Owe Back Taxes

First of all, if you owe back taxes, don't be embarrassed. Millions of people are in the same situation as yours. This is especially true for individuals who are 1099'd. No taxes are withheld, which at the time is great because you have more money to yourself. And you think, "By this time next year, I'll have the money saved up." But unfortunately that is usually not the way it turns out. Instead, saving your money becomes very difficult. Things happen in life that just seem to get in the way of your plan to save up money for your taxes. That's life. There's nothing you can do about that now. Instead focus on the present time. You owe back taxes, so what are you going to do about it?

If you owe less than $10,000 the IRS will put you on a payment plan. If you can afford that, then great! But if you can't afford that arrangement, or if you owe more than $10,000, then you may have to look at alternative methods of resolving this situation. If it comes down to negotiating a settlement, then it's important that you know this: The IRS will not negotiate a settlement until all of your taxes have been filed.

So for example, if you have not filed for the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, you'll need to have your taxes prepared. A reputable tax representation firm will prepare your taxes on your behalf if you decide to go that route. If your returns are simple and you have done them before, then you may be able to do these on your own. Frankly however, you may want to put some serious thought into that. Taxes can be very complicated.

If you owe back taxes and simply cannot afford to pay your back taxes in full or via an installment agreement, you may qualify for a Currently Not Collectible Status. This is basically where your overall situation and your current financial situation prove that you just can't afford to pay on that for now. Often times the IRS will freeze their collection efforts for up to two years in order to give you time to work this out. Other plans include debt reduction plans such as an Offer In Compromise. This is a program that allows you to pay less than what you owe. Keep in mind that this can be a lengthy procedure.

An interesting point is that sometimes a large percentage of your back taxes are made up of interest and penalty. Under certain circumstances, you may qualify to have your penalties abated. You can request your tax records from the IRS to determine exactly how much you have been charged in penalties. Be forewarned that there is a lot of red tape with the IRS since they are the country's largest collections bureau. You may want to consider consulting with an IRS Resolution Firm to settle your back taxes if you don't have the time necessary to devote to the situation, or knowledge required to prepare your documents and file any necessary urgent actions such as stopping or preventing a garnishment or levy. There is much help with back taxes available but first you need to decide to take action.

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