IRS Tax Help From a Tax Attorney
If you get a letter in the mail from the IRS, do not panic. Contact us immediately with your questions. Wolf Tax is committed to helping individuals and businesses solve a wide variety of tax-related problems at a reasonable price. If you have a tax debt and have ignored it for too long, you are putting yourself at risk.
The IRS does not leave any stone unturned when it comes to collecting tax debt. In fact, the IRS uses numerous methods to penalize you and collect the money they claim you owe. No matter what steps have already been taken against you, whether you've just received the first notice or the collection attempts have already begun, if you don't take action now, your tax problems will only get worse. An experienced tax attorney is the best person to help you solve the problem.
Below are the most common tax problems.
Back Taxes
Owing back taxes means the IRS considers your account delinquent, which triggers penalties, interest, and eventually liens or levies if left unresolved. Many taxpayers assume there's no way to negotiate, but options like an Offer in Compromise, an installment agreement, or Currently Not Collectible status can significantly reduce what you actually pay. We review your full financial picture to find the resolution that fits and stops the debt from growing.
Payroll Taxes
If you're like most employers who fall behind on payroll deposits, the thought of dealing with the IRS probably keeps you up at night. The IRS treats unpaid Form 941 payroll taxes as one of its highest collection priorities, and through the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP), it can hold you personally liable for the withheld portion, even if your business later closes. We negotiate resolutions that protect both your operations and your personal assets.
Tax Levy
A tax levy is a lawful seizure of your wages, bank accounts, or property by the IRS to satisfy unpaid tax debt. Once you receive a Final Notice of Intent to Levy, you have just 30 days to request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing before enforcement begins. Our attorneys act fast to negotiate a levy release or an alternative like an installment agreement before your paycheck or account is touched.
Unfiled Tax Returns
If you have years of unfiled returns, the IRS may file a Substitute for Return (SFR) on your behalf, a worst-case estimate that skips every deduction and credit you're entitled to. Filing accurate returns almost always lowers what you owe, and it's a required first step before the IRS will approve an Offer in Compromise or installment agreement. We prepare and file your back returns correctly, replacing any SFRs with the lower, accurate balance you actually owe.
IRS Tax Audit Help
The IRS conducts audits, whether by mail (correspondence audit) or in person (field audit), to verify that your reported income and deductions match what's on file. What you say, and don't say, during an audit can determine whether it closes with no changes or expands into additional tax years. Our attorneys represent you directly with the IRS so you're never navigating an audit alone.
Tax Penalties
The IRS charges failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties, plus daily compounding interest, the moment you miss a deadline, and these can add up to 25% or more of your original balance. If this is your first time falling behind, you may qualify for First-Time Abatement, or Reasonable Cause relief if specific circumstances caused the delay. We identify which penalty relief programs apply and file the request on your behalf.
Tax Lien
A federal tax lien is the IRS's legal claim against everything you own, real estate, vehicles, and financial assets, filed publicly once you owe a significant tax debt. Unlike a levy, a lien doesn't seize your property outright, but it can devastate your credit and block you from selling or refinancing until it's resolved. We pursue lien withdrawal, subordination, or release, whichever path clears the way forward.
Signs You Need Tax Help Now
- You received a Final Notice of Intent to Levy (Letter LT11 or Letter 1058) or a CP504. These start short deadlines, and the 30-day window to request a Collection Due Process hearing is your strongest protection against a levy.
- Your wages or bank account have already been levied, or your employer received an IRS wage levy notice.
- A federal tax lien is blocking a home sale, refinance, or business loan.
- You have unfiled tax returns, or the IRS filed a Substitute for Return for you.
- Your business is behind on payroll tax deposits, or a revenue officer has contacted you.
- You received an audit letter or a CP2000 proposing more tax.
What to Do After You Get an IRS Letter
- Read the notice number and the response date. The notice code in the upper right corner tells you what the IRS wants. The IRS explains each code on its Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter page, and we explain the most common ones in our IRS notice guide.
- Confirm the letter is real. The IRS usually contacts you by mail first and does not demand payment by gift card or wire transfer. See the IRS tax scam alerts.
- Do not ignore the deadline. Missing it can cost you appeal rights and lead to added penalties and interest.
- Get advice before you call the IRS. What you agree to on the phone can lock you into a payment you cannot afford. A tax attorney can compare an installment agreement, an Offer in Compromise, Currently Not Collectible status, and penalty relief first.
Wolf Tax is an attorney-led firm in Troy, Michigan, serving Metro Detroit and clients nationwide. Schedule a free, confidential consultation or call (888) 965-3829.