GET THE IRS OFF YOUR BACK
NOT an easy thing to do, especially on your own. The best way to get the IRS off your back is to hire a representative and have him handle the tax collector.
What can you do to help get the IRS off your back? Face the problem and get organized.
Figure out and write down which tax returns are not filed and/or how much you owe, year-by-year. Do you know why you owe the taxes?
The most important thing is to STOP accruing taxes in the future. Correct your withholding on your paycheck or if you are self-employed start making current year Estimated Tax Payments every month instead of quarterly. It does no good to find a resolution to your back taxes and then accrue more unpaid taxes in the future.
Then start thinking about a solution for the unpaid taxes.
Can you borrow any money on your home or other assets?
After your monthly living expenses how much can you afford to pay in a monthly installment agreement toward what you owe?
If paying off the amount owed will take more than five years, determine if there is any way you can you obtain a large significant amount, about 24 times your monthly payment from above PLUS realizable equity, to attempt an Offer in Compromise?
If all or a large amount of what you owe is over three years old, would you consider using bankruptcy to reduce or eliminate the amount that is over three years old?
If you are in a true financial hardship situation and can pay nothing per month, would delaying any payment for one, two or more years help?
Then you need to decide if you have the ability to deal with the IRS on your own and negotiate one of the above resolutions. If you owe the IRS less than $20,000 and can fully pay what you owe in a couple years you can probably deal with the IRS on your own. But remember, once you have a resolution, you cannot owe taxes again in the future.
If you owe more than $20,000 and cannot pay it all within a couple of years you should seriously consider hiring an experienced representative to handle the IRS.
