Frequently Asked Questions Concerning IRS Notices

I just received a notice (or letter) from IRS threatening to take a number of aggressive collection actions against me - what does this mean?

Most often, the key issue with any IRS notice or letter is whether or not it was sent by certified mail, rather than what the message it contained actually said.

If the notice you received was not sent by certified mail, it probably means that your case has not yet been forwarded to the Revenue Officer to whom it will ultimately be assigned, and you are being sent computer generated mail from the Automated Collection Section of IRS. This will usually be unsigned, or signed by someone acting in their official capacity as, 'Chief, Automated Collection Branch,' or some such. Any notice or letter sent at the direction of a Revenue Officer will bear his/her name and indicate that he/she is acting in their capacity as a Revenue Officer.

Unfortunately, either the Automated Collection Branch or a Revenue Officer can probably take the steps that are being threatened against you.

Fortunately, before IRS can take such steps, its regulations require:

• It must have identified some specific source of income or asset that can be levied, garnished, or seized; and,

• It must send the taxpayer a written notice or letter by certified mail outlining its intention to do something; and,

• Thirty days must have elapsed from the date such certified mail was sent.

If the notice you received was not sent by certified mail, you will probably not hear anything further for approximately the next five weeks, which is the average length of an IRS collection action cycle.

If the notice you received was sent by certified mail, be assured that IRS intends to pursue enforced collection action against you as specified in it. IRS will not send you any additional notices during the ensuing 30-day warning period as set out above.

Please take note: the receipt of certified mail from IRS is an extremely serious matter. You - or a representative such as Tax Matters, Inc. - MUST respond to it in some fashion within the stated time period. Call us at 915-581-1040 if you want help.

I have received a notice (or letter) from IRS threatening to take a number of aggressive collection actions against me - what should I do?

Regardless of whether it was sent by certified mail or not, do not ignore this important communication from IRS.  Tax Matters, Inc. suggests that you either:

1. Respond to the notice (in person, or by phone or mail) within the prescribed 30-day warning period and establish a dialog with the Revenue Officer to whom your case is or will be assigned. As hard as it may be to believe, he/she probably wants to resolve the matter with you as quickly and pleasantly as possible. Ignoring the problem will only aggravate your situation.

   OR:

2. Contact Tax Matters, Inc.  at 915-581-1040 as soon as possible to discuss the many options that delinquent taxpayers have today as a result of recent federal legislation such as the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. These could include:
   

   • Filing an Offer in Compromise if your disposable income and available assets are less than the amount you owe; or

   • Applying for an Installment Agreement if payment in full at this time would create a hardship; or,

   • Qualifying for, 'Currently Uncollectible' status if you are presently unable to pay the tax; or,

   • Paying your taxes by borrowing the money that's needed. 

Once you decide to put a stop to the enforced collection process by retaining Tax Matters, Inc. to represent you, we will insulate you from that point forward so that you will never have to meet with IRS.

Remember; these are serious problems that won't go away by themselves. Professional assistance is only a phone call away. Call us at 915-581-1040 while there's still time for us to help you.

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