- (202) 756-1125
-
Mon-Fri: 9:00am – 5:00 pm
Mon-Fri: 9:00am – 5:00 pm
Dealing with the IRS can be stressful, especially when they are actively pursuing collection efforts based on your tax debt. A Rockville IRS collection lawyer could help you resolve these controversies without the need for litigation or any meaningful negative impact on your financial health.
If you are facing collection efforts from the IRS, you do not have to construct a plan by yourself. A skilled tax lawyer could help you resolve the issue in a way that satisfies the IRS.
The IRS has different tools at its disposal to collect delinquent tax revenue. They are usually not implemented the moment that a tax becomes overdue, but they can be serious enough to affect your ability to sell a home or receive your full paycheck. A Rockville IRS collection attorney could provide clear guidance on how to respond to these efforts.
One of the first steps the IRS will take during the collection process is the filing of a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. These liens serve as legal claims against the property of the taxpayer. This includes property that was owned both before and after the filing of the lien. The taxpayer is typically unable to sell this property without first resolving their debt to the IRS.
The IRS could also collect the tax that is owed through the use of offsets. This is a possibility when a taxpayer is expecting a refund of some kind but also owes a disputed debt to the IRS. To address the tax controversy, the IRS could offset what is owed by reducing the refund that was intended for the taxpayer.
Levies are another common tool that the government uses. After the IRS serves a Notice of Levy, in rare circumstances they could seize and eventually sell the property of the taxpayer in an effort to satisfy the debt. It is more common to see a levy issued on bank accounts or in the form of wage garnishments.
One of the benefits of working with an IRS collections attorney in Rockville is that they can make an analysis of a taxpayer’s tax profile and determine the best method of complying. The IRS offers a number of options when it comes to resolving tax disputes amicably. Some of these options might not be available for every taxpayer, or they might not be in the taxpayer’s best interest, but they are all important to consider when a dispute arises.
One of the most common ways to resolve a tax controversy and end collection efforts is through an installment agreement. An installment agreement is a plan made by the taxpayer, in consultation with an attorney, to pay back the IRS in a series of installments. While the balance is being paid off, the IRS agrees to suspend any collection efforts like garnishments or levies.
The IRS will, at times, accept something known as an “offer in compromise.” This involves paying an amount less than the full tax debt to fully resolve the dispute. Only about a third of these offers are accepted by the IRS, which is why it is important to speak with a Rockville attorney about whether this collection alternative is viable.
There are other options available that are not as common but can be an important development for someone who needs to get their finances in order. Those options include currently not collectible status, innocent spouse tax relief and collection due process appeals.
It is important to have support when you face IRS collection efforts. Dealing with levies, garnishments, and other collection tools can be overwhelming on your own. The right legal counsel could improve your chances of a favorable outcome. A Rockville IRS collection lawyer could help you address these issues and resolve your conflict, so call right away for a private consultation.
Pontius Tax Law, PLLC is a tax law firm that strives to resolve sensitive tax problems through trust, dedication and value. The law firm was founded by John Pontius with offices in Washington, DC, Rockville, MD, Bethesda, MD, Fairfax, VA, and Alexandria, VA. Mr. Pontius represents individual and business clients with sensitive and serious tax matters before the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. His client base is local, national, and international.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Pontius has represented businesses and individuals with complex tax issues in the following areas: FBAR examinations, offshore and domestic disclosures, FATCA, FIRPTA, tax planning, unfiled tax returns, release of tax liens and levies, trust fund recovery penalty, IRS and state audit examinations, as well as appeals, penalty abatement, U.S. Tax Court litigation, along with defense of tax fraud and evasion. If you require assistance from a tax lawyer, contact Mr. Pontius to discuss your situation.
