Offer in Compromise
Offer in Compromise — Small Business Owner
Philadelphia business owner with $182,000 in payroll tax debt. We negotiated an Offer in Compromise based on financial hardship.
Owed
$182,000
Paid
$12,500
Saved
93% reduction
When The IRS Won't Stop
Tax Resolution Services
The IRS has lawyers. So should you.
30+ Years In The Trenches
Real Lawyers — Not A Call Center
A+ BBB · Thousands Resolved
30+ yrs
Defending taxpayers
$0.10 on $1
Common OIC outcome
24-48 hrs
Typical levy release time
A+
BBB rating
What's actually happening
Tax debt isn't a number on a letter. It's compounding daily — and the IRS has weapons.
Most tax problems don't start as emergencies. They start as a single envelope you didn't open, a year you didn't file, a balance that 'wasn't that bad.' Then interest compounds, penalties stack, and one Tuesday morning the bank account is frozen. The Internal Revenue Code is, however, also one of the most generous bodies of relief law ever written — Offers in Compromise, installment agreements, penalty abatement, Currently Not Collectible status, innocent spouse relief, lien releases, levy reversals, hardship suspensions. The IRS will not volunteer any of them. We use every one of them, every day, to settle six- and seven-figure liabilities for a fraction of what was owed and to get garnishments lifted in days, not months.
Where most people start
Five problems we solve every week
I owe more than I can pay
Settle for less with an Offer in Compromise
If your reasonable collection potential is less than the balance, the IRS is legally required to consider settling. We build OICs that get accepted — often for cents on the dollar.
How we handle itThe IRS is taking my paycheck
Stop wage garnishments — usually in 24-48 hours
A wage levy doesn't have to be permanent. We file the right release, negotiate the underlying debt, and get your paycheck back fast.
How we handle itI'm being audited
Never face an IRS auditor alone
We respond to the IDR, control the scope, and keep you out of the room. Most of our clients never meet the auditor — and walk away owing far less than the proposed assessment.
How we handle itI haven't filed in years
Get back into compliance — quietly
Unfiled returns are the #1 trigger for criminal referral. We reconstruct records, file the right years in the right order, and shut the IRS's case before it starts.
How we handle itThere's a lien on my property
Release, discharge, or subordinate the lien
A Notice of Federal Tax Lien wrecks credit, blocks sales, and freezes refinancing. We know which of the four release mechanisms applies — and how to get it filed fast.
How we handle itHow we work
A real process. Real timelines. No vague promises.
- 01
Free, attorney-client privileged call
A real tax attorney — not an intake screener — listens to what's happening, looks at any notice you have in hand, and tells you within minutes whether and how we can help.
- 02
Full IRS transcript pull
We file a Form 2848 Power of Attorney, pull every IRS transcript (account, wage & income, return, civil penalty), and find out exactly what the IRS already knows.
- 03
Compliance + resolution strategy
We map every legal tool that fits — OIC, CNC, installment, penalty abatement, lien discharge, innocent spouse — and pick the combination that costs you the least money and the least time.
- 04
We talk to the IRS, not you
Once the POA is on file, the IRS calls us. Letters come to us. Revenue officers schedule with us. Your phone stops ringing.
- 05
Resolution and forward compliance
We close the case, get the liens released, confirm the abatements posted, and build a simple compliance plan so you never end up back here.
Every service in this category
Whatever the IRS is doing — there's a legal tool to stop it.
Offer in Compromise
Settle your tax debt for less than what you owe through IRS settlement programs.
Read moreInstallment Agreement
Set up manageable monthly payment plans to pay off your tax debt over time.
Read moreCurrently Not Collectible
Prove financial hardship to temporarily halt IRS collection activity.
Read morePenalty Abatement
Remove or reduce IRS penalties through first-time abatement or reasonable cause.
Read moreInnocent Spouse Relief
Relief from joint tax liability caused by your spouse's errors or fraud.
Read moreIRS Audit Representation
Professional representation during IRS examinations to protect your interests.
Read moreIRS Appeals
Challenge unfavorable IRS decisions through the independent Appeals Office.
Read moreTax Liens
Remove, release, or subordinate federal tax liens damaging your credit and property.
Read moreBank Levies
Stop the IRS from seizing funds from your bank accounts.
Read moreWage Garnishment
Stop IRS wage levies that are taking money from your paycheck.
Read moreIRS Seizures
Prevent the IRS from seizing your home, car, or business assets.
Read moreIRS Summons
Respond to and challenge IRS summons for records and testimony.
Read moreDelinquent Tax Filings
Get caught up on unfiled tax returns and back into IRS compliance.
Read moreFresh Start Initiative
Take advantage of IRS programs designed to help taxpayers get a clean slate.
Read morePayroll Tax Problems
Resolve trust fund recovery penalties and payroll tax delinquencies.
Read moreTaxes & Bankruptcy
Determine if your tax debt qualifies for discharge in bankruptcy proceedings.
Read moreEstate Planning & Asset Protection
Protect your assets from IRS collection through legal planning strategies.
Read moreBusiness Tax Planning
Strategic tax planning for businesses to minimize liability and maximize compliance.
Read moreForeign Bank Account Reporting (FBAR)
Compliance with FBAR requirements and voluntary disclosure for unreported accounts.
Read moreOffshore & Foreign Bank Accounts
Navigate offshore compliance programs and resolve foreign account issues.
Read moreMortgage Foreclosure & Cancellation of Debt
Address tax consequences of foreclosure and canceled debt income.
Read moreDischarge/Release of Tax Liens
Obtain discharge or release of federal tax liens from your property.
Read moreTaxation of Gambling Winnings
Proper reporting and resolution of gambling income tax issues.
Read moreBack Taxes Solutions
Comprehensive strategies for resolving years of unpaid back taxes.
Read moreIf you got a letter
IRS notices that lead here
The notices below are the most common entry points into a case like this. Tap any one for a plain-English breakdown of what it means and what to do next.
Notice CP14
Balance Due Notice
This is the IRS's first notice telling you that you owe taxes. It shows the amount due, including any penalties and interest.
Notice CP504
Intent to Levy Notice
This is a final notice before the IRS seizes your assets. They intend to levy (take) your state tax refund and may seize other assets.
Notice LT11 / Letter 1058
Final Notice of Intent to Levy
This is the absolute final warning. The IRS will begin seizing your wages, bank accounts, and property within 30 days.
Notice CP2000
Underreported Income Notice
The IRS believes you didn't report all your income. They've received information (W-2s, 1099s) that doesn't match your return.
Notice CP90 / CP297
Final Notice of Intent to Levy & Right to Hearing
CP90 (individuals) and CP297 (businesses) are the IRS's statutory Final Notice of Intent to Levy. After 30 days the IRS can legally seize wages, bank accounts, retirement funds, and Social Security payments.
Notice CP523
Intent to Default Installment Agreement
The IRS is about to terminate your installment agreement because you missed payments or didn't file required returns.
Forms you may need to file
IRS forms tied to this category
Each form has its own page with step-by-step instructions and the mistakes that get returns rejected.
Form 433-A
Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed
Detailed financial disclosure the IRS uses to decide what you can pay — required for most large installment agreements and Offers in Compromise.
Form 433-F
Collection Information Statement (Short Form)
Shorter financial disclosure used by the IRS Automated Collection System for moderate balances.
Form 656
Offer in Compromise
The form used to formally propose settling your IRS tax debt for less than the full amount owed.
Form 9465
Installment Agreement Request
The form used to formally request an IRS payment plan when you can't pay your tax in full.
Form 1040-X
Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Used to correct errors on a previously filed Form 1040 — claim missed deductions, fix income, or respond to an IRS adjustment.
Form 2848
Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative
Authorizes a licensed attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent to represent you before the IRS — speak, sign, and negotiate on your behalf.
Real outcomes
Recent results in this category
Penalty Abatement
Penalty Abatement — First-Time Non-Filer
Cherry Hill professional who failed to file for 3 years. We filed all returns and secured full penalty abatement under first-time abatement rules.
Owed
$47,000
Paid
$18,200
Saved
61% reduction
Bank Levy
Bank Levy Release — Medical Professional
Baltimore physician had $95,000 seized from bank accounts. We secured levy release within 48 hours and negotiated an installment agreement.
Owed
$310,000
Paid
$3,100/month
Saved
Levy released in 48 hrs
Speak the language
Terms you'll hear in this process
- ACS
Automated Collection System — the IRS call center division that handles most collection actions, including phone contacts about unpaid taxes, installment agreements, and status requests.
- CDP
Collection Due Process — a taxpayer's legal right to a hearing before the IRS Office of Appeals before certain collection actions (levies, liens) can proceed.
- CNC
Currently Not Collectible — a status the IRS places on a taxpayer's account when they determine the taxpayer cannot afford to pay their tax debt. Collection activity is paused, though interest and penalties continue to accrue.
- CSED
Collection Statute Expiration Date — the date after which the IRS can no longer legally collect a tax debt. Generally 10 years from the date of assessment.
- OIC
Offer in Compromise — an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles a tax liability for less than the full amount owed. The IRS considers the taxpayer's ability to pay, income, expenses, and asset equity.
- POA
Power of Attorney — authorization for a tax professional to represent a taxpayer before the IRS, typically granted via IRS Form 2848.
- RCP
Reasonable Collection Potential — the IRS calculation used to determine how much a taxpayer can realistically pay toward their tax debt. It is a key factor in evaluating Offers in Compromise.
- SFR
Substitute for Return — a tax return the IRS files on behalf of a taxpayer who has not filed. SFRs typically do not include deductions or credits the taxpayer may be entitled to.
From the journal
Recent writing on this topic
Tax Debt
What Should I Do if I Can't Afford to Pay the IRS?Opening a tax bill from the federal government that you cannot afford to pay is a stressful experience. Learn your options for IRS tax debt relief.
Tax Debt
What Should I Do If I Owe the IRS More Than $10,000?Discovering you owe the federal government a significant amount of money can be overwhelming. Here's what to do if you owe the IRS more than $10,000.
Tax Resolution
How Can I Reduce My IRS Tax Debt Legally?Facing overwhelming IRS tax debt can feel like drowning in quicksand. Learn the legal strategies to reduce what you owe.
Criminal Tax Issues
When the government wants to put you in a cage — we put ourselves between you and them.
ExploreIRS Collections Defense
When the IRS stops asking and starts taking — there's a legal counter to every move.
ExploreAdditional Tax Services
Specialty tax matters — bankruptcy, foreign accounts, estate planning, payroll, gambling, and more.
ExploreAll services
Browse every service we offer — criminal defense, tax resolution, audit, appeals, planning — in one place.
Service indexEvery Day You Wait, It Gets Worse
Don't Face The IRS Alone. Nobody Should.
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