Many Las Vegas consumers and business owners are in debt to the Internal Revenue Service. This is often due to personal income loss, plunging business revenues, payroll tax underpayment, retirement account withdrawals and other issues associated with the difficult economic climate.
If you owe the IRS money that you can’t afford to pay, you may be experiencing financial hardship because of wage garnishments or bank levies. You may even be receiving threatening letters. Solutions to your tax problems are available, no matter how bad your situation seems.
At Randolph Law Firm, experienced Las Vegas IRS tax attorney Taylor Randolph has helped people get a handle on worrisome tax debt and get their lives back to normal since 2006. We will take the time to meet with you in person, analyze your finances and develop a strategy designed to improve your situation. Our firm can help you explore potential solutions, which can include special payment plans and strategic bankruptcy filings.
Federal Tax Law gives the government the power to collect taxes from its citizens to help pay for government programs and community improvements. Income tax is taken from both earned and unearned income. Earned income is money that is earned through either employment or self-employment, while unearned income is income that is generated from the sale of a property or other forms of passive income. The tax rate that a taxpayer is obligated to pay will depend on how much money he or she earned. The more money that a taxpayer earns, the higher the tax rate applied to withhold taxes will be. Each taxpayer will fall into a certain tax bracket, and the tax rate for that bracket will be applied to the taxable income.
The money that is collected from taxpayers goes toward funding government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. It also goes to defense and security programs to help keep the United States and all of its citizens safe.
Taxpayer money also pays programs that help low income families who are not getting assistance through the Social Security program. This can include programs such as food stamps, unemployment benefits, and housing programs.
An experienced tax attorney can help you navigate your federal tax debt and find options that fit your financial needs. It can be intimidating to receive notices from the IRS when you are unable to pay your tax debt. However, the IRS does offer options for taxpayers that find they are unable to pay their taxes.
Depending on your circumstances, your options may include:
You will have to be eligible for these options to be approved by the IRS. A bankruptcy filed through the bankruptcy court must also have all required documents and fees to proceed, and the automatic stay be put in place. It is best to make good faith payments while waiting to see if the option you submitted was accepted. Any money paid will be applied towards the final balance owed.
If you are unable to pay your taxes on time or in full, you will be notified of your IRS tax debt as well as any penalties and interest that have been assessed. At this time, you can still contact the IRS and see if a monthly payment plan is an option, or you can pay the amount in full to stop the collection process from proceeding.
If you do not agree with the total amount that has been calculated on your income taxes, then you must notify the IRS immediately. This can be done by calling the number provided on your bill or contacting your local IRS office.
If you do owe the amount stated, or fail to notify the IRS that you disagree with the amount, and it still goes unpaid, the IRS may send any of the following notices to begin to collect the unpaid amount:
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights gives every taxpayer certain rights when dealing with the IRS. Knowing what your rights are will help you pay a fair amount if you are late on your taxes.
All taxpayers have the right to know what the tax laws are to be able to comply with them. Any notices, forms, and correspondence must contain clear language that outlines procedures. Filers have the right to only pay what they owe, including any interest and penalty fees, and have payments be applied correctly.
Filers also have the right to challenge or appeal any decision reached by the IRS regarding their tax payment. This will involve providing additional information through documentation to be reviewed fairly by the IRS. Las Vegas tax attorneys can help you gather any necessary documents and help to explain how the tax appeal process works.
Taxpayers also have the right to know the timeframe for all deadlines for filing proper forms with the IRS, including challenges to any decisions. Knowledge of how many years’ filings may be included in an audit, and being informed when an audit is completed.
Retaining representation is also a right that all taxpayers can utilize to help while dealing with the IRS. An attorney can make sure that all of your rights are being upheld and help navigate dealing with the IRS agents involved.
If you have failed to file your taxes, or filed but were unable to pay, the IRS can determine that you owe back taxes. Once this has been established through a bill from the IRS, the collection process has begun.
The written notice of your tax bill will contain the amount that is owed, as well as how this amount was calculated. This will also include any late penalties as well as interest that is being charged. Interest and penalties will continue to be added to the amount owed until the balance is paid in full. The notice should also include the deadline for paying the full amount owed to the IRS and a contact number if you disagree with any of the information contained in your bill.
If the owed taxes are not paid by the provided deadline, then the enforced collection process will begin, unless an agreement can be reached. In some circumstances, you might also be summoned to tax court to discuss the lack of payment. If this occurs, having a Las Vegas attorney experienced in tax litigation can help you to prepare for court and any tax audits that might also be required.
A federal tax lien is one of the most common ways to collect the amount owed. Tax liens can be placed onto any property that you currently own, and can include future properties as well. A federal lien can also impact your credit score.
The IRS may also enforce collection through asset forfeiture. This can include seizing money in your back accounts, garnishing your wages, and taking retirement assets. Seizure may also include any refunds that you are eligible for through both federal and state income taxes. Asset seizure will continue until either the full amount of the debt, including the interest and late penalties, has been paid, or you have reached an agreement with the IRS to pay back the amount owed.
Debtors may see the IRS as a powerful tyrant that cannot be negotiated with. In reality, the IRS is often willing to make favorable arrangements that settle tax debts, sometimes for much less than what is owed. An experienced tax lawyer at Randolph Law Firm can help you secure such arrangements if you qualify.
We are available. Call us at 702-757-7777 to get connected right now,
or fill out the form below and one of our representatives will contact you shortly.
