Frequently Asked Questions
How do you solve a tax problem?
We work in three stages:
- Due Diligence: We first seek to understand your tax issues from your perspective. We have an initial (free) consultation in which you provide us details about your situation. We answer your questions and probe into potential solutions. If you proceed to use our firm to represent you before the IRS and/or state taxing authority, we will get your full tax history and understanding your situation through the IRS/state perspective by interviews with the IRS and obtaining your tax records (transcripts) from them. With this information, we will formulate a specific plan of action to resolve all of your issues.
- Solution Execution: This is typically the longest part of tax problem solving process- working with you and the IRS to solve your issues. We develop an execute a plan that considers all of your facts, circumstances, and options. Once all steps are completed, we check with the IRS to confirm that you are back into good standing.
- Maintain Compliance: We follow through any solution requirements and follow up actions, such as payments, future penalty relief, or other activity. After we complete your resolution, we also monitor your IRS account weekly for any activity that requires action. If action is required, we will notify you about the next steps. Our goal is to keep you in good standing with the IRS, so that you never need our services again.
How do I book a consultation?
How does a consultation work?
In the consultation, you will speak directly with Jim or Madison about your tax situation. They will ask you questions about your compliance status, notices you received, prior actions you have taken, and your tax records. You will have an open discission on the issues and the potential solutions. In the end, you will have line of sight on the process to resolve your situation and your likely options. You can ask questions and get specific answers based on the known information. You can also inquire about an estimate of costs to resolve the issue. In the end, you will be better informed about your situation, your potential solutions, how long it will take to resolve, and the costs of having a qualified person to represent you. You will also have a good foundation to resolve it yourself or to evaluate another tax professional to help you.
What do I need to bring to my free consultation?
Be prepared to provide a full description of your tax issues. More detail helps provide a more in-depth consultation and specific solutions available to you. It helps to bring your notices, tax returns, tax records (including IRS transcripts), and a chronology of events to get the most out of your consultation.
What will I get from a consultation?
The purpose of the consultation is not to sell you services- it is to give you line of sight on solving your issues with the IRS and/or state taxing authorities. You will get a clear understanding of your issues, your options, and the steps to solve your issues. You can use this information to solve the problem yourself or to evaluate another provider.
What are the fees for our services?
Our consultation is free- no obligations. If we help you, we will quote you our fees. Generally, we charge hourly for our services and can provide you an estimate of the length of time and fees associated with resolving your issues after our free consultation.
What can happen if I do nothing to solve my tax problems?
In most cases, the IRS will proceed with enforcement. It is always best to deal with IRS issues and notices immediately as your options, including appeals, can be lost if you don’t act timely. For audits and underreporter notices, the IRS will proceed to assess additional taxes, penalties, and interest on the issues identified in the audit. For collection issues, the IRS may proceed to enforce collection through liens, levies, and passport restrictions. In cases of non-filing, the IRS can file a return for you – called a substitute for return – and proceed to collect on the balance owed.
Will you address my penalties?
We will always evaluate you for any penalty relief that is available. After we obtain your IRS records, we can review for any administrative waivers, such as first-time abatement. If you meet reasonable cause criteria, we can file for abatement and take the case to appeals, if necessary.