Tax Relief Services

Tax Relief Services: Best Options for Tax Problems

No one expects to find themselves with thousands of dollars in debt to the IRS, years of unfiled tax returns, or an audit resulting in new tax debt—but millions of people end up in these positions every single year. While the IRS has a reputation for being strict and unyielding in their pursuit of back taxes, the fact is that there really are many forms of tax relief available to you.

But to find the best option for your unique situation, you should consider working with a tax relief service. To talk more, contact us at the W Tax Group Today

Key Takeaways

• Personalized approach – There are many tax relief companies out there, but they are not all created equal—you must find the right option for your situation.
• How tax pros help – Reliable tax relief professionals can help with a variety of problems, including unpaid taxes, unfiled returns, audits, and penalties.
• Tax debt resolution options – There are many payment options to explore, including installment agreements, partial payment installment agreements, and an offer in compromise.

What Are Tax Relief Services? What You Should Look for In a Tax Relief Company?

When you’re facing tax problems, you have two options: you can tackle them on your own and look for a solution or you can turn to a professional. Tax relief services give you direct access to highly trained tax professionals who can find the appropriate solution for your tax problems and goals. 

Reputable tax relief firms typically employ a mix of tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents. Each of these tax pros offer slightly different services, but all have extensive training and experience in tax matters.

Choosing the Right Professional for Your Tax Needs

When you decide to turn to a tax professional with your tax problems, choosing the right company is important. There’s no shortage of options out there, from individual tax professionals who focus on tax needs in their local community to mid-sized firms that serve a few states and nationwide corporations that have tax professionals working on cases in all 50 states. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to tax issues, so it’s crucial to weigh your options and take your time making a choice. In general, you’ll get the most for your money and time when you choose a company that allows you to talk directly to the person working your case. 

There are some tax relief companies where you’ll truly feel like nothing more than a case number—these are the companies that have a lot of sizzle in their advertising, the ones that come up time and time again when you look for tax relief options. These firms focus more on marketing and advertising than they do on providing real tax solutions, and the odds are good you’ll never even speak to the person handling your sensitive tax information. 

Ideally, you should have the opportunity to talk to the tax professional assigned to your case, ask questions, and see what their credentials are.

Do You Need a Tax Relief Service?

Should you hire a tax professional or can you address the situation on your own with self-help strategies? We’ll break down some of the more common problems taxpayers face.

Tax Problems You May Be Able to Handle on Your Own

While it’s never enjoyable to hear from the IRS, there are situations that are more of a minor inconvenience than a major issue. You may be able to handle these problems on your own without bringing a tax attorney or other professional:

• Mathematical error: It’s surprisingly common for taxpayers to transpose digits or mix up their math when handling their own tax return. If this happens to you, correcting the form in question or submitting an amended return is usually fairly simple.
• Small underpayments: Received a notice about a small underpayment that you can pay off immediately? You may just want to send in the payment and move on. As long as you pay what you owe, you’re unlikely to face future issues.
• Missing deductions or credits: Although forgetting to claim a deduction or credit can be frustrating, it’s also easy enough to correct. You can generally just file an amended return within three years to get the rest of your tax refund.
• Payment plan for small balances: The IRS makes it very easy to request a payment plan online for most taxpayers. You can easily apply online if you owe $50,000 or less.

Tax Problems That Often Warrant Professional Assistance

Though there are problems you can address alone, some are significant or complicated enough that you should consider talking to a tax professional. These issues include:

• Unable to pay taxes in full: If you’re unable to pay your taxes in full and you’re not sure whether or not you can afford an installment agreement, a tax attorney can help. You may have options available to you beyond an installment agreement, depending on your financial circumstances and how old the tax debt is.
• Audits: This is one of the outcomes people most fear when they’re dealing with the IRS. When the IRS goes through your finances and tax files and scrutinizes every detail, having an attorney advocating for you can minimize your stress.
• Penalties that may qualify for abatement or appeal: Penalties can snowball quickly, making up a greater and greater portion of your overall tax debt. However, many people qualify for abatement or can appeal the penalties. An attorney can help you make a strong case for penalty relief or an appeal.
• Tax liens: If the IRS is about to place a lien on your assets or they’ve already placed a lien on your assets, you’re far along in the collection process—and there may be even more severe penalties around the corner. It’s time to talk to an attorney about getting your tax debt under control and clearing the lien on your property.
• Tax levies: If the IRS has levied or is threatening to levy your assets, you are at very real risk of losing your bank account, personal property, and real estate. You must take immediate action to halt the levy and find another way to resolve your tax debt.
• Wage garnishment: The IRS has a lot more freedom when it comes to wage garnishment than other creditors. If you don’t move quickly to stop a wage garnishment, you could lose the majority of your income to the IRS.
• Unpaid payroll taxes: When left unaddressed, unpaid payroll taxes put you at risk of a Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. There are relief options available, and the earlier you tackle this issue head-on, the more options you can explore.
• Years of unfiled tax returns: These situations are often quite complex, involving years of penalties, the potential for Substitutes for Return having been filed on your behalf, and the initiation of collection actions against you. A tax pro can take an in-depth look at your taxes and help you get caught up.

Even if your tax problem seems simple to you, you can still reach out to a tax pro at W Tax Group. Being overwhelmed by a tax problem makes it easier to ignore it and avoid taking action, which gives it time to turn into a more serious problem. If you’re so uncertain about your tax issue that you’ve delayed taking action, talking to a tax pro should be your next step.

Different Forms of Tax Relief

The IRS wants to collect what it’s owed—preferably in full and on time. If that’s not an option, they’ll take payments over time, and in some cases, they’ll even take less than what they owe. How do you know what options are available to you? 

You talk to the team at W Tax Group. A lot depends on how much you owe, how old the debt is, and your overall financial situation. Potential solutions include:

• Installment agreements: Many taxpayers find the relief they need with an installment agreement. This lets you extend your payments over a period of up to 72 months (longer in some cases). In some cases, you can apply online and get an answer right away without having to talk to anyone.
• Offer in compromise: Taxpayers who cannot afford to pay their tax debt in full may qualify for an offer in compromise. Before the IRS accepts an offer, they will take an incredibly thorough look at your finances and verify that you have exhausted every other payment option available to you.
• Partial payment installment agreement: This payment option requires monthly payments, but those payments are less than the minimum required to pay your tax debt in full. Like an offer in compromise, this option is based on your financial situation and limitations.
• Currently not collectible: The IRS may temporarily stop collection efforts if your financial situation warrants it. You’ll need to fill out an extensive financial disclosure to qualify for currently not collectible status.
• Penalty abatement: The IRS forgives penalties in some situations. You may qualify for first-time abatement if you have not had any late filings or penalties in the last three years, and you may qualify for reasonable cause penalty abatement if you have a legitimate reason for incurring the penalty.
• Innocent spouse relief: This type of relief is offered to those whose spouses understate the taxes they owe on their tax return without the knowledge of the innocent spouse.
• Audit representation: During an audit, a tax attorney can watch out for misrepresentation or misconduct by the IRS auditor, intervene when the auditor asks unnecessary questions, help you fulfill your legal obligations, and advocate for the best outcome for you.
• Tax appeals: The IRS has appeals processes in place for those who want to appeal the amount they owe, the penalties they have been charged, and the collection actions being taken against them. An experienced tax attorney can help you navigate the appeals process.

What About the IRS Fresh Start Program?

During your search for the right tax relief company, you may have seen references to an “IRS Fresh Start Program”—where is that on the list above?

This is a common misconception. The IRS Fresh Start Initiative was a series of changes to existing tax relief options to make those options more accessible to taxpayers. Companies often use it to refer to an offer in compromise, but they do so in a way that makes it seem like anyone can settle their tax debt for pennies on the dollar—but in reality, the right solution for your tax problem is entirely dependent on your circumstances.

State Tax Relief Options

Tax relief companies across the country have experience with IRS tax issues, but if you are facing state tax problems on top of IRS concerns—not an uncommon scenario—you need an attorney who knows your state’s tax laws. Be upfront about this when talking to tax relief professionals and weighing your options.

 You want to avoid companies that do whatever it takes to secure your business before revealing that they can only help you with your IRS problems. At that point, you still have to figure out the inner workings of your state tax issues or pay another tax company to help you with them. Choose the right firm from the beginning to tackle both state and federal issues at once.

How W Tax Group Can Help

At W Tax Group, we genuinely believe in the work we do and the tax relief services we provide to our clients. You can learn more about the attorneys, accountants, and case officers that serve our clients right on our website, so you know who will be handling your case. 

Everyday, we strive to help Americans fight aggressive collection tactics from the IRS and state tax agencies. We’ve seen firsthand how tax problems can cause profound anxiety and stress, and we know you deserve relief. When you choose us, you can look forward to transparency in our pricing and services, quick answers to your questions, and genuine care and empathy from our team.

Whether you’re struggling with unfiled taxes, past-due taxes, or an audit, the team at W Tax Group is committed to finding the right path forward for you. Reach out to us online or call us at 877-500-4930 to learn more about how our tax resolution services can help you.