tax lien nor can the taxpayer secure a financing to purchase a parcel of land or a car for that matter, unless of course, you satisfy the tax lien or until final payment is made on your liabilities or in short, the tax lien is released, discharged, withdrawn or removed.

Tax Liens are effective for a period of ten years and are generally self-releasing after that period unless refiled by the IRS in which case, it shall be effective for another 10 years. The government’s tax lien on a taxpayer’s property is priority over his other creditors and thus, the government is first on the list of creditors to be satisfied in the case of attachment and liquidation.

IRS Tax Lien, How to release federal tax liens and levies

December 21, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS Tax Lien – How to release federal tax liens and levies

Taxpayers have the right to appeal the IRS’ filing of a notice of a tax lien in the public record and petition for release. If filed in error, the IRS must release the lien and state that the lien was erroneous. The request for tax relief must be based on one of the following grounds: (1) the tax liability had been satisfied before the lien was filed; (2) the assessing of the tax liability violated either the notice of deficiency procedures or the Bankruptcy Code; or (3) the limitations period for collecting the liability had expired prior to the filing of the lien.

The IRS may withdraw a tax lien before payment in full if:

IRS enforcement figures

December 17, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Table 16. Delinquent Collection Activities, Fiscal Years 2005-2008

[Money amounts are in thousands of dollars.]

Activity

2005

2006

2007

2008

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Returns filed with additional tax due:

Total amount collected [1]

[r] 27,615,348

[r] 29,172,915

[r] 31,952,399

28,465,648

Taxpayer delinquent accounts (thousands):

Number in beginning inventory

5,981

6,478

7,074

8,240

Number of new accounts

5,870

6,100

7,146

7,099

Number of accounts closed

5,373

5,504

5,980

6,107

Ending inventory:

Number

6,478

7,074

8,240

9,232

Balance of assessed tax, penalties, and interest [2]

57,594,901

69,555,590

83,488,988

94,357,717

Returns not filed timely:

Delinquent return activity:

Net amount assessed [3]

22,765,462

23,305,535

30,287,802

24,888,918

Amount collected with delinquent returns

3,584,255

3,905,764

3,968,163

3,773,528

Taxpayer delinquency investigations (thousands) [4]:

Number in beginning inventory

3,022

3,658

3,874

3,732

Number of new investigations

2,558

2,373

2,587

1,972

Number of investigations closed

1,922

2,157

2,729

2,271

Number in ending inventory

3,658

3,874

3,732

3,433

Offers in compromise (thousands) [5]:

Number of offers received

74

59

46

44

Number of offers accepted

19

15

12

11

Amount of offers accepted

325,640

283,746

228,975

200,103

Enforcement activity:

Number of notices of Federal tax liens filed

522,887

629,813

683,659

768,168

Number of notices of levy served on third parties

2,743,577

3,742,276

3,757,190

2,631,038

Number of seizures

512

590

676

610

[r]–Revised.

[1] Includes previously unpaid taxes on returns filed plus assessed and accrued penalties and interest. For Fiscal Year 2008, includes a total of $37,254,116 (dollars) collected by private debt collection agencies.

[2] Includes assessed penalties and interest but excludes any accrued penalties and interest. Assessed penalties and interest—usually determined simultaneously with the unpaid balance of tax—are computed on the unpaid balance of tax from the due date of the return to the date of assessment. Penalties and interest continue to accrue (accrued penalties and interest) after the date of assessment until the taxpayer’s balance is paid in full.

[3] Net assessment of tax, penalty, and interest amounts (less prepaid credits, withholding, and estimated tax payments) on delinquent tax returns secured by Collection activity.

[4] A delinquency investigation is opened when a taxpayer does not respond to an IRS notice of a delinquent return.

[5] An offer in compromise (OIC) is a binding agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. An OIC will not be accepted if the IRS believes the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment agreement.

NOTES: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. All amounts are in current dollars.

SOURCE: Small Business/Self-Employed, Collection Planning and Analysis, Collection National Reports SE:S:C:PA:CNR

Release your federal tax lien

February 9, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS Speeds Lien Relief for Homeowners Trying to Refinance, or Sell their house

Contact Mike Habib, EA to release your IRS Federal Tax lien

The Internal Revenue Service announced an expedited process that will make it easier for financially distressed homeowners to avoid having a federal tax lien block refinancing of mortgages or the sale of a home.