check out our TAX COLLECTIONS & RESOLUTION
Unpaid balances, liens, levies — and the right way out.
The IRS collection process has its own rules and its own timelines. We help clients understand the options, pick the right one, and execute it — from installment agreements to offers in compromise to Collection Due Process hearings.
WHAT WE DO
Not every balance is the same problem.
A levy on a paycheck, a lien filed against a business, an old return that never got filed, a partner who skipped trust fund deposits — these look like one problem from a distance, but each has a different procedural path. We start by mapping yours.
The right resolution depends on facts the IRS already has and facts we will have to develop: income, expenses, assets, the source of the liability, the years involved, and what is enforceable today. We do not promise outcomes. We do promise an honest assessment of the available ones.
Matters we handle
- Installment agreements (streamlined and full financial disclosure)
- Offers in compromise (doubt as to collectibility and doubt as to liability)
- Currently not collectible (CNC) status
- Collection Due Process (CDP) hearings and equivalent hearings
- Trust fund recovery penalty defense (Section 6672)
- Lien release, subordination, and discharge
- Levy release and wage garnishment relief
- Innocent spouse and injured spouse relief
- Unfiled return resolution and voluntary disclosure
HOW IT WORKS
Our process
Stabilize
If a levy or garnishment is active, the first call is to stop it. We file the power of attorney, contact the revenue officer, and create breathing room to plan.
Analyze
We review transcripts, the underlying liability, the statute of limitations on collection, and the financial picture. The goal is a complete view before recommending a route.
Resolve
Installment agreement, offer in compromise, CNC, or a defensive Appeals position. We pick the option that fits, prepare the paperwork, and negotiate the result.
Stay compliant
The most common reason a resolution fails is the next year’s return. We help clients stay current so the work we just did actually holds.
Frequently Asked
Frequently Asked Questions
What can the IRS do to collect unpaid taxes?
The IRS can file a tax lien against your property, levy bank accounts, garnish wages, seize assets, and in some cases revoke or deny passports. These actions usually follow a series of notices, and there are deadlines to challenge them — missing those deadlines limits your options.
What is an Offer in Compromise?
An Offer in Compromise lets qualifying taxpayers settle their tax liability for less than the full amount owed. The IRS evaluates the offer against your reasonable collection potential — essentially what they could collect from your income and assets. Not everyone qualifies, and the offer must be properly structured to be accepted.
Can I set up an installment agreement with the IRS?
Yes. The IRS offers several installment options — streamlined agreements for smaller balances, partial-payment plans, and fully-negotiated arrangements for complex cases. We evaluate which structure works for your situation and handle the negotiation and submission.
What is Currently Not Collectible status?
If paying the IRS would prevent you from meeting basic living expenses, the IRS can place your account in Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status. Collection activity pauses while you are in CNC. The liability does not go away, but the IRS stops pursuing it actively until your circumstances change.
What is a Collection Due Process hearing?
When the IRS files a tax lien or proposes a levy, you generally have 30 days to request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing with the Office of Appeals. CDP is a powerful tool — it pauses collection and lets you negotiate alternatives or challenge the underlying tax in certain cases.
Can the IRS take my house or business?
The IRS has the legal authority to seize real estate and business assets, though it does so less often than it levies bank accounts or wages. Even when a lien attaches to a home, sales of principal residences require additional approvals. Early engagement usually prevents asset seizure entirely.
How long does the IRS have to collect?
Generally ten years from the date of assessment. Certain events — bankruptcy, offers in compromise, CDP hearings — extend that period. Understanding where you sit in the collection statute can change the strategy significantly.
Facing collection action?
Time matters more in collection than in almost any other tax matter. Schedule a call with an attorney as early as you can.