I Didn’t Pay My Taxes, Now I Need a Tax Attorney
- Andrew Thompson
- Apr 30, 2015
- 3 min read
Perhaps you were starting out in life, stabilizing your career, and simply didn’t know much about paying your taxes. Perhaps you had other, seemingly more important problems or expenses and didn’t have the time or money to file a tax return or pay your taxes. Whatever the reason, if you have unfiled tax returns or unpaid taxes, you should act quickly to resolve the issue before it gets worse. A tax attorney can help you establish a plan to resolve your tax problems and communicate with the IRS on your behalf. If you have unfiled tax returns or unpaid taxes, here’s what you should know:
Do Not Ignore the Problem
If you haven’t filed your tax return or paid your taxes, don’t trick yourself into thinking you don’t need to address the issue. Failing to take action will only escalate the problem and, most likely, increase the overall amount you will have to pay the IRS. Even if you seem to be off the IRS “radar” for the time being, you will eventually be contacted by the IRS, and the IRS representatives will likely be much more aggressive in their collection efforts at that point. Don’t let yourself remain in denial. Act fast before the IRS does.
If you receive a notice, or multiple notices, from the IRS, do not ignore them. Failure to respond to the IRS can result in the filing of federal tax liens, account levies, wage garnishment, property seizure and other collection action. In some cases, the IRS will criminally prosecute taxpayers who fail to file tax returns or pay taxes.
Solutions
There are a number of solutions available to taxpayers with unfiled returns or unpaid taxes. Which option is right for you depends on the facts and circumstances of your case.
Do you have any unfiled tax returns? If not, you should meet with a tax attorney to determine which returns should be filed. In many cases it will be necessary to file all unfiled returns. However, if there are several years of unfiled returns, it may not be necessary or in your best interest to file all of the unfiled returns at the same time. You must consult with a tax attorney before making this decision.
You can also work with a tax attorney to determine the best option to resolve your tax debt. For instance, a tax attorney can submit an Offer in Compromise or attempt to negotiate an installment agreement (i.e. payment plan) on your behalf. An Offer in Compromise is usually in the form of a proposal to pay the IRS less than the balance due because the taxpayer has a unique set of circumstances preventing him or her from paying the balance in full. An installment agreement is an agreement between the taxpayer and the IRS whereby the taxpayer pays a certain amount (usually calculated based on the taxpayer’s income and “allowable” expenses) each month until the liability is paid in full.
Our Tax Attorneys
If you need guidance in dealing with unfiled tax returns or unpaid taxes, the tax attorneys at Vasallo Sloane are available to assist you. Call us today and set up a consultation to discuss your options.
For more information or to talk with one of our attorneys, please visit us at www.vasallosloane.com.
Since his admission to the Florida Bar in 2007, Andrew Thompson has practiced in the areas of Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration, and Taxation. Andrew's practice is primarily focused on assisting clients with traditional and advanced estate planning, coupled with gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.
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