The IRS Repossessed My Car...

I was busy putting my trash cans by the road since tomorrow was garbage day. Then I hear the slurred voice of my neighbor and before I know it, I am trapped talking to him. It was already 2pm so he was well lit by this point. "Hey guess what? I am finally getting my car back. I settled up with the IRS and they are going to give it back to me. I would of had it sooner, but it takes forever to get a hearing with them."

Now, to know my neighbor would mean that you know he is an alcoholic and a habitual liar. First off, the Internal Revenue Service wouldn't have repossessed his car...the bank or lender would have. The IRS could have placed a federal tax lien against my neighbor and that would have prevented him from buying or selling a car, but they certainly did not repossess it. It's just not their style. Second, to get that car back once repossessed, my neighbor would have had to fork over some serious dough and that was not possible for a man who wasn't working. No, once again my inebriated friend is lying to my face. I know this because as I said before, the IRS isn't going to repossess the car. I also know this because the owner of the house my neighbor was renting told me so. You see, the car is the house owner's, and he gave it to his renter to get around town in. He took the car because he noticed my neighbor was behind on his rent, wasn't keeping up the house, and remained in an intoxicated state. So the real reason my neighbor was getting back his "repossessed" car was because apparently the owner had a change of heart. Again, something uncharacteristic of the IRS.

Cheers!
- Taxus

As always, you can find an array of articles by perusing this site or by checking out my coworkers' individual sites:

IRS MIND
Tax Negotiation
Tax Thoughts
Little Miss Tax Lass
Tax Settlement

And if you need the assistance of a tax resolution firm, seek out the best: Effectur, Inc.

Tax Negotiation vs. Tax Argument

Contrary to what some may believe, there is a difference between negotiating with the IRS and arguing with the IRS. It's common sense that when you negotiate, you are trying to resolve an issue by utilizing a "win-win" approach. This is advantageous when attempting to settle a debt with the IRS. But all too often, an angry and misinformed taxpayer will try to argue their way to some type of resolution...utilizing the "lose-lose approach".....or maybe the "lose-now we are going to put a levy in place and take your paycheck" approach. Whatever you want to call it, it is not the path to be taken. When it comes to tax negotiation, remember what your mother probably told you: "You get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar."

Here is one of many common tax arguments: “Filing a tax return is ‘voluntary.’”

The word "voluntary," as used by the IRS , refers to the fact that the U.S. tax system is a voluntary compliance system. This means that the taxpayers are able to determine the correct amount of tax pursuant to law and complete the appropriate returns, rather than have the government do this for them. This system of self-reporting does not make the filing of tax returns or the payment of tax optional. For those who do not comply with this system and fail to self-report their tax liability, the tax law authorizes action to be taken.

Trust me, the IRS has heard every story in the book and have burned each chapter 9 times out of 10. 2 certainties in life: death and taxes. Stop trying to prove otherwise. If you owe a tax debt, try to resolve the issue rather than arguing it and making life worse for yourself. If you truly feel that an injustice has been made against you and the IRS is to blame, it would be in your best interest to seek out the assistance of a tax attorney or tax resolution firm.

Cheers!

- Taxus