A compromise offer allows you to settle your tax debt for an amount lower than the total amount you owe. It may be a legitimate option if you can't pay your full tax liability or if doing so creates financial difficulties. A professional tax representative can generally be of great help when it comes to negotiating the most favorable commitment or installment agreement possible. That said, be careful with one-cent signatures or number 1 to 800 signatures that advertise on late-night television, Brown says.
In many cases, these firms simply keep a customer's money and don't provide any service or are minimal, he explains. Many of these firms have been prosecuted in their home states for illegal and deceptive business practices. You must provide detailed information about your financial situation on IRS Form 433-A (individuals) or Form 433-B (companies), Collection Information Statement. There is a penalty for not filing the application (and other penalties for late payment) and, as stated on the IRS website, filing and paying as soon as possible will reduce interest and penalties to a minimum.
For those who suffer economically due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the IRS has made key changes that may be useful. If you violate the terms of your agreement, the IRS will seize and seize your property, including bank accounts, and may even place a lien on your home. To make this determination, the IRS analyzes your income and assets to determine your reasonable collection potential (RCP). Tulino says that the IRS wants to work with taxpayers to help them meet their obligations or fulfill their obligations in the way that is best for you and the agency, in order to impose the least burden while taking on what is owed.
In recent years, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been more willing to resolve late tax payments, generally through installment agreements. The first step in making a pledge offer is to make sure you're up to date with your tax returns. These “OIC” factories attract desperate and frightened delinquent taxpayers with the false assurance that they will negotiate with the IRS the best possible offer after charging a fee for their services. For those living in fear of the IRS spectrum, Tulino says their goal is to work with you, not against you.
If you know that you owe money to the IRS and they send you a notification, you should follow the instructions in the letter and work with them to organize a payment plan, Porter says. This is the minimum amount that the IRS will accept and is based on the financial statements you make on your Form 433. The IRS offers other programs to help people who are behind in paying their tax debts, including installment agreements, payment extensions, etc. If you really can't pay something, the IRS will place your file in the category of bad collectibles, but it will review it every year or so to determine if their financial circumstances have changed and if you can now pay something for them. They may be able to negotiate a compromise offer, in which you pay a reduced lump sum to settle a larger debt, or get you currently placed in a non-collectible (CNC) situation, when there is a valid reason why you cannot pay even a nominal amount.
