Martin Cantu, EA - Tax Consultant - Tax Relief Services Blog

The #IRS recently announced two scams that will impact taxpayers and the manner in which they deal with the #IRS. The newest approach involves scammers phoning taxpayers using fake names and IRS badge numbers - brazen acts to further intimidate unsuspecting taxpayers into providing the scammers with sensitive financial data. This method is effective because the #IRS will contact you by phone and the agent will identify himself with name and badge number. Further complicating the situation is that the scammer will threaten the taxpayer with severe consequences if the tax bill is not paid. The scammer may also have stolen an #IRS notice from the taxpayers mailbox, providing the scammer with an amount, a notice number and date, and other valuable information about the taxpayer's actual tax problem. The scammer will make threats, may use rude tones and language, and demand action now. Unfortunately, some agents may use these same tactics, especially when attempting to collect lar...

Here is some information put out by the #IRS on the Affordable Care Act, and your duties under the Act.  The Individual Shared Responsibility Payment – An Overview Starting January 2014, you and your family must either have health insurance coverage throughout the year, qualify for an exemption from coverage, or make a payment when you file your 2014 federal income tax return in 2015. Many people already have qualifying health insurance coverage and do not need to do anything more than maintain that coverage in 2014. Qualifying coverage includes coverage provided by your employer, health insurance you purchase in the Health Insurance Marketplace, most government-sponsored coverage, and coverage you purchase directly from an insurance company. However, qualifying coverage does not include coverage that may provide limited benefits, such as coverage only for vision care or dental care, workers’ compensation, or coverage that only covers a specific disease or condi...

Just when all is lost, the #IRSAppeals section comes to the rescue - sort of. #IRSAppeals is a great tool to use, at the right time and under the right circumstance. It can provide taxpayers with a break to get their house in order and make a good faith attempt to pay off the tax debt, usually via an installment plan. Its not quick fix pill. It takes work to muster the documents needed to support the taxpayer's position and to give the appeals officer the foundation to make the decision you want them to make. I like because is changes the playing field, getting it off one person's desk (collections) and onto another person's desk (appeals). Maybe its a card your don't have to play, or maybe its one you save for an other day. That is where experience plays a big role. As one collection officer told me recently, there are appeals opportunities all through the process. He was right, but the taxpayer has to get involved early to take advantage of those opportunities...