You’ve Got Tax Questions. We’ve Got Tax Answers.
I. How Does IRS Tax Representation Work?
Tax representation means an authorized, licensed tax professional (like a tax attorney) steps in to deal directly with the IRS on your behalf, so you don’t have to handle notices, calls, or negotiations yourself. They analyze your transcripts, stop or prevent collections where possible, and execute a strategy to resolve your liability as quickly and favorably as the law allows.
Why should I hire a tax lawyer? Can’t a tax accountant help me?
Dealing with the IRS is often more about procedure than math. A tax lawyer understands how the IRS actually works, which department handles what, who to call, and how to get through to the right people when a case is stuck.
Lawyers are also fully licensed by a state bar and held to strict professional standards, while some tax preparers are unenrolled and have limited authority. On top of that, tax lawyers spend years studying tax law, IRS procedure, and dispute strategy in law school.
Is there a minimum amount that I need to owe to hire you?
Nope! There’s no minimum tax balance required to work with us.
Whether you owe the IRS a few thousand dollars or a six-figure amount, the approach is the same: we evaluate your situation, identify the best resolution options, and help you move forward. If it makes financial sense for you to get help, it’s worth a conversation.
What happens after I hire you?
In most cases, we handle things in two clear phases:
Phase 1: We step in immediately, take over all communication with the IRS, and put protections in place to stop or prevent collections. We pull and review your IRS transcripts and every relevant document, break down exactly what the IRS is claiming, and run a full financial and reasonable collection potential (RCP) analysis. At the same time, we dig into your income, expenses, and any hardships to understand what you can realistically afford and where we think we can help you the most.
Phase 2: We execute the winning strategy we just developed. From that point forward, we continue dealing with the IRS and pushing the case toward a final resolution that protects your income and assets.
Will you talk to the IRS for me?
Yes. We deal with the IRS directly so you don’t have to. Once we’re on the case, we handle the calls, notices, and negotiations, and you won’t be stuck trying to get through or figure out who to talk to. We keep you updated, but we take that burden off your plate.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes! We strongly believe that quality IRS representation should be accessible to all. Also, when you support small businesses like Keeton Tax Law PLLC, you receive major value: experienced attorneys without big law prices.
Are your tax consultations really free?
Yes, our consultations really are free! The goal is to understand what’s going on, answer your questions, and point you in the right direction. If it’s something we can help with, we’ll explain the next steps. If not, at least you leave with a clear understanding of your situation and what to do next.
Can you tell me the best resolution strategy during the free consultation?
We focus on getting it right, not rushing you into a one-size-fits-all answer. That’s why we take a deeper dive after the consultation. Think of it like taking your car to the mechanic with the check engine light on. They can’t tell you exactly what’s wrong or how to fix it until they run a diagnostic. Tax problems work the same way. After the initial consultation, we’ll analyze your IRS transcripts, filing history, and financial situation to see what the IRS says you owe and why.
Once that diagnostic is done, we implement the best path forward, whether that’s filing missing returns, setting up an IRS payment plan, requesting penalty relief, placing the account in currently not collectible status, or exploring an offer in compromise.
How long will this IRS representation take?
Some cases can be resolved in a few months, while others take longer, especially if there are unfiled returns, larger balances, or multiple years involved. Think of it like fixing a problem that’s been building for a while. The more moving parts there are, the longer it can take. The good news is that once we step in, we take control of the case, deal directly with the IRS, and start putting protections in place right away to help safeguard your income and assets while we work toward a resolution.
There are several options available to resolve tax debt, and the right one depends on your financial situation, how much you owe, and where you are in the IRS process. We evaluate every available path and build a strategy around your specific circumstances to secure the most favorable resolution possible.
II. What Are My Options To Resolve Tax Debt?
Do I qualify for an offer in compromise?
It depends on your situation. An offer in compromise is based on your income, expenses, assets, and overall ability to pay, so not everyone qualifies. Think of it like a financial snapshot of what the IRS believes you can realistically afford.
Once we step in, we review your numbers and IRS transcripts, run the analysis, and determine pretty quickly if it’s a viable option. If it is, we move forward and build the strongest case possible. If not, we pivot to a better strategy that actually fits your situation and gets you to a resolution.
I haven’t filed a tax return in a long time, it’s too late for me to do something about it, right?
Not at all. We hear that a lot, but it’s almost never too late to deal with unfiled tax returns. In many cases the IRS just wants you back in compliance and may only require a limited number of returns.
Filing the missing returns through a tax professional, like Keeton Tax Law PLLC, often lowers the balance and opens the door to options like IRS payment plans or penalty relief, so there is almost always a path to getting it fixed.
Do I have to pay the IRS in full once I receive a tax notice?
Not always. The IRS sends those notices as part of the normal collection process, but many taxpayers qualify for alternatives like IRS payment plans, temporary hardship status, or even settling the debt for less through an offer in compromise.
This is where a tax attorney comes in, stepping in to deal with the IRS directly and help you pursue the option that actually fits your situation.
III. What Happens If I Ignore My IRS Issue?
Ignoring an IRS issue does not make it go away. Penalties and interest continue to grow, and the IRS can escalate collection actions like liens, levies, and wage garnishments. The longer it sits, the fewer options you may have, which is why taking action early gives you the most control over the outcome.
What can the IRS take from me if I owe tax debt?
If you owe IRS tax debt and it goes unresolved long enough, the IRS does have some strong collection tools. The IRS can garnish your wages, take money from your bank account, and even levy things like Social Security, retirement accounts, or pensions.
The key is getting ahead of the collection activity. The tax attorneys at Keeton Tax Law know which IRS notice to look out for and can implement options, like a payment plan, or work something out before the IRS starts taking money directly.
The IRS took money from my bank account! Can you get it back?
In many cases we can stop or prevent wage garnishments and bank levies, but timing matters. Once we step in, we move quickly to contact the IRS, assert representation, and request a hold on collections while we work out a resolution. From there, we push toward a longer-term solution like a payment plan, hardship status, or another option that may release the levy and possibly put it back into your pocket.
How do I stop IRS wage garnishments or bank levies?
If the IRS is already garnishing wages or levying your bank account, the key is acting quickly. Once we step in, we contact the IRS, assert representation, and work to get collections paused while we put a resolution in place. Depending on your situation, that could mean a payment plan, hardship status, or another option that stops the garnishment and keeps it from coming back.