Reality check. IRS revenue officers have gone back into the field. During COVID, they were sidelined, working remotely. Now, the IRS has instructed its revenue officers to resume making surprise visits to homes and businesses. What kind of tax resolution can you expect if a revenue officer shows up on your doorstep unexpected?
The experienced tax resolution professionals at Porter Law Office, LLC can help. If a revenue officer shows up at your home or business, there are some best practices to consider. The visit can be intimidating. Remember, you have constitutional rights. We can help you preserve those rights.
What is a Revenue Officer?
Revenue officers are routinely making surprise visits to homes and business across Ohio.
Revenue officers are civil enforcement employees who work for the IRS. They are not criminal investigators. They are assigned to cases involving unpaid taxes or unfiled tax returns. The techniques they use can be intimidating. As a result, it is best to have an attorney handle the communication with them.
To verify identity at your door, ask to see their IRS issued credentials and HSPD-12 card. Be vigilant for scammers. Once you’ve seen their credentials, and verified their identity, they will want to come in.
Do you have to let a revenue officer in?
No. You can refuse entry. It may not be as easy as it sounds. After all, revenue officers use their position of power to get what they need. While it may seem uncomfortable, tell them that this is not a good time.
What do you do next? Start by telling them that you are seeking a tax resolution lawyer. You want to show the revenue officer that you have a plan to take care of your tax problem. Ask for a business card. Tell them you will pass it along to the attorney. Take any letters or notices they provide and give them to your attorney.
What if I let them in?
If you made the mistake of letting the revenue officer in, they will want a lot of information. They will want you to fill out a Form 433 on the spot. This form should not be filled out haphazardly. It contains potential levy sources. In fact, IRS uses the form to determine your ability to pay. In other words, it determines what you can pay in an installment agreement.
If you want a good tax resolution, Form 433 needs to be completed carefully and accurately. It is not to be hastily completed with a revenue officer sitting at your table. Guessing at your income or expenses does not help you or the government. Accordingly, your tax attorney should prepare the form. An attorney will complete the form with extreme precision based on IRS guidelines. This ensures the best tax resolution possible.
The revenue officers may also give you a Form 9297 summary of taxpayer contact. This notice provide a list of information and financial documentation that the IRS needs. The deadline on the initial SOC is usually very aggressive. Two weeks is common. The IRS knows that these deadlines are negotiable. But you may not. Accordingly, the attorney should handle the case from here.
Even if you let them in, they will not take your property. In fact, IRS is not legally allowed to seize your property (i.e., garnish wages or bank accounts) without issuing the final notice of intent to levy. The final notice of intent to levy gives you 30 days to appeal. If you let the IRS in, and made some mistakes, not too late. Call an attorney. We can help.
Contact an Experienced Ohio Tax Attorney
Cleveland Tax Lawyer | Columbus Tax Lawyer | Cincinnati Tax Lawyer
Porter Law Office, LLC represents individual and businesses with tax problems. If a revenue officer darkened your door, call us today. Ohio tax attorney Matthew R. Porter, Esq. LL.M. utilizes an advanced degree in taxation to assist taxpayers through the complicated procedures involved in the IRS collection process. Porter Law Office, LLC will review your case and implement a plan to resolve your tax problems. Contact the Columbus, Ohio tax lawyer at Porter Law Office, LLC today for a consultation to discuss your case.