IRS collections Archives

March 12, 2018 By Michael

Hiring a Tax Attorney? Questions to Consider

Previously, we noted that someday you may need to hire a tax attorney. When that day comes, you will want a tax attorney with the skills and experience to help you deal successfully with your specific IRS problem. How will you know if this is the right tax attorney for you? Here are a few questions you can ask.

Does Your Tax Attorney have Proper IRS Credentials?

Is this tax lawyer an IRS Licensed Practitioner? Are they authorized to represent you in IRS tax matters like audits, payment/collection issues, and appeals? Check the official IRS Directory of properly credentialed tax lawyers and other tax professionals in your area.

Also, look for professional societies that your tax lawyer belongs to. Many professional societies, such as the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers, have rigorous ethical standards and ongoing educational requirements for their tax lawyers.

How Much Experience does Your Tax Attorney Have?

How many years has this tax lawyer been in practice? What kind of experience do they have dealing with YOUR specific tax problem? How successfully has this tax lawyer represented clients with income tax problems like yours?

Does Your Tax Attorney Concentrate on Tax Law?

Professional focus should be a major consideration in selecting a tax lawyer. There is a difference between a Tax Attorney, and a lawyer who does tax law in addition to family law, real estate law, etc. Whatever your IRS tax problem, hire a lawyer who:

Works in income tax law consistently
Negotiates with the IRS on a regular basis, and
Has a firm command of the tax code, tax law changes, loopholes, and legal tools and remedies.

Contact a Tax Attorney at IRS Away Today

IRS Away is here to answer questions like these, and others. We have the credentials, the experience, and the track record of success to handle IRS tax problems like yours, AND give you peace of mind! If you live in or around Columbia SC and are experiencing income tax problems, help is nearby. Contact tax lawyer Joseph M. Arndt III at (803) 771-4037 for a free consultation.

November 16, 2015 By Tax Attorney

How Do I Get a Levy Released?

IRS Tax Levy

Contact the IRS immediately to resolve your tax liability and request a tax levy release. The IRS can also release a levy if it determines that the levy is causing an immediate economic hardship. If the IRS denies your request to release the levy, you may appeal this decision. You may appeal before or after the IRS places a levy on your wages, bank account, or other property. After the levy proceeds have been sent to the IRS, you may file a claim to have them returned to you. You may also appeal the denial by the IRS of your request to have levied property returned to you. For a full explanation of your appeal rights, see Publication 1660, Collection Appeal Rights (PDF).

The IRS is required to release a levy if it determines that:

You paid the amount you owe,
The period for collection ended prior to the levy being issued,
Releasing the levy will help you pay your taxes,
You enter into an Installment Agreement and the terms of the agreement don’t allow for the levy to continue,
The levy creates an economic hardship, meaning the IRS has determined the levy prevents you from meeting basic, reasonable living expenses, or
The value of the property is more than the amount owed and releasing the levy will not hinder our ability to collect the amount owed.

Please note: The release of a levy does not mean you don’t have to pay the balance due. You must still make arrangements with the IRS to resolve your tax debt or a levy may be reissued.

Contact Us for help with tax levy release requests, to resolve your tax debt, or to assist you in making arrangements with the IRS.

March 30, 2015 By Tax Attorney

Non-Filer Tax Investigation

Owner of Landscaping Business Sentenced for Diverting Over $2 Million of Business Receipts

On March 12, 2015, in Camden, New Jersey, Nicholas Lepore, of Deptford, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. Lepore previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Lepore owned and operated Down to Earth Landscaping and Irrigation, Inc. (Down to Earth), which provided landscaping and irrigation services to commercial and residential customers. Down to Earth was a subchapter S corporation and as the owner, Lepore was required to report the flow through income and losses from Down to Earth on his personal tax returns. Lepore routinely cashed customer checks at local check cashing businesses to disguise the amount of income received by Down to Earth. Customer checks totaling $2,148,862 were deposited in years 2007 through 2010. Additionally, Lepore failed to file tax returns for the years 2007 through 2010 and thus, did not include any of the customer checks as income.

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