Tax Attorney Rancho Santa Margarita FAQ

Can you help me stop a wage levy or bank levy right away? Yes. We'll need to contact the IRS immediately. Often, these tax levies can be released within a day so that you can receive your wages or access your bank account right away.
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I have a tax lien on my record, can this be removed? Yes, either by submitting an offer in compromise, negotiating structured payment of debt, or by requesting a discharge of lien, your tax liens can be released.
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I haven't filed taxes in many years, what can I do? For one reason or another, many Americans do not file their tax returns. Some of our clients haven't filed their returns for over ten years before coming to us. Regardless of your reason for not filing, it is very important to review your case with a qualified attorney before any further action is taken. By reviewing your case, an attorney may be able to greatly reduce taxes and penalties which you would otherwise owe by coordinating the timing of your tax return filing.
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I filed my returns but I can't afford to pay my taxes, what are my options? There are many options for those with tax debts who cannot afford to pay. Offer in compromise, innocent spouse and installment payments are some of the options available to manage your tax debt. In some cases, attorneys can negotiate with the IRS to stop all collection activity against you and not pursue you at all for the taxes outstanding. In addition, by reviewing your case, penalties, interest and even some of the taxes may be reduced.
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Can taxes be discharged in bankruptcy? Most people don't know that certain taxes can be eliminated through the bankruptcy process. In fact, most bankruptcy attorneys or even tax attorneys do not know that certain taxes may be eliminated through the bankruptcy court. To properly handle tax matters in the Bankruptcy Court, you need an experienced attorney that has been trained and understands the complexities involved in handling tax matters through the Bankruptcy Court. Keep in mind that only a lawyer can give you legal advice and discharge taxes in bankruptcy for you. Because of the complexities, no other professionals, including CPA, or EA are permitted to handle tax bankruptcy cases.
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I filed bankruptcy already, can I file again? Yes. Depending on what chapter you filed. If you filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, you can file Chapter 13 Bankruptcy after you receive your discharge. If it has been more than 6 years since you received your last discharge, you can file another bankruptcy now.
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Will I go to jail for not paying or filing my taxes? It is a federal crime not to file tax returns for tax periods in which taxes were due, in most cases. In most cases, IRS will initiate criminal actions against you only if additional factors warrant such criminal tax prosecution. The most important step is to make proper arrangements through an experienced tax attorney and get into compliance with the IRS before they decide to come after you.
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IRS has rejected my Offer in Compromise several times; what is wrong? Many taxpayers get their Offer in Compromise rejected or not even considered by the IRS simply because they received poor representation. There are many non-lawyers who advertise as tax resolution companies offering "pennies on the dollar" settlement. These non lawyers give taxpayers bad advice and cost them a lot of money. Make sure that you hire a competent tax lawyer. No one else can give you the proper legal advice to fully solve your tax problems.
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I own a house, can I still do an offer in compromise? Yes. Ownership of any assets does not prevent you from receiving a good settlement of your taxes with the IRS. The government does focus on the equity in your assets as one of the factors in determining the acceptance of your offer. However, IRS may consider different valuation methods in calculating value of your particular asset.
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Do I need to see a tax attorney for my tax problems? Only conversations with attorneys are absolutely protected by the rules of confidentiality to prevent the IRS from prying or forcibly obtaining sensitive information to be later used against the taxpayer. Everything you say to a CPA, EA or anyone else concerning your tax problem can be used against you if the IRS decides that your case warrants criminal prosecution. In fact, the IRS can investigate and force your CPA, EA or anyone else, other than a lawyer, to testify against you for your indictment. Always insist that you speak with a lawyer only.
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How long can the IRS come after me for my taxes? There are many factors which will determine how long the IRS can chase you to collect taxes. Generally, IRS has 10 years from the date of tax assessment to collect their taxes. However, there are several tolling factors which could extend the 10 years to collect.
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 I have been receiving certified mail from the IRS. What should I do? In most circumstances, IRS sends you certified mails to levy bank accounts, levy wages and to file tax liens against you. The green certified mail slip on the envelope usually indicates that you must act immediately or you may be harmed by the government's tax collection activity.
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My employer sent me a copy of a letter they received from the IRS to levy my wages. What does this mean? Unless you take immediate action, you will lose your wages.
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I think I am being investigated by the IRS. What should I do? Any involvement in a criminal investigation is extremely stressful and potentially dangerous to any taxpayer. If you have been contacted by criminal investigation division or believe that you may be involved in some type of investigation by the IRS, contact a lawyer immediately so that we can make a determination whether you are a target of criminal investigation.
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