Ellyn Tanenberg - Washington, DC

Overview

Tax Solutions

Please take a moment to browse through my web site to learn more about my firm and how I can resolve your tax issues.

My area of expertise is to solve tax problems for individuals and businesses. I represent you before the IRS and state tax authorities. My legal and CPA expertise has enabled me to resolve disputes with tax authorities and has given me a thorough understanding of tax returns and tax procedures. As a direct result of my intervention, I have saved my clients substantial time, money and aggravation.

Tax Talk

We've all heard the adage "Two things in life are inevitable: death and taxes". For a variety of reasons, some of us may ignore filing and/or paying taxes. Since it is the IRS's duty is to collect and protect the revenue, IRS has the authority to bring enforcement action against delinquent taxpayers to collect the tax. This may consist of imposing liens and levies and seizing a taxpayer's property. These are civil actions taken by the IRS. In addition, there may be criminal investigation and prosecution if the government believes there was a criminal tax violation.

Q: What are the psychological and financial effects of failing to file or pay taxes?

A:

• Financial: Unfiled and/or unpaid prior years' taxes can grow into a much larger amount b/c the IRS imposes interest and penalties on the amount owed. This can cause a person to lose the opportunity to obtain a much-needed mortgage, car loan, job or apartment. The IRS may garnish a person's wages. They can freeze bank accounts.
• Psychological: People tell me they are not able to work, sleep or plan life events. They are afraid not only of the financial impact, but they also worry that they will suffer terrible humiliation when the IRS garnishes their wages or they even fear going to jail.

Q: What is my usual approach to clients who are delinquent in filing returns and paying taxes?

A:

• First I do a phone interview with the client to get a feel for the history of the problem. as they understand it. I ask them to gather up pertinent IRS correspondence and their most relevant tax returns.
• Then we meet. We talk about the circumstances that led to the problem.
• I look over their documents and correspondence.
• Then I put together a little chronological outline of the facts and a game plan to present to IRS by telephone while the client is in my office.
• Then I call the IRS, prepared to negotiate the most favorable outcome.

• After contacting the IRS, I firm up a game plan with my client for getting the returns done. As the returns are prepared, the client files them, and then we decide what payment option seems most reasonable (payment in full, installment agreement or offer in compromise). Incidentally, many times, the amounts due on the newly prepared tax returns show much less tax owed than the IRS claims. With few exceptions, once the delinquent returns are filed, and a payment arrangement is made, the IRS problem will be under control and the taxpayer can sigh a sigh of relief.