5 Effective Ways to Settle IRS Tax Debts in Chicago

Owing taxes to the IRS isn’t the end of the world, even if the sums involved are large. The IRS offers tax payers in Chicago several programs that enable them to get their tax account straight without having to pay the tax money they own all at once. Here are 5 effective ways for a tax payer to settle IRS tax debts in Chicago.

Sign an installment agreement or partial installment agreement

You can agree with the IRS to pay your tax debt in installments, usually every month — this is an installment agreement. For many tax payers who owe money to the IRS, an installment agreement is the most straightforward and hassle-free solution to resolving their tax debt. A newer, more flexible alternative is the partial payment installment agreement, a long-term payment program at a reduced dollar, which can be a way out for tax payers who cannot cope with the monthly requirements of a standard installment agreement. Using professional tax services in Chicago makes it easier for you to reach a favorable (partial) installment agreement with the IRS.

Agree upon an offer in compromise

In some cases, the IRS understands that recouping all tax debts from a company or individual is unfeasible due to their difficult financial situation and may settle instead for an offer in compromise. This is a program which enables tax payers in bad situations to settle their tax debts for less than the true amount they own. An offer in compromise can involve either a short term payment plan, or a lump sum payment. Using a professional and experienced tax consultant in Chicago increases your chances of agreeing upon an offer in compromise with the IRS.

Claim innocent spouse relief

If your spouse has had tax problems in the past, it doesn’t mean that you have to inherit them. You can use a tax consultant in Chicago to claim innocent spouse relief and liberate yourself from tax problems that are not your own doing. The expertise and guidance of a tax consultant in Chicago proves invaluable when seeking innocent spouse relief, as the IRS has an extensive list of guidelines and requirements which you must meet in order to be eligible for this program.

Gain ‘not currently collectible’ status

When a taxpayer cannot afford to pay his tax debts, he or she can request the ‘not currently collectible’ status from the IRS, which means that the IRS will not attempt to collect tax debts for about a year. Winning extra time gives the taxpayer the opportunity to stop an existing IRS levy or seizure and resolve financial problems. If the situation requires it, you too may claim this status, provided that you can offer enough evidence that you are unable to pay your taxes.

Settling IRS tax debts can be a difficult and frustrating experience, which is why you may want to consider using our tax services in Chicago. At Defend Tax Payer we have 45 years of combined experience with tax problems and can use our insight to find a fast and effective solution to your problem. Contact us and we will help you.

18Aug, 2015

3 Common Tax Misconceptions In San Antonio, Texas

The self-reporting US tax system isn’t the most straightforward of tax systems, and although the IRS does a good job at providing extensive online resources for tax payers, there are still many tax misconceptions among residents of San Antonio. As a provider of tax services in San Antonio TX, we at Defend Tax Payer consider it our duty to try to dispel some of these misconceptions in order to make tax preparation and payment easier for our customers, as well as for San Antonio residents in general. Without further ado, here are 3 common tax misconceptions in San Antonio.

The US government automatically deducts the appropriate tax from my salary, which means that my only tax-related legal obligation is to prepare FORM W-4

False. Although FORM W-4 tells your employer how much tax money to deduct from your monthly salary, the true amount of tax money you own may turn out to be by the end of the year a bit more or a bit less than the deducted sum. Filling an accurate income tax return at the end of the year is therefore required. The IRS will compare the numbers on your FORM W-4 with those on your end-of-year income tax return and decide whether it will deduct additional tax money from you, or give back a part or even all of the money initially withheld.

Everyone can use the simplified FORM 1040EZ to file for income tax

False. The IRS developed FORM 1040EZ specifically for residents of the United States. Two other categories that can use this form are permanent resident aliens and residents for tax purposes. If you are not (yet) a resident of the US, or belong to the other two categories, then you can file the 1040NR EZ form, which is more straightforward than the traditional 1040NR form and can be filled quicker. A tax consultant in San Antonio can help you do so.

If I am a graduate student and my teaching or research position as an assistant within the university pays for my tuitions and other fees, I don’t have to pay any taxes

False. According to US law, graduate assistantships are taxed. The IRS considers the tuition and other fees that are paid for you (as well as living expenses, if that is the case) as financial gain received for the work you do. If you are a student following a graduate assistantship and are not sure about your tax status, you may want to contact a tax consultant in San Antonio.

Whether you are a full-time employee, a student, or a business owner, if you are unsure about your tax status or have run into problems with the IRS, we at Defend Tax Payer have a dedicated team of experienced legal workers who can help you with professional tax services in San Antonio, TX. Visit our Services page to find out more, or call us at 866-489-1670.

18Jul, 2015

How to Remove an IRS Tax Lien

Federal tax liens put you at risk of losing your property, including your home. Fortunately, a tax consultant in San Antonio such as Defend Tax Payer can help you resolve them before it is too late.

When an IRS tax lien is placed on your property, it is usually because you have failed to pay your taxes. If that happens, you should act right away, otherwise the IRS may seize your property, including your home, and then auction it to pay off the debt. The most effective way to lift an IRS tax lien is to contact a tax consultant in San Antonio who can analyze your case and decide upon the best course of action.

Before seizing your property, the IRS will typically issue a notice demanding immediate payment on all of your tax debts. That is a critical point, and if you haven’t already discussed your situation with a tax consultant in San Antonio, you should do it right away. An experienced provider of tax services in San Antonio who has dealt with IRS tax liens on behalf of its customers in the past will know what can be done to save your property before it is too late.

Paying Off a Tax Lien

According to official IRS guidelines, the quickest way to get rid of an IRS tax lien is to pay your debt in full using cash. You will want to consider the possibility of using any savings you may have or even borrowing money from friends or moneylenders to pay off your debt. In many cases, the inconveniences of acquiring a new debt and having to pay off interest are preferable to losing your home and other treasured property. However, if you cannot afford to pay off your debt, the situation becomes more complicated and you may want to turn your attention to tax services in San Antonio, which may offer you a way out.

Disputing a Tax Lien

A reputable tax consultant in San Antonio can use their experience in dealing with similar cases as well as their insight into the workings of the IRS to prove that the tax lien was not filed in accordance with regulations. It is good to keep in mind that in some cases, removing the lien makes the payment of the tax debt possible, being in the advantage of both the IRS and the citizen. Furthermore, a provider of tax services in San Antonio may also help you appeal an IRS tax lien under certain conditions, such as when the IRS did not give you the chance to dispute the lien.

Resolving a Tax Lien

Ultimately, to resolve successfully an IRS tax lien on your property, you must find a tax consultant in San Antonio who specializes in tax liens. At Defend Tax Payer, our team of legal and tax experts have over 45 years of experience resolving tax liens and other tax problems with the IRS. We can help you resolve tax liens before you lose your property. Please call us at 866-489-1670 or contact us so we can get to work right away.

13Jul, 2015

Need Innocent Spouse Relief? Here’s What You Need to Know

When you have a tax-cheating spouse, innocent spouse relief can help you stay out of trouble with the IRS. But there are certain conditions you must meet to obtain it.

When a person’s spouse has recourse to illegal activities such as not reporting income or doing improper deductions on joint tax returns, innocent spouse relief tax services in San Antonio TX can ensure that the innocent person does not pay additional tax or penalties imposed by the IRS. However, innocent tax relief isn’t the most straightforward of legal procedures; for example, there are 3 types of innocent spouse relief. This is why, if you become the tax victim of your spouse, it is important to choose a tax consultant in San Antonio who can help you.

Conditions

Before you consider applying for innocent spouse relief, you have to understand that the IRS requires that you meet certain conditions. First of all, the return you filed should have been a joint tax return, and to have included an understated tax. Furthermore, the understated tax has to be due to incorrect deductions or unreported income. If you do not meet these conditions, it will be very difficult if not impossible for any tax consultant in San Antonio to help you. However, if you are unsure about whether or not you meet these conditions, you may want to contact professional tax services in San Antonio TX and have them review your case.

Time Frame

Another important thing to keep in mind is that you must submit your innocent spouse relief application as soon as possible after the moment when the IRS requests more taxes from you than you think is normal. According to the IRS guidelines, you have two years to file your application, but of course, the sooner, the better. Your chances of obtaining innocent spouse relief will increase if you contact a tax consultant in San Antonio right away and give them the time they need to prepare a compelling case for you.

Let Us Help You

To further increase your chances of succeeding, you will want to choose an experienced tax consultant in San Antonio who deals regularly with innocent spouse relief, such as our team at Defend Tax Payer. With over 45 years of experience in the business, we are a specialized provider of tax services in San Antonio TX that knows the ins and outs of dealing with the IRS. Our records and experience give us crucial insight that we can use to ensure your application is successful. Get in touch with us and one of our tax consultants will contact you in 24 hours or less.

22Jun, 2015

How to Deal With Payroll Taxes

When payroll taxes are not properly calculated and duly paid, small businesses can get into serious trouble with the IRS. Fortunately, tax services San Antonio based, such as those provided by Defend Tax Player, can come to the rescue of small business owners who are facing tax problems.

If you are a business owner, you must withhold the due taxes from every paycheck and then remit payroll taxes to the IRS every quarter of the year, in March, June, September, and December. It is up to you to do the math and determine the amount of the federal income tax, social security tax, and Medicare that must be withhold from the paycheck of every employee. Even small, local businesses with a handful of employees must do this.

The Dangers of Not Paying Payroll Taxes

Failing to remit payroll taxes can cause your business serious problems. These problems usually begin with penalties and interest on back taxes, which can add up quickly, making it more and more difficult for you to sort your payments. Because IRS is keen on making small businesses pay their taxes, not paying them quarterly can get your business into trouble. Before you know it, unpaid payroll taxes can lead to a huge tax debt and even the loss of your business.

Small Businesses and the IRS

Some small business owners who do not pay their payroll taxes on time may believe that the IRS will not penalize them, or that their business is too small for the IRS to bother with them. This happens because the IRS does not always notify businesses right away in regard to unpaid payroll taxes. The IRS has so much work to do that it may take months before they send their notices and warnings. No small business owner, no matter how clever, can avoid paying payroll taxes for long.

Some small businesses can get into trouble with the IRS over payroll taxes without having done anything wrong. Calculating and preparing payroll taxes isn’t always a straightforward process, and sometimes a small business may get the figures wrong, or not pay quickly enough. The IRS may then interpret these mistakes as a deliberate desire to eschew taxes, and then the small business owner can be in a fine pickle.

Tax Services In San Antonio Can Help

Here’s were professional tax services kick in. A professional and experienced provider of tax services, such as Defend Tax Payer, which acts as a tax consultant in San Antonio, offers small businesses that get into trouble with the IRS the payroll tax help that they need to clear the situation. As a provider of tax services San Antonio based, Defend Tax Payer can help you bring your taxes up to date as soon as possible, before the IRS sends you a notice concerning your back payroll taxes. Whether you’ve had problems with the IRS in the past or not, Defend Tax Payer can use its vast experience of over 45 years in dealing with tax-related problems to solve your tax problem before it threatens your business, your financial security, or even your liberty. Call now Defend Tax Payer at 866-489-1670.

10Jun, 2015

5 Tips When Hiring a Tax Consultant In Chicago

A professional and experienced tax consultant in Chicago can make your life easier and bring you peace of mind. It is crucial, however, that you avoid shams or low-quality providers and choose a qualified, IRS-approved, transparent team of tax experts.

Whether you do it for personal or commercial reasons, hiring a tax consultant in Chicago can be a great investment for you, one that can bring you peace of mind, since you know that your taxes are handled by a team of experts specialized in tax preparation and tax defense services. That said, not all tax services Chicago based are equal, which is why you want to make sure you hire the right tax consultant for you. Here are seven tips that will help you make a choice you won’t regret later.

1. Don’t work with a tax consultant in Chicago if it doesn’t have a fixed address and a phone number where it can be easily contacted whenever you have a tax-related question or run into a problem with the IRS. So called ‘tax experts’ without an address may be nothing but scams, or inexperienced professionals trying to pass for specialized tax services providers.

2. Make sure your tax consultant has a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Tax services providers who charge for their services must be registered to the IRS, which then assigns them a PTIN that they must use according to federal law on the tax return forms. The IRS requires any tax services provider to pass through a verification process before receiving their unique PTIN.

3. Never work with a provider of tax services Chicago based which does not offer you a complete copy of all the tax documents it prepares for you and sends to the IRS, including tax returns. Also, be wary of any provider which asks you to sign blank returns to “speed up the process”.

4. Choose a tax consultant in Chicago who has a good online and offline reputation, a good quality website, a prompt customer service, and that overall looks professional and reliable. Above all, look for a tax services provider who is transparent. You must remember that although the consultant will prepare and sign your tax documents for you, at the end of the day you are the one responsible for the data in them.

5. Choose a provider of complete tax services in Chicago, especially if you have multiple sources of income, run a business or more, donate to charity, and have had tax problems in the past. While a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is a good choice for a typical tax payer, a complete tax services provider like the Chicago-based Defend Tax Payer has more experience in dealing with tax problems and offers a wide range of services that go beyond tax preparation, including resolving settle back taxes, tax liens, levies, and wage garnishments. To find out more about Defend Tax Payer.

12May, 2015

5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Tax Consultant in San Antonio

Hiring a tax consultant in San Antonio can be an excellent investment, one that far exceeds expectations. Discover why working with a tax consultant can save you time and money and bring you peace of mind.

“For most tax payers, a tax consultant may seem like a luxury they can’t afford, but in many cases, the costs of hiring one prove to be lower than the tax expenses they can help you save, not to mention the stress and paperwork they will spare you. Wading through tax records and filing tax returns can be a laborious and tedious business, especially if you have multiple jobs, are the owner of one or more businesses or organizations, or donate to charity. The good news is that a tax consultant San Antonio based can make your life easier. Here are some of the key reasons why you should consider hiring tax services in San Antonio, TX provided by an experienced tax consultant.

It prevents mistakes, which can turn out to be costly for you. The IRS known for its scrupulousness and, if something is wrong with your tax statement, they will find out.
Saves you time. Instead of spending dozens of hours taking care of your tax returns or trying solve on your own the tax problems you are facing, you can let a specialized tax consultant San Antonio based do the work for you. You will gain peace of mind and more time for your work and your family. There were 11,564,740 tax returns in 2015 according to IRS data; what if most of these would have been handled by tax professionals? How much faster and more accurate they would have been?
Using the services of a tax consultant in San Antonio is more effective than using a tax application or software, which can only act based on a set of pre-determined scenarios, and with which you cannot communicate. What is more, a tax specialist may be able to represent you in an audit.
Tax services in San Antonio, TX usually include planning as well, enabling you to plan months and even years ahead. This can save you a lot of time and hassle in the long term, especially if your tax situation is complex.
A skilled and experienced tax consultant can recommend you effective ways to save on taxes without getting into trouble with the IRS or complicating your financial situation. For example, a tax consultant can find significant deductions or tax credits you may have missed, helping you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, in return for a comparably small fee.

“Finally, it’s good to know that before you hire a tax consultant in San Antonio, you should gather all your tax records and forms, as well as bank statements, and any other relevant financial documents you may have. The tax professional won’t have to do this for you, and so you can help reduce your tax services fees.

14Apr, 2015

Reasons to get a tax consultant

This month taxes are due and there will be quite a few people that will be behind on their taxes or still not sure as to what they need to do. For that reason it is important for them to get a tax consultant.

As the deadline for taxes is right around the corner, there are many people that are relaxing since they had taken care of their taxes early on in the year and have already settled their taxes with the IRS. There are quite a few people that can benefit from going to a tax consultant for help if they need to resolve their IRS issues.

There are quite a few issues that can arise when doing your taxes. From first time students filing their taxes as independents to new business owners that have no prior experience there will always be something that a tax consultant can do to make your whole tax process much smoother.

For a student that is filing taxes for the first time is can be quite confusing when going through the forms by themselves and they can very easily miss information or put the wrong information down. When mistakes are made it can take longer to finish your taxes which can make you miss your deadline and result in fines or penalties.

There are quite a few tax consultants in San Antonio so it may be hard to find the right one to go to when it comes time for you to actually submit your paperwork to someone. Luckily Defend Tax Payer has many experienced tax experts in San Antonio and Chicago that are ready to help you resolve your IRS issues.

Some issues which people may have is dealing with back taxes. When taxes are due to the irs it can be difficult negotiating with them and many times it’s better to have a tax consultant go over your paper work and deal with all of the hassle. If you owe more than $10,000 then it is usually best to let the tax consultants to deal with it.

With their experience and know how they’ll be able to ensure that you don’t have to worry about anything and that you don’t’ have to deal with the IRS or any of their penalties. By getting a tax consultant you can always ensure that you are filling out your taxes properly and that you are getting the maximum refund or deductions.

In the Texas area, for a tax expert or a tax consultant in San Antonio, Defend Tax Payer will have a consultant always waiting to help you our 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Remember that if you need to get a tax consultant to help you with your taxes you need to call Defend Tax Payer.

27Mar, 2015

College students and deadlines

There are many responsibilities placed on college students, one of these happens to be filing taxes. Just like every other task that a college student is given, this chore is pushed back until the last possible moment by many and then it is done in a rush.

Procrastination is one of the main ideas that a college student is known to practice. Not all will be known as procrastinators but a majority are. These college students basically turn their head at the sight of work, and will do just about anything to get away from doing busy work.

Filing taxes is one of the tedious and long paperwork procedures that is dumped on college students on top of their pile of things to get done. The fact that the process is long and confusing makes the students to push this task further and further back and the very close to the deadline. If the process were simpler, quicker, or if someone could do it with them they would be more likely to not push the deadline so far back.

Students are known to do better, learn more, and pay attention to topics more when they are guided through exercises in class. They are more likely to get it done right as well. If a college student were given a guide to how to do their taxes quickly and efficiently they would probably take advantage of it. The problem though is that they don’t know that there are tax services in San Antonio TX, tax services in Austin, and even tax consultants in Chicago and other major cities where these students re are already living in to attend their schools. There is help readily available to these students to answer questions and to guide them along the process of doing their taxes properly.

If these students got professional help the first time, and if they were show how to do it, it would probably have the same effect as some hands on classes. These students are taught to learn by doing. In the future these students would probably have less trouble filling their own taxes and the fact that they think it is not difficult may actually lead them to getting it done earlier.

High school students usually procrastinate because they don’t know how to do an assignment or because it is lengthy. If students learned how to quickly and efficiently do their own taxes from someone, then there would be no need to procrastinate. The fact that they can get these taxes done in an efficient manner might even lead to the set students learning not to procrastinate on other assignments and help them in the long run of their college careers.

2Mar, 2015

Filing taxes properly in 2015

A majority of the United States is employed. This means that a majority of the people in the United States file taxes and some of these people might come up with issues with the IRS. This company has the experience and knowledge to help its customers get out of tight situations with the IRS.

If you have worked for a company or had any job before, you have probably had money taken out for taxes. And if not, at the end of the tax season you are still required to pay the taxes on the money that you have earned through the year. Many people either don’t know this or just refuse to pay their taxes. They think that it is not a big deal and that they will get away with it because they won’t get caught. Then they finally do get caught by the IRS. These people need to then find a tax consultant in Chicago, or San Antonio or wherever they may live. If they are indeed in Chicago, they may look for tax services in Chicago. These services are aimed to help the customer get out of their current situation with the IRS.

In truth, not filing taxes is illegal. It is a felony. Also, there is a saying that you cannot avoid death or taxes. There are just far too many occasions where people think that they can get away with not paying taxes and in the end get caught and have to pay out all the taxes that they did not in the past. The IRS does not give up until all of these funds are collected.

The problem occurs when these people who have not paid taxes are asked to do so in full amounts. Over time the taxes add up. Once the total gets high enough it becomes very difficult for people to pay it off. In the end some just don’t at all and face the troubles associated with that. Defend Tax Payer helps people find payment plans that are directly related to their debt and ability to pay. The taxes need to be paid off one way or another, and often, simply putting out a standard plan to get them paid off does not work. People make money differently and therefore can pay off their debt differently. With a custom plan it is easier for them to get their taxes paid off and stay away from more troubles with the IRS,

The overall goal is the get the taxes that have accumulated paid off as soon as possible. The problem with this simple statement is that once taxes pile up over years, they cannot be paid off in a single day. They took time to stack up and therefore they take time to pay off. The Defend Tax Payer helps find a possible, and probable way for the taxes to be paid off. With their experience they can help their customers avoid other obstacles in the process of paying off what they owe.