BEST TAX RELIEF ATTORNEY

Julie W asked:

Does anyone have a tax attorney resource that could help in the Seattle Wa area?

Taking on IRS tax debt is a daunting task that presents many confusing issues. The majority of taxpayers are aware of the option to pay their IRS tax debt in full or pay the tax debt in monthly payments or installments. But there is another option, the IRS “Offer in Compromise.” Knowing the steps to success with an IRS Offer in Compromise, also commonly called IRS tax settlement is important, because if your offer is approved you can save thousands of dollars! It can play a critical role in the financial future of any delinquent taxpayer, impacting not only the taxpayer individually, but the financial health and welfare of their family’s future.

Settling Your IRS Tax Debt: In a nutshell, an “Offer in Compromise” is an IRS tax settlement. If you qualify for an offer, you can have your IRS tax debt greatly reduced. However, it’s not easy to qualify for an offer. The IRS will weigh your entire financial situation. If the IRS determines you don’t have enough income to satisfy your debt in full, your offer may be approved. It is your job to prove you can’t pay your IRS tax debt in full, so make sure you do your IRS research thoroughly.

Insider Tip: It’s notoriously hard to have your IRS tax settlement approved, regardless of “how simply or straight forward it may sound.” But there is a secret way to crack the IRS’s code. The IRS has three ways of determining if you qualify for an Offer in Compromise/IRS tax settlement.

The Factors: The IRS may accept the offer based on any of the following:

> Doubt as to Collectability: If you know you cannot pay your IRS tax debt in full, you may qualify. Remember, if you have assets that could be sold to satisfy your debt these must be considered when you make your offer to the IRS.

> Doubt as to Liability: If you think the debt liability does not fall to you, you’re a good candidate for an offer in compromise. But your reasons must be legitimate. Here are three legitimate reasons listed on the official IRS website:

(1) the examiner made a mistake interpreting the law

(2) the examiner failed to consider the taxpayer’s evidence or

(3) the taxpayer has new evidence.

IRS Tax Specialists: Expert IRS tax advisors may give you the edge you need to get your IRS tax settlement approved. Even with some insider knowledge, getting your Offer in Compromise approved by the IRS is difficult to achieve. That’s where IRS tax specialists come in. Tax specialists employ or include Tax Attorneys and Enrolled Agents. IRS tax specialists are experienced in all tax debt issues and know exactly what you qualify for, and how to help you get your Offer approved. They can make the difference in achieving an accepted offer.

It’s Just The Start of Your Road to Recovery: Getting your offer in compromise approved is only the beginning of your road to recovery. When your tax debt settlement is approved you are entering a 5 year contract with the IRS. This “contract” means you have to file your taxes on time for five consecutive years. If you default on a payment or fail to file properly and timely, the IRS can charge you the original tax debt amount plus penalties and interest.

By: Mansi Gupta

It’s possible to settle your IRS tax debt, but it presents a challenge. Proving you can settle your tax debt for less is a daunting experience. You have to contend with pages of IRS paperwork rife with technical terms. Settling tax debt is indeed a reality and it can be done. However, there’s a lot you need to know before you attempt to settle your IRS tax debt.

Rebuking the Lies – There are many rumors about settling IRS tax debt all over the web. While it is true that some people have settled their IRS debt for extremely low amounts, only a small percentage of people can qualify for very low IRS settlement offers. And only people who display desperate situations can have their IRS debt settled for “pennies on the dollar.”

Another misconception is that you can choose any IRS settlement amount and the IRS will approve it. It’s not that simple. In fact, it’s not simple at all. You have to submit Form 656 Offer in Compromise. You will have to detail your entire financial situation to the IRS. They will determine if the offer you send is fair or not, based on your income and assets. If your income and assets exceed the amount of your offer, your offer will be denied.

The Benefits of Settling Your Tax Debt – The first and obvious benefit of settling your IRS tax debt is saving money. IRS tax debt settlements have the potential to save you thousands of dollars. Secondly, IRS settlements quickly take care of your tax debt. When you choose to pay your IRS debt in monthly payments, penalties and interest continue to accrue on the account. But when you actually settle your IRS tax debt, the tax debt does not continue to grow. It is paid off in a “lump sum”. By comparison, paying monthly will make you feel like there’s no end to your tax debt problem.

Qualifying for IRS Settlement – Not everyone will qualify to settle their IRS tax debt. The IRS is going to weigh your finances very carefully. They need to know your gross income amount. Next they will look at the amount of money in your bank account, and the value of every single asset you own. If any of these amounts are the same or exceed your total IRS tax debt, you will not be approved for an IRS settlement.

Applying for an IRS Tax Debt Settlement – In order to “apply” for an IRS tax debt settlement, you need to file Form 656 Offer in Compromise. It will help you to include any documents supporting why you need IRS settlement. You can show them your income has dropped significantly, or that you’ve lost your assets, or anything else pertinent to your “desperate situation”.

You must double check to make sure you have filled out everything as fully as possible and signed the form. Leave nothing blank. If you make a mistake, your IRS settlement will be denied. You have to include a 20% settlement with your offer. So make sure you do it right, because the money is non-refundable. There is much riding on proper completion of Form 656 and the completeness of your supporting documents!

Getting Professional Help – You can try to fight the IRS “toe to toe” without any help. But you are not likely to succeed. There are too many laws and regulations that ordinary taxpayers simply are not aware of. So where do you start when it comes to settling your IRS tax debt? The best solution is a simple one. Consult with an IRS tax professional that will negotiate with the IRS for you. Having a tax professional on your side greatly improves your chances of winning and ultimately being approved for the IRS settlement!



By: Mansi Gupta

People can get sued for many reasons. There are a few ways to protect your self from a lawsuit, but some lawsuits are just unexpected. The most common way of getting in trouble with the law without even knowing it is when it comes to the tax law. Many people make mistakes when it comes to their taxes without even knowing it, but they will later find themselves in rough problems with the IRS. In this case, the best way to get protection is with a tax attorney.

Most people don’t realize that there is a significant difference between a CPA and tax attorney. A tax attorney can prepare a strong case when dealing with the IRS and everything you tell him is confidential. If you tell your CPA that you’ve done something illegal when it comes to taxes, he has to testify in court. On the other hand, the relationship between you and your tax attorney is somewhat similar to that between you and your priest or your doctor. Most people hire a tax attorney when they start having problems with the IRS, but it is best to already have an attorney before any incident. If the IRS starts an investigation on you, it might be a mistake or you might have done something illegal. There are a number of things that you can do wrong when it comes to taxes and the IRS has the right to start investigating. To make sure that the investigation doesn’t end badly for you, you need to hire yourself a good tax attorney. Unlike general attorneys, tax attorneys are confronted with tax problems every day. They have higher experience in this field and they know how to get around a rough situation.

The tax law is complicated because of three facts: it changes often, it can differ from state to state and it is not black and white. If you don’t have special knowledge about this matter, you will find it hard to keep in touch with all the changes in the jurisdiction. That is why you need a person with experience to handle your problems with the IRS. Your tax attorney will “fight” the IRS for you. Most people get in higher difficulties because they try to handle the IRS themselves and they give more information than they should. The IRS can start investigation based on our statements so it is best to let a tax attorney talk for you.

A tax attorney can stop the IRS through a number of strategies and it is up to you to decide what exactly to use. You can explain your situation and you and your attorney can come up with the best solution for your problems. The IRS uses many techniques in order to get what they want and they usually succeed. Only an experienced tax attorney can stop them in their tracks.

Any person that owns a business or has a reasonable amount of money in real estate or cash should try hiring a tax attorney. You can’t keep in touch with every move in the tax law, but your attorney can. A good tax attorney can make you save thousands of dollars in tax deductions and he can make sure that the IRS can’t touch you. The best way to stop a problem with the IRS is preventing it and only a good attorney can help you do that. You just need to search and find out who is the best.

By: Ioan Margineanu

You are probably reading this because you are in need of tax debt help.  Sometimes it feels like there is no way out from under an overwhelming IRS tax debt. However, for taxpayers that simply can’t afford to pay, there is a solution. You can actually settle your IRS tax debt for less than you owe! This is known as an “Offer in Compromise” and if you qualify for it, it is one of the most beneficial forms of IRS tax debt help available.  But before you try it, you need to prime yourself with a little research and some basic knowledge. Roll up your sleeves, this won’t be easy.

The IRS tax settlement program, or Offer in Compromise, reduces the amount owed for taxpayers that cannot afford to pay before the statute of limitations (time to collect on the debt) runs out. It is an agreement between the taxpayer and the IRS that settles the tax liability for less than the full amount owed. Anyone can apply for an Offer in Compromise for tax debt help.  However, not everyone is going to be approved.  You need to know the steps and the paperwork required for a tax settlement to increase your chances of actually securing this form of tax debt relief.

In order to apply for an Offer in Compromise you need to complete IRS Form 656, Offer in Compromise and IRS Form 655-V, the Offer in Compromise payment voucher. The IRS will not accept an offer that is less than your earning potential in the years before they can no longer collect on your debt. This means you need lots of documents to prove you simply cannot pay your tax debt before your statute runs out. Now your mission is to begin finding and assembling those documents that “will prove to the IRS” that you can’t pay your tax debt in full.  Some common examples are past due notices, bills, unemployment checks, and anything and everything that serves to substantiate your financial hardship claim. Submit all of this documentation with IRS Form 656, Offer in Compromise

Before you begin on your quest for tax settlement as your preferred form of tax debt relief, it is important to know the success rate. While it is true that you can actually settle your IRS tax debt for less, the IRS does not “give up easily” on full collection of past tax debt.  In fact, fewer than 20% annually of all Offer in Compromise applications submitted to the IRS are approved. For this reason, it is incredibly important to double check IRS Form 656, Offer in Compromise before you submit it.  Incomplete or inaccurate applications are rejected.  The IRS also rejects applications where the tax settlement “offer amount” is deemed to be too low.

It is true that some taxpayers have submitted their own Offer in Compromise successfully. However, when it comes to submitting an offer, you have a better success rate when you work with a qualified tax professional. IRS tax settlement specialists know the “ins and outs” of IRS rules and guidelines, and are experienced in assembling the necessary documentation to maximize your chances for approval. Remember that this form of tax debt relief is the most beneficial, so it may be prudent to give yourself every possible chance at success.  That often means using qualified IRS tax debt help advisors.  Keep in mind that if it appears you will not qualify for IRS tax settlement, a professional tax advisor is aware of all programs that may give you the tax debt relief you need.

By: Mansi Gupta

Highly Experienced

Tax lawyers have the education, training, and experience to help you solve your tax troubles. A competent tax lawyer will be knowledgeable about the IRS’ complicated tax code and therefore, better suited to help you resolve your tax debt.

IRS Defense

As you probably already know, the IRS can be very aggressive in their collection efforts. If you feel the IRS has treated you unfairly, then it is in your best interest to hire someone who has experience in dealing with the IRS and won’t be intimidated.

Privileged Communications

When you communicate with a tax lawyer or his or her staff, you can rest assure that what you tell them will remain confidential. Like all lawyers, tax attorneys are required to keep your communications confidential. They will only discuss with the IRS your financial information in order to resolve your tax debt.

Ethical Standards

Tax lawyers and attorneys are licensed and regulated by their respective state bars. They are required to complete a minimum amount of continuing legal education to remain up-to-date on their profession. They are also required to be honest in their communications. To do otherwise, would be to risk disciplinary sanctions by their state bar.

Skilled Negotiators

A tax lawyer’s negotiation skills and experience come in handy when negotiating with the IRS to resolve your debt. A tax lawyer can negotiate a manageable tax resolution since they have the experience and negotiation skills necessary to deal with the IRS.

Not Intimidated

Most taxpayers are intimidated by the IRS and the IRS knows this. On the other hand, tax lawyers are not intimidated by the IRS because they know what the IRS can and cannot do. Competent tax attorneys will not back down in their negotiations with the IRS until they have done the best they can for their clients.

By: Roni Deutch

Tax debt information can make the difference between paying more tax debt than was necessary or striking a reasonable compromise with the Internal Revenue Service. Anyone who has had to deal with the Internal Revenue Service knows that the agents are not always reasonable and that they certainly don’t care if your life is ruined over a tax debt. But having someone who understands the Internal Revenue Service and its tactics can insure all your taxpayer rights are preserved while seeking relief.

Leveling the Playing Field

If you’ve ever had to talk to the Internal Revenue Service, the first thing you realize is this particular playing field is not level in any way. They have all the power, so it seems, and the one decision they make can affect your life for years to come. If the agent won’t let you work out a compromise or insists you pay the tax in full, the situation seems quite hopeless.

Using a professional who has tax debt information can help to level the playing field. Trying to deal with the Internal Revenue Service on your own is like trying to stand on one end of a board placed on a balance ball. You have no control and no way to stay balanced.

Most people don’t know the full extent of their taxpayer rights. Lacking this knowledge, taxpayers approach the IRS feeling as if they must meekly accept whatever they offer. Of course, most of the time the only offer the IRS makes is the demand for you to make full payment in as short an amount of time as possible.

Dealing with the Internal Revenue Service requires knowledge of taxpayer rights and experience dealing with IRS agents. Tax debt information can be obtained by working with an expert who has gained experience through working one case after another. As a result of this experience, the Internal Revenue Service comes to recognize the representative as knowledgeable, capable and informed.

Play Ball!

Once the playing field is leveled, using your tax debt information can produce impressive results. The tax debt that once made life so unhappy can be reduced or eliminated. The tax collection notices can finally stop showing up in the mailbox. The Internal Revenue Service stops threatening to lien, levy or garnish.

When people try to negotiate on their own, the results are often not so beneficial. In many cases, taxpayers are unable to get penalty abatement or even reasonable payments on an Internal Revenue Service installment agreement. They tend to understate their expenses and don’t leave any maneuvering room in the event of a financial emergency. But once you have an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, changing it can be very difficult.

By becoming well informed about tax debt information you’re assured of getting the very best payment arrangement from the beginning. Dealing with the Internal Revenue Service can be scary on your own, but when a knowledgeable professional is handling the negotiation process the Internal Revenue Service suddenly becomes more manageable. The money you spend on negotiator fees can be more than recovered through reduced debt, reasonable payments and the knowledge you don’t have to be afraid of the Internal Revenue Service anymore.

By: William McConnaughy

You can get help with an IRS tax debt by retaining a tax negotiator who has the experience and knowledge. As a taxpayer you have a lot of rights which the IRS won’t bother to tell you about during the collection process. Having a tax negotiator on the frontline of defense can result in less tax debt or even no debt.

The Army’s General

When you need help with an IRS tax debt, it means the debt has become unmanageable. The IRS is not patient, and the delinquent notices will begin showing up in your mailbox soon after the tax is due. The notices begin with fairly mild letters and each letter after that gets more threatening.

The interesting thing about a tax debt is that you may very well not even owe the money. The IRS sends out tax collection notices everyday that are for taxes already paid or for tax amounts that have been calculated incorrectly. But whether you owe the money or not is beside the point when you begin to accumulate collection notices.

The reason it’s initially beside the point is because, until you resolve the problem, the notices will continue to be mailed. A tax negotiator can show you how to get the IRS to correct their records or come to agreement on the amount due. You can find relief in the form of reduced taxes, payment agreements, or debt elimination when you ask for help with an IRS tax debt.

A tax negotiator is like a general leading an army. The negotiator represents you in your fight to make the IRS adhere to your taxpayer rights. The negotiator develops a strategy, instructs you in how to respond, and takes no prisoners when it comes to settling a debt.

Plan of Attack

It’s really too bad that you have to think about dealing with the IRS in terms of war and battle. But having a plan of attack which relies on taxpayer rights is important before ever trying to negotiate with the IRS. Most taxpayers are too frightened of the IRS by the time they need help with an IRS tax debt to confront agents on their own ground.

A tax negotiator can help with an IRS tax debt in a number of ways. Your tax debt will be analyzed in order to determine the best way to approach the IRS. The negotiator is prepared with an arsenal of taxpayer rights and an in-depth knowledge of IRS settlement procedures.

Most tax negotiations never make it to court which is good and bad. Any tax negotiation that occurs outside the courts is not subject to the burden of proof by the IRS. Instead, the burden of proof is on the taxpayer. In court, the IRS has the burden of proof.

This fact alone means a tax negotiator is worth its weight in gold. The negotiator can help with an IRS tax debt by convincing the agent to ignore burden of proof and instead focus on reasonable collection.

By: William McConnaughy

What happened? You’ve filed your taxes and you’re in trouble. Maybe you filed yourself or you went to one of those companies that file your taxes for your. After finishing everything you find out you owe money! You recheck your math and deductions once, twice, three times and…you really are in debt to the IRS! It’s understandable that you’re mad as hell or you want to start crying, but the IRS-Hitman has some advice.



Don’t panic…don’t ignore the debt, and do file the return. You can try to put off the debt by requesting an extension; October 15th is the latest you can put it off. This could give you a chance to come up with the money that you owe by then. But you do have to file, and the longer you wait the harder the debt will be to deal with.

Depending on how much you owe, you can try to deal with the IRS on your own, or you can seek professional tax help. The first thing you need to do however is to jump on the problem immediately! Do not wait.

Can I bury my head in the sand? I recommend against this. What happens if you wait? First of all the IRS starts sending you letters telling you how much you owe, and asks that you contact them to setup arrangements. If you don’t respond to the IRS then…well, things can get real bad real fast for you. The IRS can seize your wages, seize you bank account, or any other accounts you have. They can also put a levy on your home. That’s why taking immediate action is so important.

But wait… There are options available to you. You want to take action, but you have no way to pay the debt in full. Most people can’t pay their IRS debt in full, and usually it’s over $1,000. Not too many people have that kind of money lying around.

• Setup a payment plan with the IRS.

• Apply for an Offer in Compromise. This can reduce your debt to pennies on the dollar. Beware however, this is very difficult to get, and the IRS frequently denies applicants.

• Apply for Currently Not Collectible status. Again this is very difficult as you have to prove to the IRS that you are living at the bare minimum.

Choose wisely…However you choose to deal with your IRS tax debt is up to you. The key is to make a choice, and not to bury your head in the sand. Just because you don’t see an IRS-Hitman doesn’t mean he doesn’t have you in his sights.

Now you have the smoking gun…Use it!



By: IRS Hitman

When you feel you need professional help or advice to resolve your IRS tax debt problems, it’s likely your problems have escalated to the point where you can’t deal with them yourself. In case of such a situation, the exact amount owed is not the issue, but your incapability to resolve the situation takes priority, since you in fact have two problems – your outstanding federal dues and your “inability” to solve the problem on your own i.e. how you plan to redeem your government dues. This is when you start thinking seriously about seeking professional help to effectively deal with the situation.

The major issue with the IRS is once your personal details are flagged for their “recovery” process, it’s guaranteed you’re going to face a lot many problems before the flag actually gets “removed” from their recovery list. And as long as your name stays on that list, you’re assumed to be “guilty as charged”, even if you’ve paid your taxes and don’t have any IRS tax debt pending. The IRS personnel might have “forgotten” to “remove” your name from their list. There are no solutions to this particular problem, except for “reminding” them your taxes are paid and you’re in the “clear”. In the event you actually owe your tax dues, it’s needless to say how serious your problems are likely to be. In case you feel the IRS are going to be sympathetic or show “compassion” for you and your problems – forget it. It’s not going to happen. It may well appear too many debtors that the IRS is “heartless” and will definitely demand their “pound of flesh”. In fact, the IRS is just a professional government body doing its “job” of collecting tax dues from American citizens. And they have to be strict regarding their recovery, since the citizens are definitely not going to “pay” on their “own” unless “forced” to redeem.    

The obvious question you’re likely to ask is “Ok, I know about this, what I do next? How do I get out of this mess?” The answer actually depends upon you. Fortunately, as far as Americans are concerned, things can be easier as far as paying your IRS debt is concerned. There are two main questions you need to ask yourself – “Can I do this on my own?” and “Should I be taking some professional help to deal with the problem?” If you feel you’ve the expertise and the experience to find a way out for yourself, it would be the best choice. However, it’s important to know that IRS can be extremely ruthless and very difficult “customers” to negotiate with. On the other hand, availing professional IRS tax debt help can be very beneficial, since you not only find a way to pay your dues and become debt free, but you also save a lot of valuable time, which can be utilized for beneficial purposes and for “income” generation.  

There are many “online” tax relief and settlement agencies available. Ideally, these agencies or companies employ a team of experts or taxation professionals whose basic objective is to “help” debtors find a solution to redeem their IRS tax debts and dues. They are used to dealing with complex problems and finding a suitable way out for your issues. They also advise, and if you have specific questions, they’re likely to provide to-the-point answers, so you can understand the problem from a “technical” point of view. They can help to “point” you in the right direction as to what you ought to be doing next, and how you should be “thinking”. Online tax relief services can also assist you with various queries such as dependent filings, international adoption tax rebates and investment filings. In case of audit related issues, the tax experts can provide suggestions related to how much tax you’ll end up paying eventually to the IRS, and the manner of reducing your net payable dues. The basic objective of availing profession help is to cater to your inability to pay the taxes, and how to request an “extension” to “redeem”.

Getting some advice from a tax attorney is perhaps the best place to start. By consulting specialized taxation personnel, you can avail instant IRS tax relief and come up with reasonable as well as manageable solutions for the amount that you owe as your taxes. The people’s ignorance about the IRS working and their legal rights is the primary cause why tax attorneys should be “hired” out.



By: diane anderson