St. Augustine IRS Tactics Attorney

St. Augustine IRS Tactics

The IRS is a powerful government organization with plenty of resources at its disposal to investigate any suspicion of tax fraud and levy punishments against anyone it deems offenders. If you’re dealing with the IRS for an audit or other tax issue, you need to know what the IRS can do to recover back taxes. That’s where a St. Augustine, Florida, IRS tactics attorney and law firm comes in.

At TaxSmith, we’ve dealt with the IRS on numerous cases and can help navigate you through an issue with the IRS. We know the tactics the agency uses and can advise you on how to deal with any IRS dispute.

How Does TaxSmith Help Me in Dealing With the IRS?

At TaxSmith, we handle tax law exclusively. This means we have plenty of experience and practice dealing with all sorts of tax issues and the IRS. Lead attorney Angie Smith is ready to assist clients with understanding how the IRS works and how to navigate an audit.

What Are Some Common IRS Tactics?

The federal government gives the IRS plenty of latitude in dealing with back taxes and audits. The agency has numerous policies and powers in place to help it secure late payments from the general public or to punish those committing tax evasion. Let’s look at a few of the most common methods the IRS uses to extract payments from people.

Bank Levy

In extreme cases, the IRS may look to use a bank levy. A bank levy allows the IRS to seize and freeze your bank account and then extract funds from the account to claim any unpaid taxes. This process is not a fly-by-night approach, and you will have time to react and contest a bank levy.

The IRS will inform you of the approaching bank levy and give you 30 days to try and come to a settlement on paying taxes. If you don’t respond in 30 days, the agency will freeze your account and then take money out to try and recuperate any unpaid taxes.

If the IRS still does not have enough money after the bank levy, it may move to place another levy on different accounts until the agent has collected enough money.

You can avoid a bank levy by communicating with the IRS and negotiating a settlement. You can also steer clear of a levy by paying your taxes in full when the IRS demands back payment.

Tax Lien

With a tax lien, the IRS attempts to seize your assets to recover unpaid taxes. The agency may look to possess your home or some other property you own. The IRS only uses this tactic in extreme cases, and in many instances, it is more of a scare tactic than the planned outcome.

The IRS will use a tax lien against people who are unresponsive to communication with the agency. The lien is more of a threat to make the individual react rather than a preferred ending to the issue.

You can get the IRS to hold off on any tax liens by opening up a line of communication with the agency and attempting to work out a settlement plan. The IRS wants to get any unpaid taxes, and it’s easier to settle a deal than seize property.

Wage Garnishment

Wage garnishment is a less extreme tactic the IRS uses to try and work out a deal with someone who owes taxes. With a wage garnishment plan, the IRS will withhold a specified amount from your paycheck every pay period until it recovers a set amount of money.

Wage garnishment is a deal the IRS negotiates with your employer to try and recover back taxes. The IRS cannot take more than 25 percent of your wages per pay period.

Should I Hire a Lawyer When Dealing With the IRS?

Some people will go their entire lives without ever having to deal with an IRS issue. But when the IRS asks for back payments and you need help to plan your next move, you may want to speak to a St. Augustine tax attorney about your options.

Your attorney can negotiate with the IRS to come up with a settlement plan for paying back your debt. The plan will work for everybody, and you can avoid having the IRS seize your bank account or house.

FAQs About St. Augustine, FL IRS Tactics Laws

Why Might You Seek the Help of a Tax Attorney Instead of a CPA?

While CPAs can help you with most tax issues, tax attorneys have experience with the legal side of the tax system. A CPA cannot ethically give you advice about a tax law issue, while a tax attorney will have plenty of insight and guidance to provide about how to navigate the law.

Who Can Help Me With IRS Problems?

A St. Augustine tax attorney can usually assist with most IRS problems. You can take on legal representation to help you negotiate a settlement with the IRS. Above all, the agency wants to receive the payment it demands, and having an attorney negotiate can help you reach an agreeable settlement.

What Are Some Common IRS Tactics?

The IRS will first attempt to contact individuals about tax issues. If the agency does not hear a response, they may escalate to more extreme methods like placing a bank levy on your account or a tax lien on your property. You can avoid these extreme measures by settling with the IRS.

What Is the Attorney-Client Privilege for an IRS Audit?

Attorney-client privilege works much the same for IRS audits as for any other legal matters. Your attorney cannot disclose any private communication between the two of you to an IRS agent. There are exceptions and limits to attorney-client privilege, and you should research them before telling sensitive information to an attorney.

TaxSmith: Lawyers Who Can Work With the IRS

Dealing with the IRS is always a scary proposition, especially when going it alone. The agency has access to resources the average person couldn’t dream of. That’s why you should contact a St. Augustine tax attorney for legal help when facing some of the IRS’s most extreme tactics.

At TaxSmith, we know what the IRS is capable of and can help clients navigate these tumultuous times. Contact us today for a consultation and to discuss your case and how we may be able to help.